Are direct flights from San Francisco to Nairobi always the best option?

Direct flights offer convenience by minimizing travel time and avoiding layovers, but they are not always the most budget-friendly choice. Flights with one or more stops can sometimes be significantly cheaper. Consider your priorities for cost versus travel duration when making your decision.

Can flexible travel dates help on San Francisco to Nairobi flights?

Yes, being flexible with your travel dates can often lead to finding more affordable flights. Prices can vary significantly depending on the day of the week or time of year. Adjusting your departure or return by a few days may result in substantial savings.

What extra costs should I check before booking San Francisco to Nairobi flights?

Before booking, always check for potential extra costs such as baggage fees, seat selection charges, and in-flight services. Some airlines may also charge for printing boarding passes at the airport. Factor these into your total travel budget to avoid surprises.

Flights From San Francisco

To Nairobi

Cheap Flights from San Francisco to Nairobi

Browse current best options from San Francisco. Become a member to unlock all deals and get alerts when new deals appear.

Deals from

San Francisco

RatePunk searches hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on flights to Nairobi

Prices updated 2 days ago

444 airlines compared

80%+ AI score for best value

Fares are subject to change and may not be available for all dates. (Data last updated Aug 9, 2026.)

Today’s best flight deals from San Francisco to Nairobi

Explore current cheapest deals departing from San Francisco to Nairobi

2027-01-21 – 2027-01-30
SFO - Nairobi
92% AI deal score
$1,258
$948
Round trip
2027-01-14 – 2027-01-27
SFO - Nairobi
91% AI deal score
$1,259
$958
Round trip
2026-10-12 – 2026-10-26
SFO - Nairobi
90% AI deal score
$1,173
$961
Round trip
2026-10-19 – 2026-10-29
SFO - Nairobi
90% AI deal score
$1,173
$962
Round trip
2026-10-20 – 2026-10-29
SFO - Nairobi
90% AI deal score
$1,176
$962
Round trip
2026-10-20 – 2026-10-30
SFO - Nairobi
90% AI deal score
$1,172
$962
Round trip
2026-10-21 – 2026-10-30
SFO - Nairobi
90% AI deal score
$1,178
$962
Round trip
2026-10-21 – 2026-10-31
SFO - Nairobi
90% AI deal score
$1,174
$962
Round trip
2026-10-12 – 2026-10-22
SFO - Nairobi
90% AI deal score
$1,173
$962
Round trip
2026-10-12 – 2026-10-19
SFO - Nairobi
91% AI deal score
$1,203
$962
Round trip

San Francisco to Nairobi: Overview

Insights for flights from San Francisco to Nairobi

For those planning cheap flights from San Francisco to Nairobi, December stands out as the most affordable month, with a median fare of just $897. Other cost-effective options include March, where the median fare is $1348, and August, with a median of $1611. These months offer the best opportunities for finding lower prices on this route.

Fares for flights from San Francisco to Nairobi typically range from $1947 to $3273, with a median fare of $2796. Right now, current fares are significantly below the typical level for this route, presenting a favorable time to consider booking. Only 2% of recent fares were classified as a good price, indicating that deals are not common.

When flying from San Francisco to Nairobi, most itineraries connect at least once, as direct flights from San Francisco to Nairobi are not available. The vast majority of flights on this route involve connections, with a typical journey including 2 stopovers. This means you should expect to make at least two stops during your trip.

A typical journey from San Francisco to Nairobi takes approximately 60 hours and 52 minutes, including connections. Given that most itineraries involve multiple stopovers, this extended travel time accounts for the layovers and transit periods. Travelers should plan accordingly for a long-haul journey.

How much is a round trip from San Francisco to Nairobi

Regular price: $1,185 - $1,619

Prices are currently below the regular range.

The regular price range for flights from San Francisco to Nairobi is $1185 to $1619. The current lowest deal is $971 with Qatar Airways for travel from Feb 15-Feb 22.

now $971

Low $1,185

High $1,619

The cheapest time to fly from San Francisco to Nairobi

The cheapest month to fly from SFO to NBO is December, with a median price of $897. The most expensive month is June, with a median price of $3219. Prices are generally lower from March to December.

December

Cheapest

Flights from $897

June

Most Expensive

Flights from $3,219

Jan

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Direct flights from San Francisco to Nairobi

Turkish Airlines

Qatar Airways

Emirates Airlines

Deutsche Luft Hansa

Last-minute flights going from San Francisco to Nairobi

Wed, Aug 12

⌛ Last-Minute

SFO - Nairobi

San Francisco (SFO) - Nairobi (NBO)

Emirates Airlines

$1,398

$1,280

One-way

Fri, Aug 14

⌛ Last-Minute

SFO - Nairobi

San Francisco (SFO) - Nairobi (NBO)

Emirates Airlines

$1,344

$1,185

One-way

Sat, Aug 15

⌛ Last-Minute

SFO - Nairobi

San Francisco (SFO) - Nairobi (NBO)

Emirates Airlines

$1,374

$1,235

One-way

Sat, Aug 15

⌛ Last-Minute

SFO - Nairobi

San Francisco (SFO) - Nairobi (NBO)

Emirates Airlines

$1,407

$1,384

One-way

Sun, Aug 16

⌛ Last-Minute

SFO - Nairobi

San Francisco (SFO) - Nairobi (NBO)

Emirates Airlines

$1,343

$1,192

One-way

Sun, Aug 16

⌛ Last-Minute

SFO - Nairobi

San Francisco (SFO) - Nairobi (NBO)

Emirates Airlines

$1,352

$1,242

One-way

Biggest price drops on these dates for flights from San Francisco to Nairobi

26 nights

Dec 30 - Jan 25

$1,425 → $1,020

28%

28 nights

Dec 30 - Jan 27

$1,425 → $1,020

28%

29 nights

Dec 30 - Jan 28

$1,425 → $1,020

28%

30 nights

Dec 30 - Jan 29

$1,425 → $1,020

28%

Popular Airports to fly from San Francisco to Nairobi

San Francisco - Nairobi route insights

💸 Price insights

Recent fares are below the typical level

Recent fares from San Francisco to Nairobi are below the typical level at $971.

