Cost of Living Comparison Between Machakos and Malindi Cost of Living Comparison Between Machakos and Malindi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $453 in Machakos versus $350 in Malindi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $752 in Machakos versus $573 in Malindi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,051 in Machakos versus $796 in Malindi.

Living in Machakos is roughly 29% more expensive than Malindi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Machakos 66% lower, Malindi 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.34 KES 303

$2.14 KES 277

9.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.88 KES 5,024

$31.23 KES 4,035

24.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.85 KES 885

Cappuccino

$1.99 KES 257

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

$0.74 KES 95.8

$1.59 KES 205

-53.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 KES 65.0

$0.90 KES 117

-44.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.91 KES 247

$3.50 KES 452

-45.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 KES 349

$3.55 KES 458

-23.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.38 KES 48.77

$0.98 KES 127

-61.22%

White Bread (500g)

$0.45 KES 57.9

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.81 KES 104

$1.21 KES 156

-33.06%

Eggs

$1.35 KES 175

$2.99 KES 387

-54.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.65 KES 1,506

$11.40 KES 1,473

2.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.69 KES 865

$6.20 KES 801

7.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.57 KES 591

$4.94 KES 638

-7.49%

Apples (1kg)

$1.53 KES 198

$3.16 KES 408

-51.58%

Banana (1kg)

$0.73 KES 94.7

$0.78 KES 101

-6.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.41 KES 52.5

$2.63 KES 340

-84.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.37 KES 48.44

$0.72 KES 93.3

-48.61%

Potato (1kg)

$0.78 KES 101

$0.75 KES 96.6

4.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.75 KES 97.5

$0.71 KES 92.4

5.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 KES 84.1

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 KES 52.9

$0.52 KES 66.9

-21.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.01 KES 389

Wine (Bottle)

$11.72 KES 1,514

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 KES 255

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 KES 353

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.75 KES 97.2

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.80 KES 104

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.97 KES 384

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 KES 187

$1.42 KES 184

2.11%

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

$21.9K KES 2.8M

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)

$33.86 KES 4,375

$77.1 KES 9,959

-56.06%

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

$7.93 KES 1,024

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.71 KES 1,513

$30.93 KES 3,997

-62.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.39 KES 4,961

Cinema Ticket

$6.05 KES 782

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

$45.51 KES 5,881

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,077 KES 1.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.55 KES 1,493

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.37 KES 3,149

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.4 KES 8,581

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.37 KES 4,958

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$92.4 KES 11.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$69.9 KES 9,032

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$154 KES 19.9K

$386 KES 49.9K

-60.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$115 KES 14.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$389 KES 50.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.84

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

Last update for Machakos: April 26, 2026

Last update for Malindi: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $39.00 in Machakos vs $31.00 in Malindi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $165 vs $151 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

Machakos vs Malindi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Malindi wins on cost – living expenses run 29% lower than in Machakos. 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 $680 in Machakos and $525 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 $453 per month in Machakos versus $350 in Malindi – a 29% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 9% higher in Machakos. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

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.

Safety-wise, Machakos 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 29% less than in Machakos. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.