The finding points to growing pressure on household budgets amid constrained incomes and rising prices of essential goods and services.A majority of Nairobians are grappling with the rising cost of living, with 81 per cent identifying the escalating cost of family maintenance as their biggest concern, a Tifa Research survey says.
The survey found that the pressure cuts across demographic groups, with 62 per cent of respondents specifically citing transport, fuel, food and education as key sources of financial strain on households.
Concern over the cost of living was particularly high among older Nairobi residents, with 91 per cent of those aged 35 and above identifying it as a major challenge.
The finding points to growing pressure on household budgets amid constrained incomes and rising prices of essential goods and services.
"Any additional costs are likely to deepen financial hardship and reduce consumer spending," the survey said.
Among respondents aged 18 to 34, the survey said 74 per cent cited the rising cost of living as their biggest concern.
The survey suggests women feel more pressed by the economic pressures, with 84 per cent of female respondents citing the issue compared with 78 per cent of male respondents.
The survey was conducted between July 17 and July 21, 2026, across Nairobi county through face-to-face interviews conducted in Kiswahili and English.
It involved 733 adults aged 18 and above and had a margin of error of plus or minus 2.18 per cent.
Respondents were asked: "What is the biggest challenge currently facing you and your household?"
Economic opportunity and livelihoods emerged as the second-biggest concern, with 19 per cent of respondents citing low income, poor business performance and unemployment as the main challenges affecting their households.
Another 12 per cent identified high taxes as their biggest concern, while six per cent cited corruption, crime and insecurity.
Two per cent of respondents said they had no challenge, were uncertain about the biggest challenge facing their households or declined to respond.
Drivers of high cost of living
The survey highlighted increases in the prices of key household goods and services between June 2025 and June 2026, illustrating the pressures facing consumers.
Tomatoes recorded the biggest increase among the selected food items, with the price of a kilogramme rising by 41 per cent from Sh83.88 in June 2025 to Sh117.87 in June 2026.
Potatoes followed, with the price of a kilogramme increasing by 23 per cent from Sh90.15 to Sh111.10 over the same period.
The price of sukuma wiki rose by 27 per cent, from Sh90 per kilogramme to Sh114, while beef increased by 10 per cent from Sh690 to Sh760 per kilogramme.
The rising cost of transport has also added to household financial pressure, with fuel prices increasing significantly over the period.
Diesel recorded the sharpest increase, rising by 30 per cent from Sh171.58 per litre in Nairobi in June 2025 to Sh222.86 in June 2026.
Petrol prices increased by 15 per cent, from Sh186.31 per litre in June 2025 to Sh214.03 in June 2026.
The increase in fuel prices has broader implications for household expenditure because transport costs feed into the prices of food and cost of production of consumer goods and services.
The findings paint a picture of households facing pressure from several fronts, with the cost of basic commodities, transport, education and other essential expenses combining to squeeze disposable incomes.
For many households, the survey suggests, the challenge is not limited to the price of individual commodities but the cumulative effect of rising costs on day-to-day family maintenance.
