Everything nobody tells you about living in Nairobi

Free, independent guides to Kenyan paperwork, housing, money and daily life, and an interactive map of the city. Written for anyone making Nairobi home — new arrivals, returnees, and Nairobians who have never had to file a KRA return before.

Nairobi, by constituency. Choose one to open it on the map. Explore the map →

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The things that block everything else. Until these are done, you cannot open a bank account, sign a lease or get paid properly.

The numbers, today

Every figure on this site comes from one dated file, so a guide can never quietly go stale. How that works ➞

What How much Where it bites
Minimum wage, Nairobi KES 18,047 A month, for a general labourer, from May 2026
Lowest PAYE rate 10% On the first KES 24,000 a month, less KES 2,400 relief
NSSF off your payslip 6% Up to KES 6,480 a month; your employer matches it
SHIF and Housing Levy 2.75% + 1.5% Of gross pay, before PAYE is worked out
Largest M-Pesa payment KES 250,000 Anything bigger goes through a bank
Nairobi's population 4,396,828 At the 2019 census, across 17 constituencies

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Arriving in Nairobi

Entry rules, permits and the accounts and IDs everything else depends on.

  1. Moving to Nairobi
  2. eCitizen, KRA PIN and IDs
  3. Weather and seasons
  4. Swahili basics
  5. Culture and etiquette
  6. Phones and SIM cards
  7. Remote work
  8. Leaving Kenya

Housing

Where to live, how renting works, and keeping the power and water on.

  1. Neighbourhoods
  2. Finding housing
  3. Utilities
  4. Setting up home
  5. Buying property
  6. Being a landlord

Money and work

M-Pesa, banks, payroll deductions and what things cost.

  1. M-Pesa
  2. Opening a bank account
  3. PAYE and taxes
  4. Cost of living
  5. Saving and investing

Work and business

Finding a job, your rights at work, employing people at home, and starting a business.

  1. Finding a job
  2. Working in Kenya
  3. Household staff
  4. Registering a business

Getting around

Matatus, ride-hailing, trains and driving.

  1. Getting around
  2. Driving
  3. Driving licence
  4. Importing a car
  5. Travelling around Kenya

Health and safety

SHA, hospitals and emergencies, and the everyday habits that keep you safe.

  1. Healthcare
  2. Safety
  3. Crime and lost documents

Family and daily life

Schools, shopping and the public holiday calendar.

  1. Schools
  2. With kids
  3. Studying
  4. Pets
  5. Shopping
  6. Public holidays
  7. Getting married

Exploring Nairobi

Wildlife inside the city, museums, markets, nights out and trips beyond.

  1. Things to do
  2. Food and eating out
  3. Nightlife
  4. History of Nairobi
  5. Day trips
  6. Sport and fitness

Calculators

Worked out with the same figures the guides use, entirely in your browser.

  1. Salary calculator
  2. Final dues calculator
  3. Leave calculator
  4. Overtime calculator
  5. Household staff calculator
  6. Move-in cost calculator
  7. Budget planner
  8. Rental income tax calculator
  9. Commute calculator
  10. Savings calculator
  11. Loan calculator
  12. Mortgage affordability
  13. Stamp duty calculator
  14. Car import duty calculator
  15. VAT calculator
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