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: $526 in Machakos versus $499 in Malindi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $809 in Machakos versus $795 in Malindi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,092 in Machakos versus $1,091 in Malindi.

Living in Machakos is roughly 5% more expensive than in Malindi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Machakos 62% lower, Malindi 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.07 KES 397

$2.08 KES 269

47.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.14 KES 2,476

$23.48 KES 3,038

-18.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.36 KES 823

$10.44 KES 1,350

-39.08%

Cappuccino

$1.96 KES 254

$3.70 KES 479

-47.03%

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

$0.60 KES 77.3

$0.94 KES 122

-36.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 KES 69.0

$0.42 KES 54.9

26.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 KES 276

$2.29 KES 297

-6.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 KES 355

$3.22 KES 417

-14.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.38 KES 48.67

$0.90 KES 116

-57.78%

White Bread (500g)

$0.47 KES 61.1

$0.52 KES 67.5

-9.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.73 KES 94.8

$1.27 KES 165

-42.52%

Eggs

$1.38 KES 178

$1.73 KES 224

-20.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.68 KES 1,383

$11.15 KES 1,443

-4.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.50 KES 841

$5.49 KES 710

18.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.68 KES 606

$4.97 KES 643

-5.84%

Apples (1kg)

$1.57 KES 204

$2.08 KES 270

-24.52%

Banana (1kg)

$0.81 KES 104

$0.75 KES 97.0

8.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.38 KES 48.89

$1.76 KES 228

-78.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.37 KES 48.05

$0.70 KES 90.4

-47.14%

Potato (1kg)

$0.80 KES 104

$0.70 KES 91.1

14.29%

Onion (1kg)

$0.78 KES 101

$0.72 KES 93.3

8.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 KES 89.0

$0.61 KES 78.6

13.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 KES 48.70

$0.43 KES 55.5

-11.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.39 KES 439

$4.67 KES 605

-27.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.68 KES 1,512

$7.68 KES 994

52.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 KES 253

$2.03 KES 262

-3.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 KES 366

$2.97 KES 384

-4.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.79 KES 102

$3.01 KES 390

-73.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.79 KES 102

$1.76 KES 228

-55.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.86 KES 370

$4.71 KES 610

-39.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 KES 186

$1.39 KES 179

2.88%

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

$21.9K KES 2.8M

$12.1K KES 1.6M

81.19%

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

$20.5K KES 2.6M

$12.0K KES 1.6M

70.82%

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

$62.6 KES 8,097

$55.7 KES 7,203

12.41%

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

$7.54 KES 976

$13.01 KES 1,683

-42.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.42 KES 1,477

$30.64 KES 3,965

-62.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.55 KES 4,988

$38.93 KES 5,038

-0.98%

Cinema Ticket

$7.71 KES 997

$10.79 KES 1,397

-28.54%

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

$46.27 KES 5,988

$85.9 KES 11.1K

-46.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.4K KES 1.5M

$5,448 KES 704.9K

108.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.44 KES 1,480

$12.91 KES 1,670

-11.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.85 KES 3,604

$13.86 KES 1,793

100.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.0 KES 9,181

$22.72 KES 2,940

212.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.84 KES 5,026

$46.60 KES 6,030

-16.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$92.3 KES 11.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$70.3 KES 9,094

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$154 KES 20.0K

$392 KES 50.7K

-60.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$115 KES 14.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$391 KES 50.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.71

13.15%

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

Last update for Machakos: September 13, 2026

Last update for Malindi: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $19.00 in Machakos vs $23.00 in Malindi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $162 vs $170 per month, with Machakos 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 5% 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 $789 in Machakos and $749 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.

Shoppers in Machakos pay roughly 5% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $526 per month in Machakos versus $499 in Malindi – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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 5% less than in Machakos. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.