Cost of Living Comparison Between Malindi and Busia Cost of Living Comparison Between Malindi and Busia

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.06 KES 267

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.15 KES 2,996

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.29 KES 1,331

Cappuccino

$2.55 KES 330

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

$0.70 KES 90.4

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 KES 54.9

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.27 KES 294

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.15 KES 407

Milk (1 liter)

$0.88 KES 113

White Bread (500g)

$0.50 KES 64.2

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 KES 164

Eggs

$1.77 KES 229

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.60 KES 1,242

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.65 KES 731

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.05 KES 654

Apples (1kg)

$1.88 KES 243

Banana (1kg)

$0.73 KES 94.0

Oranges (1kg)

$1.81 KES 235

Tomato (1kg)

$0.69 KES 89.6

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 KES 86.3

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 KES 85.6

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 KES 84.8

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 KES 67.1

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.86 KES 499

Wine (Bottle)

$7.95 KES 1,029

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.90 KES 246

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 KES 355

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.15 KES 408

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.75 KES 227

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.54 KES 588

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.42 KES 184

$1.32 KES 171

7.58%

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

$11.9K KES 1.5M

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

$12.1K KES 1.6M

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

$55.3 KES 7,153

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

$13.43 KES 1,738

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.06 KES 4,019

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.81 KES 5,022

Cinema Ticket

$10.85 KES 1,403

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

$88.5 KES 11.5K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,322 KES 688.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.07 KES 1,691

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.72 KES 1,776

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$23.42 KES 3,031

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.41 KES 6,006

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$386 KES 50.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Malindi: August 17, 2026

Last update for Busia: August 17, 2026

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

Malindi vs Busia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For families, Busia is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Malindi, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

It comes down to priorities – Busia wins on affordability, Malindi on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.