Guides · Kenya
—The stakes. Nairobi remains East Africa’s main expat duty station, so housing and schooling costs stay structurally high even when other East African capitals look cheaper.
—The budgets. A comfortable single expat typically needs about KES 60,000 to 120,000 monthly, while families can spend far more before international school fees.
—The housing split. Karen, Lavington, Westlands, Kilimani and Kileleshwa price well above satellite towns such as Ruiru, Syokimau and Embakasi.
—The family breaker. International school fees are repeatedly cited as the largest single expat family cost and can exceed rent, utilities and transport combined.
