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: $540 in Eldoret versus $364 in Malindi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $935 in Eldoret versus $596 in Malindi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,329 in Eldoret versus $829 in Malindi.

Living in Eldoret is roughly 48% more expensive than in Malindi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Eldoret 59% lower, Malindi 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.33 KES 689

$2.11 KES 272

152.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.65 KES 4,995

$31.20 KES 4,033

23.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.67 KES 862

Cappuccino

$2.44 KES 315

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

$0.75 KES 97.3

$1.53 KES 198

-50.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 KES 69.9

$0.89 KES 115

-39.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 KES 304

$3.54 KES 457

-33.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 KES 372

$3.40 KES 439

-15.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.76 KES 97.7

$0.98 KES 127

-22.45%

White Bread (500g)

$0.47 KES 61.3

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 KES 159

$1.26 KES 163

-2.38%

Eggs

$1.58 KES 204

$2.91 KES 376

-45.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.92 KES 507

$11.44 KES 1,479

-65.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.67 KES 474

$6.05 KES 781

-39.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.30 KES 556

$5.15 KES 665

-16.50%

Apples (1kg)

$3.02 KES 390

$3.05 KES 395

-0.98%

Banana (1kg)

$0.87 KES 112

$0.76 KES 97.9

14.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 KES 213

$2.64 KES 341

-37.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.05 KES 135

$0.71 KES 91.3

47.89%

Potato (1kg)

$0.56 KES 72.3

$0.75 KES 96.4

-25.33%

Onion (1kg)

$0.89 KES 115

$0.71 KES 92.2

25.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.64 KES 82.4

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 KES 83.6

$0.52 KES 67.4

25.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.16 KES 409

Wine (Bottle)

$5.66 KES 731

$7.65 KES 989

-26.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 KES 228

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 KES 205

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 KES 176

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.59 KES 205

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 KES 203

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.95 KES 382

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 KES 201

$1.37 KES 177

13.14%

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

$22.1K KES 2.9M

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

$20.2K KES 2.6M

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

$33.69 KES 4,354

$78.4 KES 10.1K

-57.04%

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

$17.12 KES 2,213

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.54 KES 5,110

$31.23 KES 4,037

26.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.33 KES 4,954

$38.06 KES 4,919

0.71%

Cinema Ticket

$4.95 KES 640

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

$63.4 KES 8,191

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,183 KES 1.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.47 KES 1,482

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.98 KES 3,099

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$19.64 KES 2,539

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$34.13 KES 4,411

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$94.5 KES 12.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$90.6 KES 11.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$382 KES 49.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$266 KES 34.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$610 KES 78.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Eldoret: July 26, 2026

Last update for Malindi: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $39.00 in Eldoret vs $31.00 in Malindi. Groceries flip the comparison at $136 vs $166, 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 48% 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 $810 in Eldoret and $546 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 $540 per month in Eldoret versus $364 in Malindi – a 48% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Shoppers in Eldoret pay roughly 22% 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 48% less than in Eldoret. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.