Moving to Nairobi brings both advantages and disadvantages. For all the ups and downs, life in this East African economic hub is nothing if not exciting. Here's our rundown of the pros and cons of living in Nairobi.
Lifestyle in Nairobi
+ PRO: Relatively integrated expat and local society
Nairobi's expat and local communities mix more freely than in a lot of cities. A large professional middle class and a famously warm local culture mean the two overlap easily. You'll rub shoulders with Kenyans at the kids' school, the country club, the shops, the bar, and your neighbourhood restaurant, and plenty of expats get stuck into local markets and festivals as well.
+ PRO: Pleasant weather
Nairobi's weather is one of its quiet pleasures. The climate is mild all year, and there's little in the way of extremes. Because the city is so high up, the days are warm and sunny, and the evenings cool, so you won't need central heating or a winter coat. There are fewer mosquitoes at this altitude, so malaria risk in the city itself is low. Head to the coast or out on safari, though, or travel during the long or short rains, and antimalarial precautions make sense again.
- CON: Limited shopping opportunities
There are many modern shopping centres in Nairobi, but it is difficult to find affordable imported goods. Since clothes, shoes, electronics, and toys are generally more expensive and less varied here, most expats still buy them in advance back home.
+ PRO: Easily accessible holiday destinations
You'd struggle to find another capital this close to the wild. Nairobi National Park is right on the city's edge, and big-name reserves like the Maasai Mara and Amboseli are only a short hop away by road or light aircraft. The coast is a quick flight south, where the beaches are fringed with palms and the warm Indian Ocean is good for snorkelling over coral reefs, sailing, deep-sea fishing, and kitesurfing off Diani. Closer to home, easy outings include the Giraffe Centre, the Sheldrick elephant orphanage, the Karen Blixen Museum, and Lake Naivasha.
+ PRO: Active social life
Nairobi's social life is one of the reasons expats stay on. The restaurant and bar scene is a real draw, and live music and the arts are easy to find. Something is usually on, from food and music festivals to arts and sporting events. Plenty of people arrive for a posting and end up making the city home.
Lifestyle in Nairobi
Weather in Nairobi
Local culture in Nairobi
- CON: Adjusting may take time
Culture shock can be a factor for new arrivals to Nairobi, especially for those who have incorrect preconceived notions before they arrive. Poverty is visible across the city, and persistent hawkers may approach you. Rather than get flustered, keep smiling and say 'no, thank you'. Most newcomers settle into the rhythm of the place within a few months.
+ PRO: Locals are friendly, and English is widely spoken
Kenyans are famously warm and welcoming to newcomers. English and Swahili are both official languages, and many Kenyans are trilingual and speak a regional mother tongue as well. You'll rarely hit a language barrier at work or day to day, and picking up a little Swahili goes a long way with locals.
Safety in Nairobi
- CON: Personal safety is an issue
Personal safety takes real attention in Nairobi. Armed carjacking, mugging, home invasion, and the occasional kidnapping for ransom all occur, and foreigners are often assumed to be worth robbing. That's why most expats live in well-secured homes and use ride-hailing apps instead of walking after dark. Keeping valuables out of sight becomes second nature too. Crime is concentrated in particular areas, so where you live and how you get around make a real difference.
- CON: Dangerous driving conditions
Kenya's roads are dangerous. The road’s potholed surfaces, poorly maintained lorries, speeding matatus (shared minibuses), and swarms of motorbike taxis all add to the risk, and accidents are common. Rather than drive themselves, many expats hire a local driver who knows how to negotiate the chaos.
Working in Nairobi
+ PRO: East Africa's business hub
Nairobi is the business capital of East Africa, and that counts for a lot when you work here. Multinationals from Google to General Electric run their regional operations out of the city, it is home to the only UN headquarters in Africa (the Gigiri complex), and its tech and startup scene, nicknamed 'Silicon Savannah', is the best known on the continent. For anyone working here, that means strong professional networks and one of Africa's most established expat business communities to plug into.
- CON: Corruption affects business
Bribery and corruption are part of everyday life in Nairobi. Officials usually require a bribe (known locally as kitu kidogo or 'something small') before they will advance your paperwork, and the resulting delays and various workarounds can greatly hinder business.
+ PRO: Doing business keeps getting easier
Kenya has worked hard to cut its red tape. Most government services are now handled through the eCitizen portal, so business registration, tax filing, permits, and licence applications that once meant queuing at a counter can be done online. Lawmakers also introduced electronic signatures and digital registries through the Business Laws (Amendment) Act, which reduced paperwork and face-to-face contact where bribes used to change hands.
Working in Nairobi
Doing Business in Kenya
Cost of living in Nairobi
+ PRO: General expenses are affordable
Everyday spending in Nairobi can be pleasantly low. Local fruit and vegetables are cheap, plentiful, seasonal, and full of flavour, and much of the meat is the same story. Kenya is one of the world's biggest flower exporters, so cut flowers like roses cost next to nothing. Keep to local markets and local brands, and you'll spend very little day to day; it's imported and branded goods that push a budget up.
- CON: Certain utilities are pricey
Electricity is expensive by regional standards, and you'll usually be expected to chip in for private security. Budget for both when you work out your monthly costs.
Accommodation in Nairobi
+ PRO: Domestic staff are easy to find and affordable
Hiring domestic help is completely normal in Nairobi. Plenty of households employ a house help, a nanny, a gardener, or a day guard, and by expat standards, the wages are modest. It may feel unfamiliar at first, but most newcomers come to rely on the extra pair of hands.
- CON: Power and water supply issues
Blackouts are common, and as a result, most houses have some form of backup, typically either a generator or solar. Since Kenya experiences droughts regularly, many homes have storage tanks and then refill them using delivery tankers when the taps stop working.
Education in Nairobi
+ PRO: High-quality international schools
Nairobi has plenty of high-quality international schools that teach the British, American, International Baccalaureate, and French curricula. Some, like the International School of Kenya, have been going for decades. The teaching is strong, and the facilities are good, and most schools run a full programme of sport, music, drama, and clubs such as Model UN, so children get a rounded education.
- CON: Limited options for special education
Support for children with special educational needs is limited. While a few schools have learning-support staff, there is little dedicated provision for special needs, and it can be difficult to find the right school for a child who requires such support.
+ PRO: Diverse cultural exposure
The upside for families is how international the schools are. Your children will share a classroom with peers from all over the world and grow up comfortable around other languages and cultures. Children who start out this way tend to carry that ease with them wherever they go next.
International Schools in Nairobi
Education and Schools in Nairobi