Nairobi Among Most Expensive Cities to Live In - Report

An image of buildings within Nairobi Central Business District (CBD).
An image of buildings within Nairobi Central Business District (CBD).
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Nairobi has been named among the most expensive cities to live in on the African continent.

According to data released by Statista on March 24, Nairobi was ranked the 14th most expensive African city to live in with a score of 37.95.

Statista stated that the ranking was done based on data it collected in 2021, adding that the survey covered the cost of basic commodities such as food, clothing, and healthcare.

However, it was noted that the survey did not include the cost of renting a house or the payment of a mortgage.

Government Cyrus Oguna during the launch of affordable housing project in Kiambu on Wednesday February 23, 2022
Government Cyrus Oguna during the launch of the affordable housing project in Kiambu on Wednesday, February 23, 2022
Government Spokesperson

Additionally, the survey considered the taxes that are charged by the government including those that are charged by the Nairobi City County Government.

"According to the report, the cost of living index is a relative indicator of consumer goods prices, including groceries, restaurants, transportation, and utilities. The cost of living Index does not include accommodation expenses such as rent or mortgage.

"The cost of living is the amount of money needed to cover basic expenses such as housing, food, taxes, and healthcare in a certain place and time period. The cost of living is often used to compare how expensive it is to live in one city versus another," read the report in part.

In the 2021 list, Addis Ababa emerged as the most expensive city to live in among other cities such as Harare, Cape Town, and Rabat.

"Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, ranked as the most expensive city to live in Africa as of 2021, considering consumer goods prices. The Ethiopian capital obtained an index score of 58.92, followed by Abidjan, in the Ivory Coast, with 55.73. 

"Morocco and South Africa were the countries with most cities in top 15 most expensive cities to live in," read the report in part.

The cost of living in the country has risen over the last 10 years with the economic situation worsening over the last two years following the global pandemic.

Some of the basic household goods whose prices have skyrocketed include bread, milk, sugar, cooking oil, and wheat flour.

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An image of cooking oil
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