Cost of living comparison
Nairobi is 2.6 times more expensive than Colombo.
- Restaurants
-
pay 5.5% more in Nairobi
- Groceries
-
pay 20.6% less in Nairobi
- Transportation
-
pay 2.7 times more in Nairobi
- Housing
-
pay 31.9% more in Nairobi
- Childcare
-
pay 9.7 times more in Nairobi
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 46.4% more in Nairobi
- Clothing
-
pay 2.6% less in Nairobi
The cost of childcare, transportation, entertainment and sports, housing, and restaurants in Nairobi are more expensive than in Colombo. Expenses including groceries and clothing are lower in Nairobi. Notably, childcare and transportation are significantly more expensive in Nairobi.
If you lived in Nairobi instead of Colombo, you would:
pay 5.5% more for restaurants
Colombo
|
Nairobi
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$3.40
LKR995.10
|
$3.85
KES498.05
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$7.48
LKR2,189.22
|
$6.17
KES796.87
|
|
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.74
LKR216.43
|
$0.66
KES85.65
|
|
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.39
LKR114.44
|
$0.53
KES68.82
|
|
pay 20.6% less for groceries
Colombo
|
Nairobi
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$0.57
LKR166.81
|
$0.56
KES72.13
|
|
Local cheese (8 oz) |
$6.94
LKR2,031.13
|
$5.59
KES722.48
|
|
Milk (1 gallon) |
$6.54
LKR1,915.07
|
$3.35
KES433.19
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.22
LKR649.37
|
$1.70
KES220.07
|
|
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$2.38
LKR697.22
|
$2.71
KES350.21
|
|
Apples (1 lb) |
$3.28
LKR959.46
|
$1.26
KES163.33
|
|
Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.51
LKR149.42
|
$0.50
KES64.58
|
|
Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.65
LKR774.68
|
$0.87
KES112.93
|
|
Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.53
LKR155.07
|
$0.46
KES59.08
|
|
Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.51
LKR148.89
|
$0.48
KES62.36
|
|
Onions (1 lb) |
$0.55
LKR159.80
|
$0.56
KES71.90
|
|
pay 2.7 times more for transportation
Colombo
|
Nairobi
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.84
LKR1,416.09
|
$6.17
KES798.05
|
|
Monthly public transit pass |
$6.80
LKR1,990.20
|
$30.83
KES3,984.37
|
|
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$35,303.89
LKR10,339,082.18
|
$19,266.80
KES2,490,233.99
|
|
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$3.13
LKR915.49
|
$13.87
KES1,792.97
|
|
pay 31.9% more for housing
Colombo
|
Nairobi
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$16.40
LKR4,802.54
|
$39.39
KES5,091.51
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$297.60
LKR87,154.12
|
$428.53
KES55,387.25
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$180.09
LKR52,740.17
|
$166.44
KES21,511.79
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$43.85
LKR12,840.86
|
$22.39
KES2,894.23
|
|
pay 9.7 times more for childcare
Colombo
|
Nairobi
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$28.60
LKR8,375.42
|
$166.67
KES21,542.71
|
|
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$586.98
LKR171,903.41
|
$8,008.06
KES1,035,041.33
|
|
pay 46.4% more for entertainment and sports
Colombo
|
Nairobi
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$2.04
LKR597.06
|
$2.31
KES298.83
|
|
Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$2.59
LKR758.68
|
$2.24
KES289.63
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$9.34
LKR2,736.52
|
$3.08
KES398.44
|
|
Monthly membership at local gym |
$13.89
LKR4,066.51
|
$44.12
KES5,702.13
|
|
Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$3.40
LKR995.10
|
$6.17
KES796.87
|
|
pay 2.6% less for clothing
Colombo
|
Nairobi
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$29.69
LKR8,695.18
|
$16.84
KES2,176.94
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$22.31
LKR6,534.49
|
$22.95
KES2,966.15
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$68.77
LKR20,139.95
|
$61.84
KES7,992.47
|
|
Men's business shoes (leather) |
$37.51
LKR10,984.37
|
$52.50
KES6,785.85
|
|
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