Nairobi vs Phuket: cost of living for digital nomads
Nairobi, Kenya and Phuket, Thailand, 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 10% cheaper than Phuket for a month of nomad living ($1,300 vs $1,450).
- Rent is the biggest gap: $580 in Nairobi against $600 in Phuket.
- Phuket scores higher on safety (7/10 vs 6/10).
- Internet is faster in Phuket: 180 Mbps typical against 40 Mbps.
- Nairobi is temperate; Phuket is tropical.
Nairobi wins 5 of the measured lines; Phuket wins 3.
Frequently asked questions
Which city is cheaper, Nairobi or Phuket?
Nairobi is cheaper: about $1,300/month against $1,450/month in Phuket, roughly 10% less for a typical remote worker's budget.
Which city is safer, Nairobi or Phuket?
Phuket scores higher on safety: 7/10 against 6/10 for Nairobi.
Which has faster internet, Nairobi or Phuket?
Phuket has faster typical internet: 180 Mbps against 40 Mbps in Nairobi.
| Line | Nairobi | Phuket |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly total (USD) | $1,300 | $1,450 |
| Rent | $580 | $600 |
| Food | $360 | $380 |
| Transport | $50 | $70 |
| Coworking | $110 | $120 |
| Safety (out of 10) | 6/10 | 7/10 |
| Internet (Mbps) | 40 | 180 |
| Climate | temperate | tropical |
| City size | metro | mid |
| Setting | inland | island |
| Nomad score (out of 10) | 7/10 | 8/10 |
Compare Nairobi with
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): Nairobi November 9, 2026, Phuket September 10, 2026.