Finding a place to live in Nairobi

Renting in Nairobi is mostly straightforward: flats are plentiful, leases are short, and deposits are modest by global standards. The hard part is choosing where, because traffic decides your life here. Start with Nairobi’s neighbourhoods and the map.

What you will find

Bedsitter - one room with a kitchenette and bathroom. The cheapest self-contained option.
One-, two- and three-bedroom apartments - most of the market, in blocks with a gate, an askari and often a lift, backup generator, borehole or gym.
Houses and townhouses - usually in gated compounds, in Karen, Lavington, Runda and the other leafy suburbs, often with a DSQ.
Furnished and serviced apartments - more expensive by the month, but no furniture to buy and usually flexible terms. Good for your first month.

Rough asking rents

These are rough monthly asking rents for unfurnished flats seen in 2026 listings. They vary a lot with the age of the building and what it includes. Use them to shortlist, not to budget to the shilling.

Where	What	Rough rent (KES)
Kibera, Mathare, Kawangware	Single room	under 10,000
Kasarani, Roysambu, Umoja, Kayole	Bedsitter	8,000 - 15,000
South B, South C, Madaraka, Ngara	One bedroom	20,000 - 40,000
Kilimani, Kileleshwa	One bedroom	40,000 - 80,000
Westlands, Parklands	One bedroom	45,000 - 90,000
Kilimani, Kileleshwa, Lavington	Two bedrooms	60,000 - 120,000
Karen, Runda, Lavington, Muthaiga	House	150,000 and up

Where to look

Walk the area. “To let” signs on gates are still one of the best sources. The caretaker will show you empty units.
Property sites and apps such as BuyRentKenya, Property24 Kenya and Jiji.
Agents. Useful at the top of the market. Agree their fee in writing before viewing, and confirm who pays it.
Facebook groups and colleagues. Many good flats are passed on privately when someone leaves.

What you pay up front

Add it all up with the move-in cost calculator.

The usual arrangement:

The first month’s rent, in advance.
A deposit, usually one or two months’ rent, refundable at the end.
Sometimes a water deposit and an electricity deposit where the meters are in the landlord’s name.
An agency fee, if an agent is involved.

Some high-end landlords ask for several months up front. It is negotiable, and you should never pay more than you are willing to lose while a dispute runs.

Before you sign

Visit twice: once in the day and once in the evening rush.

Water. Ask how many days a week the county supply comes, and whether there is a borehole or storage tank. Turn on the taps.
Power. Is the meter prepaid (tokens) and in whose name? Is there a backup generator, and what does it cover?
Security. A manned gate, working lights, and how visitors are logged.
Service charge. Many blocks charge monthly for security, cleaning and the generator. Ask what it is and whether it is included in the rent.
Parking and internet. Which fibre providers serve the building? See Utilities in Nairobi.
The lease. Get it in writing: rent, deposit, notice period, how and when the rent can rise, who pays for which repairs.
Photos. Photograph every room, meter and defect on the day you move in. It is your evidence when the deposit comes back.

Scams

The most common one: a listing with good photos and a low price, an “owner” or “agent” who is out of the country or busy, and a request for a deposit by M-Pesa to “hold” the flat. The flat does not exist, or is not theirs.

Never pay before you have seen the unit and met the landlord or a verified agent there.
Pay rent to the landlord’s bank account or business paybill, and get a receipt.
Search the phone number and the photos. Scammers reuse both.

Moving out and getting the deposit back

Give notice as the lease says, usually one month, in writing. Ask for a joint inspection. The deposit should come back less the cost of any damage beyond fair wear and tear.

If it does not, and a letter does not work, the Small Claims Court handles claims up to KES 1 million without a lawyer.