Cost of Living Comparison Between Garissa and Malindi Cost of Living Comparison Between Garissa and Malindi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $454 per month in Garissa vs $348 in Malindi, rent included.

A couple spends around $761 per month in Garissa vs $571 in Malindi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,068 per month in Garissa vs $794 in Malindi, rent included.

Garissa costs about 30% more than Malindi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Garissa and Malindi are more affordable than the global median – Garissa 66% lower, Malindi 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.74 KES 874

$2.12 KES 274

217.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.34 KES 3,027

$30.55 KES 3,962

-23.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.69 KES 348

Cappuccino

$4.15 KES 538

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

$1.11 KES 144

$1.60 KES 207

-30.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.67 KES 87.0

$0.91 KES 119

-26.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.96 KES 254

$3.57 KES 463

-45.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 KES 358

$3.56 KES 461

-22.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 KES 111

$0.97 KES 126

-12.37%

White Bread (500g)

$0.51 KES 66.1

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 KES 141

$1.27 KES 164

-14.17%

Eggs

$1.69 KES 220

$2.92 KES 379

-42.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.84 KES 1,535

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.16 KES 799

$6.05 KES 785

1.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.27 KES 554

$5.11 KES 662

-16.44%

Apples (1kg)

$3.02 KES 391

$3.03 KES 393

-0.33%

Banana (1kg)

$2.25 KES 292

$0.78 KES 101

188.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.04 KES 394

$2.67 KES 347

13.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.65 KES 83.7

$0.67 KES 87.3

-2.99%

Potato (1kg)

$0.88 KES 114

$0.75 KES 97.4

17.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 KES 154

$0.70 KES 91.0

70.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 KES 91.4

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.44 KES 57.2

$0.48 KES 62.0

-8.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.27 KES 295

Wine (Bottle)

$5.72 KES 741

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 KES 231

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 KES 428

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.26 KES 293

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 KES 133

$1.36 KES 176

-24.26%

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

$9,443 KES 1.2M

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

$15.35 KES 1,990

$76.8 KES 9,957

-80.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.79 KES 2,955

$30.80 KES 3,993

-26.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.82 KES 2,959

$38.73 KES 5,021

-41.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.57 KES 1,501

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$7.95 KES 1,030

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$23.60 KES 3,060

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$23.12 KES 2,998

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$102 KES 13.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$78.1 KES 10.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$192 KES 24.9K

$392 KES 50.8K

-50.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$167 KES 21.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$131 KES 16.9K

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

Last update for Garissa: June 7, 2026

Last update for Malindi: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Garissa versus $31.00 in Malindi. Groceries tell a different story – $152 in Garissa vs $151 in Malindi – so Malindi wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Garissa vs Malindi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $454 in Garissa, $348 in Malindi – roughly 30% apart. Garissa costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $680 per month in Garissa and $522 in Malindi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Garissa and $31.00 in Malindi. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $454 in Garissa and $348 in Malindi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $454 in Garissa and $348 in Malindi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Malindi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Malindi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Garissa makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.