📅 Best time to fly

Fly in December for the best prices

Historically, December offers the lowest median price at $897 for flights to Nairobi.

⏱️ Flight duration

Connecting flights average 60h 52m

Flights from San Francisco to Nairobi typically involve 2 stopovers, with a median duration of 60h 52m.

✈️ Airlines & availability

Connecting flights are available

This route is primarily served by connecting flights; direct flights are not typically available.

🏆 Airline highlight

Qatar Airways offers a recent deal

Qatar Airways recently offered a flight for $971 from San Francisco to Nairobi.

🎯 Booking tip

Deals appear regularly on this route

Deals for flights from San Francisco to Nairobi tend to appear regularly.

San Francisco main airports to depart from

San Francisco International (SFO)

Cheapest

San Francisco International is a good option for flights from San Francisco to Nairobi.

📍 ~20 km from city center (reachable by car or train)

💸 Flights from ~$1,005

Nairobi main airports to arrive at

Jomo Kenyatta International (NBO)

Cheapest

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is a key arrival point for flights from San Francisco to Nairobi.

📍 ~10 km from city center (reachable by car)

💸 Flights from ~$1,007

Airports nearby Nairobi used as alternative

Kilimanjaro International (JRO)

Cheapest

Kilimanjaro International is a major international airport and a reliable alternative for international travelers.

📍 ~215 km from Nairobi (requires an international border crossing into Tanzania, approximately 4-5 hours by road).

💸 Flights from ~$1,028

Business & First Class Flight Deals to Nairobi

89% AI deal score

$7,352

$4,946

Save $2,406

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to Nairobi

To find more affordable flights, consider being flexible with your travel dates and times. Comparing prices across different airlines and booking sites can also help uncover better deals. Setting up price alerts may notify you when fares drop for your desired route.

Booking flights in advance often provides more options and potentially lower prices, though last-minute deals can sometimes appear. Monitoring price trends for your specific route can help you decide on an optimal booking window. Prices can fluctuate, so regular checks are useful.

Comparing nearby airports at both your origin and destination can sometimes reveal more economical flight options. While it may add to your ground travel time, the potential savings on airfare can be significant. Always factor in the cost and convenience of transportation to and from alternative airports.

Related routes

More routes from San Francisco

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Flights to Nairobi from other cities

Flights from Calgary to Nairobi Flights from Edmonton to Nairobi Flights from Sekondi-Takoradi to Nairobi Flights from Sharm El Sheikh to Nairobi Flights from Singapore to Nairobi Flights from Sydney to Nairobi Flights from Tangier to Nairobi Flights from Toronto to Nairobi Flights from Vancouver to Nairobi Flights from Victoria Falls to Nairobi Flights from Washington, D.C. to Nairobi Flights from Windhoek to Nairobi

San Francisco to Nairobi: Overview

Insights for flights from San Francisco to Nairobi

How much is a round trip from San Francisco to Nairobi

Regular price: $1,185 - $1,619

Prices are currently below the regular range.

The regular price range for flights from San Francisco to Nairobi is $1185 to $1619. The current lowest deal is $971 with Qatar Airways for travel from Feb 15-Feb 22.

now $971

Low $1,185

High $1,619

The cheapest time to fly from San Francisco to Nairobi

The cheapest month to fly from SFO to NBO is December, with a median price of $897. The most expensive month is June, with a median price of $3219. Prices are generally lower from March to December.

December

Cheapest

Flights from $897

June

Most Expensive

Flights from $3,219

Jan

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Direct flights from San Francisco to Nairobi

Turkish Airlines

Qatar Airways

Emirates Airlines

Deutsche Luft Hansa

Last-minute flights going from San Francisco to Nairobi

Wed, Aug 12

⌛ Last-Minute

SFO - Nairobi

San Francisco (SFO) - Nairobi (NBO)

Emirates Airlines

$1,398

$1,280

One-way

Fri, Aug 14

⌛ Last-Minute

SFO - Nairobi

San Francisco (SFO) - Nairobi (NBO)

Emirates Airlines

$1,344

$1,185

One-way

Sat, Aug 15

⌛ Last-Minute

SFO - Nairobi

San Francisco (SFO) - Nairobi (NBO)

Emirates Airlines

$1,374

$1,235

One-way

Sat, Aug 15

⌛ Last-Minute

SFO - Nairobi

San Francisco (SFO) - Nairobi (NBO)

Emirates Airlines

$1,407

$1,384

One-way

Sun, Aug 16

⌛ Last-Minute

SFO - Nairobi

San Francisco (SFO) - Nairobi (NBO)

Emirates Airlines

$1,343

$1,192

One-way

Sun, Aug 16

⌛ Last-Minute

SFO - Nairobi

San Francisco (SFO) - Nairobi (NBO)

Emirates Airlines

$1,352

$1,242

One-way

Biggest price drops on these dates for flights from San Francisco to Nairobi

26 nights

Dec 30 - Jan 25

$1,425 → $1,020

28%

28 nights

Dec 30 - Jan 27

$1,425 → $1,020

28%

29 nights

Dec 30 - Jan 28

$1,425 → $1,020

28%

30 nights

Dec 30 - Jan 29

$1,425 → $1,020

28%

Popular Airports to fly from San Francisco to Nairobi