City is fourth most expensive in Africa

This image taken on June 24, 2015 shows fully furnished apartments called Trident Heights, Nairobi. Nairobi has the most expensive furnished accommodation. PHOTO | SALATON NJAU | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Expatistan, an online cost of living calculator, placed the Kenyan capital behind Zimbabwe’s capital Harare.
  • The average monthly consumption per person stands at Sh19,625, more than twice the national average of Sh9,237.

Nairobi is the fourth most expensive African city to live in, according to a recent study.

Expatistan, an online cost of living calculator, placed the Kenyan capital behind Zimbabwe’s capital Harare, Port Louis in Mauritius and Pretoria in South Africa.

The survey also found that Nairobi has the fourth cheapest domestic labour in the world and the lowest purchase price for a Volkswagen Golf 1.4 TSI as well a pair of basic denim jeans.

FOOD
Expatistan, however, found that Nairobi has the most expensive furnished accommodation and fast food restaurant combo meals on the continent.

A combo meal in a fast food restaurant such as Big Mac meal costs an average Sh724, while a basic lunch time menu including a drink in the city centre goes for Sh914.

Monthly rent in a leafy Nairobi suburb averages Sh173,704 and the cost of internet per month at a speed of 8Mbps stands at Sh4,447, nearly half of what Harare residents pay.

A flat screen 40-inch TV costs Sh64,567 in Harare compared to Sh37,816 in Nairobi.

DISPOSABLE INCOME
Last year, domestic consumption analysis by Nation Newsplex and the Institute of Economic Affairs found that Nairobians had the highest spending power in the country.

The average monthly consumption per person stands at Sh19,625, more than twice the national average of Sh9,237.

In contrast, with a monthly spending per person of Sh2,705, the buying power of the average resident of Wajir — the lowest ranked county — is three times less than the national average and seven times less than the city one.

ECONOMY
Mombasa, with an average spending of Sh15,629 per person was second, followed by Kiambu (Sh13,898), Kisumu (Sh11,827), while Nakuru comes fifth at Sh10,720.

Kenya is East and Central Africa’s largest economy and Nairobi has been looking to cement its position as the region’s business hub.

The Kenyan capital, however, continues to grapple with poor roads, endless traffic jams, unstable electricity supply and garbage collection that have removed some shine off its appeal.