Living in Nairobi
Kenya · temperate
Nairobi is a big city of roughly 4,700,000 people near the mountains in Kenya. The climate is temperate. It keeps a balanced mix of locals and visitors and is considered very safe. A typical month of living costs around $1,050. Healthcare is reasonable, and the internet is generally reliable. People come here for wildlife and birdwatching, nightlife, food and eating out.
Worth knowing: Nairobi Expressway e circonvallazione ovest. Private healthcare (4/5) is clearly better than the public system (1/5): budget for insurance.
Nairobi at a glance: cost, climate, safety
Who tends to love living in Nairobi
- Making a budget stretch further
- Feeling safe day to day
- A genuinely good food scene
- Raising a family
- Anyone into wildlife and birdwatching
- Anyone into nightlife
All parameters
💉 Childhood vaccines: Recommended, never required
No national law requires a child to be vaccinated here. The schedule is an offer, not a duty.
If you skip them: Nothing. No national law requires it.
Exemptions: Not needed: there is no mandate to be exempt from.
Source: Georgetown AMP EID, survey of national legislation, 2024
📈 Popularity & prices: Growing
Accommodation prices have moved about +34% in the last 5 years.
Estimates, for orientation only.
🔭 Where this place is heading
Today’s data. Tap a year to see where it is heading.
⚠️ The downsides of living in Nairobi
- •Yellow fever risk, vaccination is required or recommended.
- •Malaria is present, mostly in rural areas and the wet season.
- •Rabies risk from stray dogs, think twice before petting animals.
- •Tap water isn't reliably drinkable, budget for filtered or bottled.
- •Air quality: PM2.5 averages ~20 µg/m³ (WHO guideline is 5).
Health, air (WHO PM2.5), water & crime figures are rough country-level estimates, verify for your case.
Where is Nairobi?
₿ Spend Bitcoin around Nairobi
Open the Bitcoin merchant maps for this area, cafés, shops and ATMs that accept Bitcoin.
Merchants: BTC Map, from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Events and meetups: Club Orange.
Questions, answered
How much does it cost to live in Nairobi, Kenya?
A typical month in Nairobi costs around $1,050, covering rent and everyday expenses for one person. It is an estimate meant for comparing places, not for budgeting exactly.
Is Nairobi, Kenya safe?
Arcadia rates personal safety in Nairobi at 4 out of 5, which is good.
What is the internet like in Nairobi?
Internet in Nairobi is rated 3 out of 5 for remote work, which is reasonable. Starlink is available in this country.
What is the weather like in Nairobi?
Nairobi has a temperate climate. Mountains are close by.
Is healthcare good in Nairobi?
Healthcare in Nairobi is rated 3 out of 5 overall, which is reasonable. Public healthcare is 1/5 and private healthcare 4/5.
How easy is it to move to Kenya?
Arcadia rates the ease of getting residency in Kenya at 3 out of 5, which is reasonable. The place page lists the visa routes that apply and which depend on your passport.
Is Nairobi actually right for you?
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