An honest, indicative guide to what office space in Nairobi costs in 2026 — rent ranges by grade and type, service charge, fit-out and CAPEX, coworking per-desk pricing, and how to budget. All figures are indicative; URBN confirms live pricing at source for each option.
The headline rent is only part of the picture. In Nairobi, the cost of an office is shaped by a handful of factors: the grade of the building (prime Grade A towers in Westlands and Upper Hill command more than older Grade B or secondary stock), the district and its prestige and access, the floor and view, the fit-out condition (shell-and-core versus fitted), and the lease term and incentives on offer.
Currency matters too. Prime stock is frequently quoted in US dollars, while secondary and Grade B space is more often priced in Kenyan shillings (KES). That makes a true like-for-like comparison harder — which is why the ranges below are deliberately framed as indicative rather than precise.
As a rough guide only, the following ranges reflect typical asking rents. Actual figures move with building, floor, fit-out and term.
Roughly USD 11–16 / m² / month in Westlands and Upper Hill — modern towers, strong amenity and management.
Typically below prime levels and often quoted in KES; good value in the CBD, Kilimani and older buildings.
Priced per desk rather than per m², bundling fit-out, utilities and amenities — see the per-desk note below.
These are indicative ranges, not a quote. For live pricing on real, available space, explore offices in Nairobi or request a Market Scan.
Service charge is levied on top of base rent to cover common-area maintenance, security, cleaning and building management — usually expressed per square metre per month. It varies by building and amenity level, so always confirm it alongside the headline rent when you compare options.
Fit-out and CAPEX is the other major cost line. A shell-and-core or Grade B space may need significant upfront investment in partitions, ceilings, flooring, cabling and furniture, while a fitted or serviced suite needs little or none. When budgeting, weigh the lower rent of an unfitted space against the one-off capital cost of bringing it into use — a fitted or serviced option can be cheaper over a short term once CAPEX is accounted for.
Nairobi's coworking and serviced-office market is strong, reflecting the city's "Silicon Savannah" technology scene, and is concentrated in Westlands, Kilimani and the CBD. These spaces are priced per desk per month rather than per square metre.
As an indicative order of magnitude, hot desks sit at the lower end, dedicated desks cost more, and private managed suites are priced higher again — with the figure usually bundling fit-out, utilities, internet, reception and shared meeting rooms. For smaller, project-based or fast-growing teams, this low-CAPEX, all-in model can be the most cost-effective route into the market.
As an indicative guide, prime Grade A asking rents commonly sit around USD 11–16 / m² / month in Westlands and Upper Hill; secondary and Grade B space is typically lower and often quoted in KES. Service charge, fit-out and term all affect the all-in cost — we confirm live figures per option.
Service charge covers building running costs — common-area maintenance, security, cleaning and management — charged on top of base rent, usually per m² per month. It varies by building and amenity level, so confirm it alongside the headline rent.
Coworking and serviced offices are priced per desk: hot desks at the lower end, dedicated desks higher, and private managed suites higher again. Per-desk pricing usually bundles fit-out, utilities, internet and shared amenities — a fast, low-CAPEX option for smaller or growing teams.