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: $529 in Eldoret versus $348 in Malindi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $935 in Eldoret versus $571 in Malindi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,341 in Eldoret versus $794 in Malindi.

Living in Eldoret is roughly 52% more expensive than Malindi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Eldoret 61% lower, Malindi 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.39 KES 699

$2.12 KES 274

154.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.45 KES 4,985

$30.55 KES 3,962

25.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.01 KES 909

Cappuccino

$2.49 KES 323

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

$0.75 KES 96.7

$1.60 KES 207

-53.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 KES 65.5

$0.91 KES 119

-43.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.26 KES 294

$3.57 KES 463

-36.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.85 KES 370

$3.56 KES 461

-19.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.70 KES 91.2

$0.97 KES 126

-27.84%

White Bread (500g)

$0.47 KES 61.2

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 KES 154

$1.27 KES 164

-7.09%

Eggs

$1.58 KES 204

$2.92 KES 379

-45.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.84 KES 498

$11.84 KES 1,535

-67.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.65 KES 473

$6.05 KES 785

-39.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.14 KES 537

$5.11 KES 662

-18.98%

Apples (1kg)

$3.16 KES 410

$3.03 KES 393

4.29%

Banana (1kg)

$0.88 KES 114

$0.78 KES 101

12.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 KES 214

$2.67 KES 347

-38.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.04 KES 135

$0.67 KES 87.3

55.22%

Potato (1kg)

$0.52 KES 66.9

$0.75 KES 97.4

-30.67%

Onion (1kg)

$0.84 KES 109

$0.70 KES 91.0

20.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 KES 84.2

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 KES 87.8

$0.48 KES 62.0

41.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.18 KES 413

Wine (Bottle)

$5.65 KES 733

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 KES 224

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.53 KES 199

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.35 KES 175

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.57 KES 204

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.56 KES 202

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.93 KES 380

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.48 KES 191

$1.36 KES 176

8.82%

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

$21.7K KES 2.8M

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

$19.8K KES 2.6M

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

$34.23 KES 4,438

$76.8 KES 9,957

-55.43%

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

$16.98 KES 2,202

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.36 KES 5,103

$30.80 KES 3,993

27.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.19 KES 4,952

$38.73 KES 5,021

-1.39%

Cinema Ticket

$5.05 KES 655

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

$63.2 KES 8,196

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,903 KES 1.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.69 KES 1,516

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.05 KES 3,119

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$19.24 KES 2,495

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.23 KES 4,568

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$91.4 KES 11.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$88.2 KES 11.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$392 KES 50.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$268 KES 34.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$624 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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Malindi: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $38.00 in Eldoret vs $31.00 in Malindi. Groceries flip the comparison at $135 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 52% 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 $793 in Eldoret and $522 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 $529 per month in Eldoret versus $348 in Malindi – a 52% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Shoppers in Eldoret pay roughly 12% 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 52% less than in Eldoret. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.