Nairobi has a variety of housing options for the different people who live and work in and around the city.
Housing is one of the most basic human needs besides food, clothing and education. Financial management experts recommend that the budget for rent should be about 30% of a household’s income.
However, some Kenyans spend up to 40% of their income on rent.
This can be attributable to a number of factors such as lack of knowledge on the market, search for a posh house or lack of healthy financial skills.
In this article, Kenyans.co.ke will guide you in the best place you can comfortably live within your means based on different incomes and housing prices in various estates.
According to a past economic survey by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), lower-income groups earn a monthly income of Ksh 23,670 and below, while middle-income households range between Ksh 23,671 and Ksh 119,999. The upper-income group enjoys remunerations of above Ksh 120,000.
High-End Estates
Nairobi’s high-end estates include Rosslyn, Muthaiga, Runda, Riverside, and Karen.
Villas in these estates attract rent of over Ksh 200,000 and are suitable for those taking home over Ksh 600,000 a month.
The posh suburbs are affiliated with top-level security, superb serenity, well-paved roads, strict zoning regulations and needless to say, palatial homes.
For those that can afford to buy property, the average selling price ranges between Ksh 60 million and can go to over Ksh 100 million.
Some of Kenya’s wealthy and influential reside in Karen (William Ruto, Raila Odinga) and Muthaiga (Jimmy Wanjigi, Mwai Kibaki, Mama Ngina Kenyatta).
Upper Middle-Class Estates
Areas such as Kilimani, Ridgeways, Westlands, Springvalley, Lower Kabete, Lavington and Kitisuru are popular with the middle and upper-income class nairobians who earn a high five-figure income or moderate to low six-figure salary.
The rent for these areas ranges between Ksh 40,000 to Ksh 150,000 for a typical apartment.
The areas rank lower than high-end neighbourhoods due to their relatively affordable house prices for those earning a five-figure salary, the amount of activity as most of them double up as commercial centres and also their zoning regulations which are a little relaxed compared to high-end areas, thus allowing for densification.
The areas are also well served by amenities that are associated with the middle class living such as shopping malls.
The estates’ close proximity to the CBD attracts the middle-class working population and are accessible by both public and private means of transport.
Lower Middle Class
Areas include South B, South C, Ruaka, Kikuyu, Imara Daima, Buru Buru, Gumba, Dagoretti, Eastleigh, Roysambu and Donholm.
The rent prices are fairly affordable, ranging from Ksh 15,000 to Ksh 40,000 depending on the space and number of bedrooms.
They serve as the perfect start-up point especially for the young population who are just getting started on their career paths.
However, for the lowest rents in the market without compromising on the quality of the house, one can always look to areas such as Kahawa West, Kasarani, Embakasi, Kinoo and Umoja where rents range between Ksh 8,000 - Ksh 20,000 for an apartment depending on the sizes.
