Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Malindi Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Malindi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $363 in Malindi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $592 in Malindi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $821 in Malindi.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 532% more expensive than in Malindi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Malindi is 73% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.19 €14.15

$2.19 KES 283

639.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.3 €55.3

$31.56 KES 4,077

100.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.32 €9.02

Cappuccino

$2.83 €2.47

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

$2.29 €2.00

$1.52 KES 196

50.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 €1.38

$0.94 KES 122

68.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.40 €2.97

$3.47 KES 448

-2.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 €3.52

$3.58 KES 462

12.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 €0.95

$0.91 KES 118

19.78%

White Bread (500g)

$1.75 €1.53

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.76 €1.54

$1.23 KES 158

43.09%

Eggs

$3.17 €2.77

$2.96 KES 382

7.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.19 €11.53

$11.60 KES 1,498

13.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.97 €6.96

$6.27 KES 810

27.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.53 €13.57

$5.06 KES 654

206.92%

Apples (1kg)

$2.37 €2.07

$3.07 KES 397

-22.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 €1.49

$0.75 KES 96.6

128.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.01 €1.75

$2.63 KES 340

-23.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.43 €2.12

$0.70 KES 91.1

247.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.76 €1.54

$0.79 KES 102

122.78%

Onion (1kg)

$2.03 €1.78

$0.66 KES 85.3

207.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.92 €1.68

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 €0.74

$0.52 KES 66.6

63.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.58 €5.75

Wine (Bottle)

$5.58 €4.87

$7.66 KES 989

-27.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 €1.16

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 €2.60

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.28 €1.99

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.79 €40.01

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.23 €3.69

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.81 €0.71

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.44 €16.11

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.08 €1.82

$1.44 KES 186

44.44%

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

$34.7K €30.3K

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

$39.2K €34.2K

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

$148 €129

$77.5 KES 10.0K

90.96%

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

$20.46 €17.88

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.56 €34.56

$31.55 KES 4,077

25.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.99 €41.93

$38.14 KES 4,927

25.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.60 €16.25

Cinema Ticket

$9.22 €8.06

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

$616 €538

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.4K €14.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$103 €89.7

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.74 €36.47

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.8 €82.8

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 €107

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,633 €1,426

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,232 €1,077

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,098 €2,707

$386 KES 49.9K

701.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,031 €1,775

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,831 €6,842

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,389 €3,835

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,607 €1,404

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.81

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

Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026

Last update for Malindi: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $32.00 in Malindi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $166 per month, with Malindi cheaper across the board.

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

Lisbon vs Malindi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lisbon and Malindi differ by about 532% in total monthly costs ($2,291 vs $363 including rent). Malindi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $3,437 in Lisbon and $544 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.

Dining out is cheaper in Malindi – a meal for two runs $32.00 versus $63.0 in Lisbon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,291 per month in Lisbon versus $363 in Malindi – a 532% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $363 in Malindi versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Malindi but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Malindi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Lisbon and Malindi are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Malindi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 532% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.