😐A single person spends $468 per month in Garissa vs $350 in Malindi, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $773 per month in Garissa vs $573 in Malindi, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,077 per month in Garissa vs $796 in Malindi, rent included.
😐Garissa costs about 34% more than Malindi, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Garissa and Malindi are more affordable than the global median – Garissa65% lower, Malindi74% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Garissa
Malindi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.53KES 843
$2.14KES 277
205.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.19KES 2,997
$31.23KES 4,035
-25.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.74KES 354
-
-
Cappuccino
$4.38KES 566
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11KES 143
$1.59KES 205
-30.19%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73KES 93.9
$0.90KES 117
-18.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.91KES 247
$3.50KES 452
-45.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74KES 354
$3.55KES 458
-22.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Garissa
Malindi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.90KES 117
$0.98KES 127
-8.16%
White Bread(500g)
$0.52KES 66.9
-
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.15KES 149
$1.21KES 156
-4.96%
Eggs
$1.66KES 214
$2.99KES 387
-44.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$11.40KES 1,473
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.04KES 781
$6.20KES 801
-2.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.15KES 536
$4.94KES 638
-15.99%
Apples(1kg)
$3.02KES 390
$3.16KES 408
-4.43%
Banana(1kg)
$2.26KES 292
$0.78KES 101
189.74%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.11KES 403
$2.63KES 340
18.25%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.64KES 82.2
$0.72KES 93.3
-11.11%
Potato(1kg)
$0.81KES 105
$0.75KES 96.6
8.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.18KES 152
$0.71KES 92.4
66.20%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.70KES 90.9
-
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48KES 61.8
$0.52KES 66.9
-7.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.38KES 307
-
-
Wine(Bottle)
$5.71KES 737
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78KES 229
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20KES 414
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Garissa
Malindi
Difference
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.27KES 293
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.04KES 135
$1.42KES 184
-26.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$9,271KES 1.2M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Garissa
Malindi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$15.34KES 1,983
$77.1KES 9,959
-80.09%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.96KES 2,967
$30.93KES 3,997
-25.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Garissa
Malindi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.55KES 3,044
$38.39KES 4,961
-38.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Garissa
Malindi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$11.53KES 1,490
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$7.87KES 1,017
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$23.16KES 2,993
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$23.41KES 3,025
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Garissa
Malindi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$99.6KES 12.9K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$77.0KES 9,949
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$196KES 25.4K
$386KES 49.9K
-49.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$170KES 21.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Garissa
Malindi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$132KES 17.0K
-
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Garissa: April 27, 2026
Last update for Malindi: April 27, 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
How do living costs in Garissa and Malindi compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $468 in Garissa, $350 in Malindi – roughly 34% apart. Garissa costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Garissa compared to Malindi?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $702 per month in Garissa and $525 in Malindi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
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.
Which city is more expensive overall: Garissa or Malindi?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $468 in Garissa and $350 in Malindi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How far does $800 go in Garissa vs Malindi?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $468 in Garissa and $350 in Malindi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Where should families live: Garissa or Malindi?
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.
How do I decide between Garissa and Malindi?
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.