😐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: Machakos66% lower, Malindi74% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Machakos
Malindi
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.34KES 302
$2.14KES 277
9.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.88KES 5,018
$31.23KES 4,030
24.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.85KES 884
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.99KES 257
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74KES 95.7
$1.59KES 205
-53.46%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50KES 64.9
$0.90KES 117
-44.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.91KES 247
$3.50KES 451
-45.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70KES 348
$3.55KES 458
-23.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Machakos
Malindi
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$0.38KES 48.71
$0.98KES 127
-61.22%
White Bread(500g)
$0.45KES 57.8
-
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.81KES 104
$1.21KES 156
-33.06%
Eggs
$1.35KES 175
$2.99KES 386
-54.85%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.65KES 1,504
$11.40KES 1,471
2.19%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.69KES 864
$6.20KES 800
7.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.57KES 590
$4.94KES 637
-7.49%
Apples(1kg)
$1.53KES 197
$3.16KES 407
-51.58%
Banana(1kg)
$0.73KES 94.5
$0.78KES 101
-6.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.41KES 52.4
$2.63KES 340
-84.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.37KES 48.38
$0.72KES 93.2
-48.61%
Potato(1kg)
$0.78KES 101
$0.75KES 96.5
4.00%
Onion(1kg)
$0.75KES 97.4
$0.71KES 92.3
5.63%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.65KES 84.0
-
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41KES 52.8
$0.52KES 66.8
-21.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.01KES 388
-
-
Wine(Bottle)
$11.72KES 1,512
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.98KES 255
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73KES 353
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Machakos
Malindi
Diferencia
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.75KES 97.1
-
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.80KES 104
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.97KES 383
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.45KES 187
$1.42KES 184
2.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.9KKES 2.8M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.2KKES 2.6M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Machakos
Malindi
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$33.86KES 4,370
$77.1KES 9,947
-56.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.93KES 1,023
-
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.71KES 1,511
$30.93KES 3,992
-62.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Machakos
Malindi
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$38.39KES 4,955
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.05KES 781
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Machakos
Malindi
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$45.51KES 5,874
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,077KES 1.0M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Machakos
Malindi
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$11.55KES 1,491
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.37KES 3,145
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$66.4KES 8,570
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$38.37KES 4,952
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Machakos
Malindi
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$92.4KES 11.9K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$69.9KES 9,021
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$154KES 19.8K
$386KES 49.9K
-60.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$115KES 14.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Machakos
Malindi
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$389KES 50.2K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
14.84
0
-
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Machakos: April 26, 2026
Última actualización para 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.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Machakos vs Malindi: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Which city is more expensive, Machakos or Malindi?
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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Machakos vs Malindi?
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.
How much does it cost to live in Machakos compared to Malindi?
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.
Are groceries more expensive in Machakos or Malindi?
Supermarket bills run roughly 9% higher in Machakos. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $800/month in Machakos or Malindi?
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.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Machakos or Malindi?
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.
How safe is Machakos compared to Malindi?
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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
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.
Machakos vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado