Cost of Living Comparison Between Homa Bay and Malindi Cost of Living Comparison Between Homa Bay and Malindi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $58.7 per month in Homa Bay vs $478 in Malindi, rent included.

A couple spends around $453 per month in Homa Bay vs $754 in Malindi, rent included.

A family of three spends $848 per month in Homa Bay vs $1,031 in Malindi, rent included.

Homa Bay is about 88% cheaper than Malindi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Homa Bay and Malindi are more affordable than the global median – Homa Bay 96% lower, Malindi 65% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.06 KES 267

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$148 KES 19.1K

$23.15 KES 2,996

537.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.50 KES 1,359

$10.29 KES 1,331

2.04%

Cappuccino

$2.55 KES 330

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

$0.70 KES 90.4

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.03 KES 133

$0.42 KES 54.9

145.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.48 KES 321

$2.27 KES 294

9.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.14 KES 665

$3.15 KES 407

63.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.88 KES 113

White Bread (500g)

$0.50 KES 64.2

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 KES 164

Eggs

$1.77 KES 229

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.60 KES 1,242

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.65 KES 731

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.05 KES 654

Apples (1kg)

$1.88 KES 243

Banana (1kg)

$0.73 KES 94.0

Oranges (1kg)

$1.81 KES 235

Tomato (1kg)

$0.69 KES 89.6

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 KES 86.3

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 KES 85.6

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 KES 84.8

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 KES 67.1

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.86 KES 499

Wine (Bottle)

$7.95 KES 1,029

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.90 KES 246

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 KES 355

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.15 KES 408

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.75 KES 227

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.54 KES 588

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.42 KES 184

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

$11.9K KES 1.5M

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

$12.1K KES 1.6M

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

$55.3 KES 7,153

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

$13.43 KES 1,738

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.06 KES 4,019

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.81 KES 5,022

Cinema Ticket

$10.85 KES 1,403

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

$88.5 KES 11.5K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,322 KES 688.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.07 KES 1,691

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.72 KES 1,776

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$23.42 KES 3,031

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.41 KES 6,006

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$386 KES 50.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Homa Bay: August 15, 2026

Last update for Malindi: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $148 in Homa Bay versus $23.00 in Malindi. Use this as a proxy for overall food spending across the two cities.

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

Homa Bay vs Malindi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Malindi is pricier by about 714%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $88.0 per month in Homa Bay and $716 in Malindi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $58.7 in Homa Bay and $478 in Malindi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $148 in Homa Bay and $23.00 in Malindi. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $58.7 in Homa Bay and $478 in Malindi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

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