Quality of life in Nairobi
Nairobi, Kenya, is characterized by reasonably priced housing. This urban area is consistently ahead in cost of living.
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Life quality score
City ranking
Housing
9
41/265Details
| Large apartment | $920.00 |
|---|---|
| Medium apartment | $680.00 |
| Rent index [score] | 0.93 |
| Small apartment | $440.00 |
Cost of Living
8
43/248Details
| 5km taxi ride | $7.60 |
|---|---|
| A Cappuccino | $3.00 |
| A beer | $1.60 |
| A kilogram of Apples | $3.00 |
| Bread | $0.39 |
| Inflation [score] | 0.84 |
| Lunch | $6.10 |
| Monthly fitness club membership | $81.00 |
| Monthly public transport | $28.00 |
| Movie ticket | $7.90 |
| Price of a meal at a restaurant | $35.99 |
Startups
6
61/264Details
| Average monthly increase in number of startups | 8 |
|---|---|
| Average monthly increase in number of startups [score] | 0.50 |
| Coworking spaces [score] | 0.30 |
| Coworking spaces on WorkFrom.co | 3 |
| Meetups [score] | 0.38 |
| Meetups groups | 99 |
| Meetups members | 41417 |
| Number of investors | 27 |
| Number of startup events in the last 12 months | 318 |
| Number of upcoming meetup events | 13 |
| Startup climate scene [score] | 0.52 |
| Startup events | 37 |
| Startup events [score] | 0.52 |
| Startups [score] | 0.71 |
| Total number of startups | 307 |
Venture Capital
5
49/192Details
| Funding accelerator names | 88mph - Kenya |
|---|---|
| Number of funding accelerators | 1 |
| Venture capital [score] | 0.46 |
Travel Connectivity
2
161/266Details
| Airport hub | 72 |
|---|---|
| Airport hub [score] | 0.36 |
| Intercity train connectivity [score] | 0.10 |
Commute
4
212/255Details
| Human city page | http://cities.human.co/details/Kenya/Nairobi |
|---|---|
| Traffic handling [score] | 0.17 |
Business Freedom
3
254/264Details
| Business freedom | 48.60 |
|---|---|
| Business freedom [score] | 0.12 |
| Freedom from corruption | 25.00 |
| Freedom from corruption [score] | 0.10 |
| Lack of labor restrictions | 62.20 |
| Lack of labor restrictions [score] | 0.49 |
| Time to open a business | 22.00 |
| Time to open a business [score] | 0.75 |
Safety
6
200/266Details
| Crime rate [score] | 0.23 |
|---|---|
| Gun-related deaths per 100,000 residents per year | 33 |
| Guns per 100 residents | 6 |
| Lack of gun related deaths [score] | 0.10 |
| Lack of guns [score] | 0.97 |
| Lack of guns and gun-related deaths [score] | 0.53 |
Healthcare
2
261/265Details
| Healthcare expenditure [score] | 0.10 |
|---|---|
| Healthcare quality [score] | 0.38 |
| Life expectancy (years) | 63.37 |
| Life expectancy [score] | 0.10 |
Education
1
232/240Details
| Best university in ranking | University of Nairobi |
|---|---|
| Best university ranking | 801 |
| University quality [score] | 0.10 |
Environmental Quality
3
234/266Details
| Air quality [score] | 0.33 |
|---|---|
| Cleanliness [score] | 0.18 |
| Drinking water quality [score] | 0.21 |
| Urban greenery [score] | 0.55 |
Economy
4
177/263Details
| Currency exchange rate per US dollar for urban area | 103.90 |
|---|---|
| Currency for urban area | KES |
| GDP growth rate | 0.05 |
| GDP growth rate [score] | 0.78 |
| GDP per capita | $3084.43 |
| GDP per capita [score] | 0.10 |
Taxation
5
102/266Details
| Effective company profit tax rate on payouts as dividends [score] | 0.66 |
|---|---|
| Income tax level [score] | 0.36 |
| Profit tax (% of profit) | 0.37 |
| Time overhead to file company taxes | 196 |
| VAT (Sales Tax) | 0.16 |
Internet Access
2
250/266Details
| Download speed (Mbps) | 10.32 |
|---|---|
| Internet access (download) [score] | 0.19 |
| Internet access (upload) [score] | 0.19 |
| Upload speed (Mbps) | 4.32 |
Leisure & Culture
3
246/264Details
| Art galleries | 55 |
|---|---|
| Art galleries [score] | 0.57 |
| Cinemas | 93 |
| Cinemas [score] | 0.41 |
| Comedy clubs | 21 |
| Comedy clubs [score] | 0.57 |
| Concert venues | 85 |
| Concerts [score] | 0.37 |
| Historical sites | 20 |
| Historical sites [score] | 0.18 |
| Museums | 9 |
| Museums [score] | 0.35 |
| Performing art venues | 60 |
| Performing arts [score] | 0.47 |
| Sport venues | 28 |
| Sports [score] | 0.53 |
| Zoos | 5 |
| Zoos [score] | 0.65 |
Tolerance
3
263/266Details
| Homosexuality acceptance (percent of the surveyed population in favor) | 0.08 |
|---|---|
| LGBT Equality Index | 15.18 |
| LGBT Equality Index [score] | 0.12 |
| LGBT adoption rights | ✖ Illegal |
| LGBT age of consent | N/A |
| LGBT blood donation regulations | ✔ Legal |
| LGBT conversion therapy regulations | ✖ Not banned |
| LGBT discrimination legality | ✖ No protections |
| LGBT employment discrimination legality | ✖ No protections |
| LGBT gender changing rights | ✔ Legal, but requires surgery |
| LGBT homosexuality rights | ✖ Illegal (imprisonment as punishment) |
| LGBT housing discrimination legality | ✖ No protections |
| LGBT marriage rights | ✖ Not legal |
| Tolerance towards minorities [score] | 0.40 |
Outdoors
4
185/266Details
| Elevation (hills or mountains) [score] | 0.71 |
|---|---|
| Median peak in meters | 2441.00 |
| Presence of hills in city | 1.00 |
| Presence of mountains in city | 1.00 |
| Urban area elevation (meters) | 1684.00 |
| Water access [score] | 0.10 |
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Cost of living
Costs of living in Nairobi are in the least expensive 20 percent of all 248 Teleport cities. Average living expenses are significantly lower compared to other cities, especially in the housing market. Moving to Nairobi will very likely decrease your daily costs of living. Sign up for free to get access to our cost of living index and use our international cost of living calculator to do cost comparison by city.
