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: $443 in Machakos versus $348 in Malindi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $754 in Machakos versus $571 in Malindi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,065 in Machakos versus $794 in Malindi.

Living in Machakos is roughly 27% more expensive than Malindi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Machakos 67% lower, Malindi 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.34 KES 303

$2.12 KES 274

10.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.41 KES 4,980

$30.55 KES 3,962

25.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.89 KES 893

Cappuccino

$1.95 KES 252

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

$0.69 KES 90.1

$1.60 KES 207

-56.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 KES 65.7

$0.91 KES 119

-43.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.88 KES 243

$3.57 KES 463

-47.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 KES 359

$3.56 KES 461

-22.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.40 KES 52.4

$0.97 KES 126

-58.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.44 KES 56.9

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.76 KES 97.9

$1.27 KES 164

-40.16%

Eggs

$1.36 KES 176

$2.92 KES 379

-53.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.49 KES 1,490

$11.84 KES 1,535

-2.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.77 KES 878

$6.05 KES 785

11.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.75 KES 615

$5.11 KES 662

-7.05%

Apples (1kg)

$1.53 KES 198

$3.03 KES 393

-49.50%

Banana (1kg)

$0.75 KES 96.9

$0.78 KES 101

-3.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.37 KES 48.26

$2.67 KES 347

-86.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.38 KES 49.23

$0.67 KES 87.3

-43.28%

Potato (1kg)

$0.80 KES 104

$0.75 KES 97.4

6.67%

Onion (1kg)

$0.78 KES 101

$0.70 KES 91.0

11.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 KES 83.7

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 KES 48.81

$0.48 KES 62.0

-20.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.11 KES 404

Wine (Bottle)

$11.55 KES 1,498

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 KES 257

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 KES 356

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.73 KES 95.2

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.80 KES 103

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.96 KES 384

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.51 KES 196

$1.36 KES 176

11.03%

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

$22.0K KES 2.8M

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

$19.6K KES 2.5M

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

$34.62 KES 4,489

$76.8 KES 9,957

-54.92%

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

$7.56 KES 980

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.64 KES 1,510

$30.80 KES 3,993

-62.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.73 KES 5,021

Cinema Ticket

$6.27 KES 813

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

$46.87 KES 6,077

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,961 KES 1.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.72 KES 1,520

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.84 KES 3,091

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.5 KES 8,497

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.27 KES 4,962

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$93.1 KES 12.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$68.7 KES 8,910

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$152 KES 19.7K

$392 KES 50.8K

-61.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$118 KES 15.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$393 KES 50.9K

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Malindi: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $38.00 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 27% 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 $665 in Machakos and $522 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 $443 per month in Machakos versus $348 in Malindi – a 27% 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 27% less than in Machakos. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.