Re: Nairobi cost of living, housing

I am considering a post in Nairobi and am curious about the cost of living. The information on the web is confusing and much of it appears dated.

I am also interested in learning more about the cost of housing and areas that are both safe and convenient for transport to work near the YaYa Centre. The salary for the post is low by comparison to UK standards, but I am wondering if it is sufficient for Nairobi.

Many thanks in advance for your help.

Hi

You can look at the following sites. You would be looking at houses in Kilimani or Kileleshwa.

www.realmast.com
www.milestate.com
www.villacare.com

Many thanks for your reply, Flo. The information was most helpful. These web sites provided a good overview of housing costs. In your experience, should I estimate utility costs at some percentage of rental fee, or is there a better gauge for estaimting these expenses?

Thank you once again for the information.

Cheers!

To have an idea a house in kileleswha next to Yaya center or in Hurlingham will cots between 20 to 40000 kshs ( this is a two bedroom house)
If you need further details contact me jerome@swiftkenya.com

Hi

Utility costs are cheap in kenya. Power will not cost you more than Kshs. 2,000, water will be included in your rental is appartment. Telephone is expensive and will of course depend on usage. Most people prefer to use mobile phones as the most convenient, but also most expensive.

Let me know if you require more info.

Flo

I am interested in getting an idea of the prices of a mobile phone. What is the price of an inexpensive mobile phone? Would I be able to purchase one with 100 US Dollars in Kenya?

I promised a friend in Kenya to buy him a mobile phone so that we can speak to each other. He says that the phone costs 300 US Dollars. Is this too expensive? Or reasonable? I read in an article about Kenya that one can be purchased for 100 US Dollars.
Please help me with some advice. Reply to:
wsmith@sintmaarten.net
Thanks

Smith and Silvester, cost of cellphones depend on size, and make. $100 can buy a nice small phone, although some phones would cost as much as $300. For a first time owner of a mobile phone, the upper cost is quite extravagant.

>I am considering a post in Nairobi
>and am curious about the cost
>of living Food style Education system. The information on
>the web is confusing and much
>of it appears dated.
>I am also interested in learning more
>about the cost of housing and
>areas that are both safe and
>convenient for transport to work near
>the Flower foudation Centre. The salary
>for the post is low (98000 Sh)
>comparison to UK standards, but I
>am wondering if it is sufficient
>for Nairobi (With One kid Education).Whether i can save.I hard that in africa crime is more.how about nairobi
>Many thanks in advance for your help.
>
I am waitng for your reply Pleas reply apae.

Hi, there
I will be moving to Nairobi kenya. I have the same question you asked and I am wondering if you got any information. I have 2 kids (4 and 10) will be living on an income of 70, 000 a month ksh. looking to rent in a safe area close to good schools . (will be living aprox. 2 years) I appreciate any information.
Thanks,
Ms. Jones

Hi Ms. Jones,

a monthly income of 70,000 kshs does sound a bit on the lower side, especially if you have to send your two kids to good schools. Are you considering private schools that use the British system or private schools on the kenyan edu. system? take a look of some of the good international schools:
http://www.isk.ac.ke/
http://www.rva.org/

or kenyan schools:
http://www.makini.ac.ke/

dont hesitate to ask for more info, and good luck!

Hi,
Would like to know the cost of living in the following ares in the city of Nairobi
1 Education Cost in PRIVATE SCHOOLS for 9/10 years old.
2. Average cost of domestic help.
3. Cost of groceries,provisions etc for a family of 2 adults and 1 kid.
4. Telephone, electricity charges.

Regards

Sapna.

Hi,
Iam planning to move to nairobi soon.I would like to know about cost of living,schools in nairobi.
Since we are indians,i would like to know about availablity of indian things.(groceries & Provisions)

If you receive any reply,let me know.

Regards,
Kumar.

Hi!

I've found this forum and I have some questions regarding Cosys of living in Nairobi.
House or apartment rentals, electricity, food, groceries, telephone rates, private schools ans safety areas. May be it is too much but I need some advice.

Thanks in advance.

Pablo

This is such a great place!

Hi! Im have just been accepted as an intern at an embassy in Nairobi and I am looking for a place to stay. I already read the above posts and learned a lot!

I have a few Qs regarding where to live in Nairobi:

I think I´ll be working on Waiaki way, which area of Nairobi close to this would you recomend that i try to find a place to live in?

Is there in Nairobi anywhere to advertise for a furnished room? an expat newspaper or webpage perhaps? or is this the only forum?

How to get around in Nairobi? (I guess biking is not recomended)

If anybody knows of somebody with a spare room from the beginning of september plz let me know!

Asger

I'll have some question about living near malindi, may I talk with you?

Fulvio

Drop me an email and i will help you over your concerns of living near Malindi.
Wangechi.m@gmail.com

Best,
Flo

Hi, this is an student from Madrid. I will move to Nairobi en late september, butI don´t know how to get a place to stay, any help!!??
Thanks a lot.

Hi,this is amit jain from mumbai.i have been offered a job in Nairobi.Since i have no idea about the cost of living ,i need help from u.Can u plz guide me...certain things which i want to know are :
1) Wats the cost of living in Nairobi? Is the city expensive in terms of food,rental accommodations,travelling and other basic necessities?

2) Is vegetarian food easily available in Nairobi? Are there good decently priced indian restaurants? And are there tiffin services by indians?

3) Which are the good places to live in Nairobi... in terms of neighbourhoods and which places should i absolutely avoid?

4) Last but not the least...Approximately how much salary is good enough to live comfortabely and also save some money?I'm still at the negotiation stage..so this information will help me a lot.

last informations i get are these : hillcrest school, peponi school braeburn school and kenton college, 700 000 Ksh/year, international school of kenya is 4000$ fee + 11000 $ /year.
This's quite big money... especially if you intend to earn 70 000Ksh/ month...

Hi Asger,

I have just been accepted as an intern as well (at UNHCR). Have you received any information yet on your topic? I am also looking for a place to stay in Nairobi, from January 'till June 2008. Maybe you could help me when you are in Nairobi allready?

Thanks for now,

Evelien

Hi Evelien,

I have the same issue now---if it all works out with my school, I will be interning in Nairobi with UNCRD this January. Do you have any tips?

Thanks!
Yvonne

Hey!
I will be leaving for a intern with the UNDP in Febrary. Do the UN generally helps to find an accomodation? Do you have any tips about where and how to find a house? Also, if you could give me an idea about how much it can cost to rent a room or a flat!

Thank you so much!!!

Isa

Hey Its not that hard In nairobi i work at Yaya commute from Jamhuri estate like 100 minutes by but i pay ksh50 in the morning the housing is ideal a good 2bedroom house goes for ksh 30000 thats a house with the master br ensuit plus pay bills approximately totals to 5000 electricity internet and water its a pretty good place to live if you have a tight budget