Cost of Living Comparison Between Eldoret and Malindi Cost of Living Comparison Between Eldoret and Malindi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $539 in Eldoret versus $350 in Malindi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $940 in Eldoret versus $573 in Malindi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,340 in Eldoret versus $796 in Malindi.

Living in Eldoret is roughly 54% more expensive than Malindi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Eldoret 60% lower, Malindi 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.54 KES 716

$2.14 KES 277

158.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.10 KES 4,924

$31.23 KES 4,035

22.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.95 KES 899

Cappuccino

$2.44 KES 315

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 KES 95.8

$1.59 KES 205

-53.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 KES 69.6

$0.90 KES 117

-40.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.27 KES 294

$3.50 KES 452

-35.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.85 KES 368

$3.55 KES 458

-19.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.70 KES 90.5

$0.98 KES 127

-28.57%

White Bread (500g)

$0.48 KES 61.9

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.24 KES 160

$1.21 KES 156

2.48%

Eggs

$1.64 KES 212

$2.99 KES 387

-45.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.97 KES 513

$11.40 KES 1,473

-65.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.64 KES 470

$6.20 KES 801

-41.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.17 KES 539

$4.94 KES 638

-15.59%

Apples (1kg)

$3.15 KES 407

$3.16 KES 408

-0.32%

Banana (1kg)

$0.89 KES 115

$0.78 KES 101

14.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 KES 211

$2.63 KES 340

-37.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.04 KES 135

$0.72 KES 93.3

44.44%

Potato (1kg)

$0.56 KES 72.5

$0.75 KES 96.6

-25.33%

Onion (1kg)

$0.89 KES 115

$0.71 KES 92.4

25.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 KES 84.3

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 KES 82.4

$0.52 KES 66.9

23.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.17 KES 410

Wine (Bottle)

$5.94 KES 767

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 KES 218

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 KES 203

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 KES 177

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.58 KES 204

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.52 KES 196

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.95 KES 382

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.53 KES 198

$1.42 KES 184

7.75%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.6K KES 2.8M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$19.9K KES 2.6M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$33.93 KES 4,385

$77.1 KES 9,959

-55.97%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$16.66 KES 2,153

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.81 KES 5,016

$30.93 KES 3,997

25.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.19 KES 4,935

$38.39 KES 4,961

-0.52%

Cinema Ticket

$5.15 KES 665

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$65.5 KES 8,460

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,025 KES 1.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.66 KES 1,506

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.97 KES 3,098

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$19.57 KES 2,529

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$34.63 KES 4,475

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$91.6 KES 11.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$90.6 KES 11.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$386 KES 49.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$268 KES 34.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$627 KES 81.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Eldoret: April 27, 2026

Last update for Malindi: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $38.00 in Eldoret vs $31.00 in Malindi. Groceries flip the comparison at $136 vs $151, with Eldoret cheaper for home cooking.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Eldoret vs Malindi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Malindi wins on cost – living expenses run 54% lower than in Eldoret. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Malindi the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $809 in Eldoret and $525 in Malindi to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

All in, you'll spend $539 per month in Eldoret versus $350 in Malindi – a 54% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Shoppers in Eldoret pay roughly 11% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Malindi gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Malindi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 54% less than in Eldoret. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.