Nairobi vs Seoul: cost of living for digital nomads

Nairobi, Kenya and Seoul, South Korea, 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 41% cheaper than Seoul for a month of nomad living ($1,300 vs $2,200).
  • Rent is the biggest gap: $580 in Nairobi against $1,000 in Seoul.
  • Seoul scores higher on safety (9/10 vs 6/10).
  • Internet is faster in Seoul: 250 Mbps typical against 40 Mbps.
  • Nairobi is temperate; Seoul is continental.

Nairobi wins 5 of the measured lines; Seoul wins 2.

LineNairobiSeoul
Monthly total (USD)$1,300$2,200
Rent$580$1,000
Food$360$550
Transport$50$80
Coworking$110$170
Safety (out of 10)6/109/10
Internet (Mbps)40250
Climatetemperatecontinental
City sizemetrometro
Settinginlandinland
Nomad score (out of 10)7/107/10

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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. Check the city pages for the dates each was last verified.