Earn Here, Spend ThereWhat is this money worth over there?
Compare cities βΊ Cape Town vs Nairobi
Cape Town vs Nairobi cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money Β· Updated September 2026
πΏπ¦ Cape Town
π°πͺ NairobiNairobi is 33% cheaper than Cape Town
Living on $3,555 a month in Cape Town feels like about $2,164 in Nairobi β same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Per day
$186 vs $135
Per month
$3,555 vs $2,164
Local meal
R 160 vs KSh 640
$9.14 vs $4.96
Taxi 5 km
R 100 vs KSh 640
$5.71 vs $4.96
At a glance
FoodNairobi 37% cheaper
CafΓ©s & drinksCape Town 7% cheaper
TransportNairobi 31% cheaper
StayNairobi 32% cheaper
FunCape Town 11% cheaper
- Where Nairobi is clearly cheaper: Transit (52%β), Convenience store (46%β), Local meal (46%β)
- Where Cape Town is clearly cheaper: Entry ticket (40%β), Coffee (17%β)
Item by item
| Item | Cape Town | Nairobi | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | R 160$9.14 | KSh 640$4.96 | Nairobi β46% |
| Street food1 item | R 72$4.11 | KSh 290$2.25 | Nairobi β45% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | R 440$25.1 | KSh 2,600$20.2 | Nairobi β20% |
| Coffeeone cup | R 44$2.51 | KSh 390$3.02 | Cape Town β17% |
| Beerone bottle | R 44$2.51 | KSh 320$2.48 | similar |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | R 110$6.29 | KSh 830$6.43 | similar |
| Bottled water | R 19$1.09 | KSh 77$0.6 | Nairobi β45% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | R 48$2.74 | KSh 190$1.47 | Nairobi β46% |
| Taxi5 km in town | R 100$5.71 | KSh 640$4.96 | Nairobi β13% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | R 100$5.71 | KSh 520$4.03 | Nairobi β29% |
| Transitone ride | R 18$1.03 | KSh 64$0.5 | Nairobi β52% |
| Scooter rentalper day | R 500$28.6 | KSh 2,600$20.2 | Nairobi β29% |
| Hotel night3-star | R 1,900$109 | KSh 10,000$77.5 | Nairobi β29% |
| Studio rent (month) | R 16,000$914 | KSh 77,000$597 | Nairobi β35% |
| Laundry | R 44$2.51 | KSh 320$2.48 | similar |
| SIM card1 week data | R 140$8 | KSh 1,000$7.75 | similar |
| Haircutcut | R 240$13.7 | KSh 1,400$10.9 | Nairobi β21% |
| Massage1 hour | R 700$40 | KSh 3,900$30.2 | Nairobi β24% |
| Half-day tourper person | R 910$52 | KSh 6,400$49.6 | similar |
| Entry ticketTourist town | R 210$12 | KSh 2,600$20.2 | Cape Town β40% |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Cape Town or Nairobi?
Nairobi is 33% cheaper than Cape Town. Daily budget $186 vs $135; a month $3,555 vs $2,164.
How do monthly costs compare between Cape Town and Nairobi?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Cape Town is about $3,555 and Nairobi about $2,164 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.