Elevation
Nairobi elevation
Nairobi, Kenya is 5,525 feet (1,684 meters) above sea level — about a mile high.
What 5,525 feet means in Nairobi
Among the 200 cities on this site, Nairobi is higher than most. At 5,525 ft the air holds noticeably less oxygen per breath than at the coast. Most people adapt within a few days; exercise feels harder at first.
Air pressure. Air pressure falls as you climb, about 1 inHg for every 1,000 ft near the ground. In Nairobi a barometer that is not corrected to sea level reads around 24.41 inHg on an average day, while the weather forecast still quotes a sea-level number near 29.92 inHg. See today’s live barometric pressure in Nairobi.
Cooking. Water boils at about 202 °F (94.3 °C) here, so boiled foods cook more slowly and baking recipes often need small high-altitude adjustments. Boiling point at altitude
Where the number comes from. The elevation is for the city center point in the GeoNames gazetteer, taken from a digital elevation model. To check the exact elevation where you are standing, use What is my elevation?
Elevation of places near Nairobi
| Place | Elevation (ft) | Elevation (m) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | 7,890 | 2,405 | 725 mi |
| Johannesburg, South Africa | 5,797 | 1,767 | 1818 mi |
| Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | 2,008 | 612 | 1914 mi |
| Cairo, Egypt | 75 | 23 | 2197 mi |
| Dubai, United Arab Emirates | 79 | 24 | 2202 mi |
| Tel Aviv, Israel | 49 | 15 | 2310 mi |
| Cape Town, South Africa | 82 | 25 | 2550 mi |
| Tehran, Iran | 3,865 | 1,178 | 2723 mi |
Frequently asked questions
What is the elevation of Nairobi?
Nairobi, Kenya is about 5,525 feet (1,684 meters) above sea level, measured at the city center. Neighborhoods higher or lower in the city can differ by a few hundred feet.
What is the air pressure in Nairobi because of its elevation?
On a standard day the air pressure at 5,525 ft is about 24.41 inHg (827 hPa), 82% of sea-level pressure. Each breath holds about 82% as much oxygen as at sea level. Live barometric pressure in Nairobi.
At what temperature does water boil in Nairobi?
About 202 °F (94.3 °C), compared with 212 °F (100 °C) at sea level, so pasta, eggs and beans take a little longer to cook.