Housing costs (USD)
$920
Median rent for
apartments in city center
apartments in city center
Daily living costs (USD)
 Monthly fitness club membership | $81 |
|---|---|
 Movie ticket | $8 |
 Broadband internet connection | $40 |
 Monthly public transport | $28 |
 Lunch | $6 |
-58%
compared to
San Francisco
San Francisco
Job salary calculator
Software Engineer salaries in Nairobi are very low. For this job type, Nairobi ranks 241st for salaries among 265 cities. Get access to our salary comparison calculator by signing up. Compare salaries city by city with our free salary wizard and convert your own salary to a local salary in Nairobi.
Estimated annual salary (in USD)
$16,858
Median salary
Locals review Nairobi
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Taxation
Personal taxation
Effective income tax rate
29%
For annual salary of $40000
29%
For annual salary of $80000
Value added tax (VAT)
16%
Standard tax rate. Different rates might apply for certain product categories.
Compared to other cities
147/266
Corporate taxation
Compared to other cities
76/263
Local Currency
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Safety
Gun crimes & Ownership
6.40
Guns per 100 people
33
Gun deaths per 100k people / year
North America
Europe
Asia
South America
Africa
Oceania
Overall crime rate city ranking
The overall crime rate puts Nairobi in position 242 of 266 Teleport Cities in a ranking for the safest cities.
Education
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Explore the streets of Nairobi
People in Nairobi
Friends living in Nairobi
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Teleport Users X Nairobi
Teleport users who are Nairobi
Work in:
7.14%
4.76%
4.76%
4.76%
2.38%
2.38%
2.38%
71.43%
Come from:
LGBT rights in Nairobi
Homosexuality
Illegal
Imprisonment As Punishment
Changing gender
Legal
But Requires Surgery
Discrimination
No Protections
Marriage
Not Legal
Adoption
Illegal
Public opinion in Kenya
"Should Society Accept Homosexuality?" (8% Yes, 92% No)
8%
Climate
Average day length (hours)
12.5Climate type
Marine West Coast
Average daily maximum temperature
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Startup scene
Number of startups
307
By stage
Total funding last 12 months
$0
Funding last 12 months
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On living in Nairobi
Nairobi, a city of nearly four million, is the capital and largest city in Kenya.
This city on the Nairobi River is not only the largest and fastest growing in Kenya but one of the largest in Africa.
The word Nairobi is derived from a water hole known in Maasai as Enkare Nyorobi, which means "cool waters". Nairobi, which had been a swamp area, was founded in 1899 as a railway camp for the Uganda Railway. By 1905, the city had become the capital of Kenya (then the British East Africa Protectorate), supplanting Mombasa and Machakos, the previous capitals. With the spread of plagues in the early 1900s, the town was burnt down and had to be rebuilt. Having a railway helped it to grow rapidly, becoming the second largest city in Kenya behind Mombasa. Nairobi also grew due to administration and tourism businesses (mostly big game hunting).
Read moreGood Country Index
Every city comes with a country. How is this one doing in terms of giving back to the global community? Our friends at The Good Country Index measure what each country on earth contributes to the common good of humanity, and what it takes away, relative to its size.
Overall ranking
83rd from a total of 163 countries
World Order
57thRefugees hosted
Refugees generated
Charity giving
Birth rate
UN Treaties signed
International Peace & Security
70thDues in arrears to UN peace keeping budgets
International violent conflict
Peacekeeping troops
Arms exports
Internet security (2014)
Planet & Climate
144thEcological footprint
Reforestation since 1992
Hazardous pesticides exports
CO2 emissions
Ozone
Prosperity & Equality
110thDevelopment assistance
FDI outflows
Fairtrade market size
UN volunteers abroad
Open trading
Culture
129thFreedom of movement
Press freedom
Creative services exports
UNESCO dues in arrears as % of contribution
Creative goods exports
Science & Technology
56thNobel prizes
Patents
Journal exports
International publications
International Students
Health & Wellbeing
68thPharmaceutical exports
Voluntary excess donations to the WHO
Food aid
Humanitarian aid donations
International Health Regulations Compliance
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