Bucharest vs Nairobi: cost of living for digital nomads

Bucharest, Romania and Nairobi, Kenya, line by line from the catalogue: what a month costs, rent, food, coworking, safety and internet. Every figure links back to its source on the city page.

The short version

  • Nairobi is about 7% cheaper than Bucharest for a month of nomad living ($1,300 vs $1,400).
  • Rent is the biggest gap: $580 in Nairobi against $650 in Bucharest.
  • Bucharest scores higher on safety (8/10 vs 6/10).
  • Internet is faster in Bucharest: 300 Mbps typical against 40 Mbps.
  • Bucharest is continental; Nairobi is temperate.

Bucharest wins 4 of the measured lines; Nairobi wins 3.

Frequently asked questions

Which city is cheaper, Bucharest or Nairobi?

Nairobi is cheaper: about $1,300/month against $1,400/month in Bucharest, roughly 7% less for a typical remote worker's budget.

Which city is safer, Bucharest or Nairobi?

Bucharest scores higher on safety: 8/10 against 6/10 for Nairobi.

Which has faster internet, Bucharest or Nairobi?

Bucharest has faster typical internet: 300 Mbps against 40 Mbps in Nairobi.

LineBucharestNairobi
Monthly total (USD)$1,400$1,300
Rent$650$580
Food$380$360
Transport$35$50
Coworking$110$110
Safety (out of 10)8/106/10
Internet (Mbps)30040
Climatecontinentaltemperate
City sizemetrometro
Settinginlandinland
Nomad score (out of 10)8/107/10

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Costs are typical monthly figures for one person in USD, from the sources named on each city page; safety and internet are the catalogue's own ratings. Cost figures verified (Eastern Time): Bucharest November 3, 2026, Nairobi November 9, 2026.