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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.16 KES 280

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.31 KES 3,022

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.21 KES 1,324

Cappuccino

$3.72 KES 483

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

$0.99 KES 129

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 KES 53.9

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.27 KES 295

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 KES 419

Milk (1 liter)

$0.95 KES 124

White Bread (500g)

$0.50 KES 64.2

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.22 KES 158

Eggs

$1.76 KES 228

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.18 KES 1,450

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.55 KES 720

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.98 KES 646

Apples (1kg)

$2.06 KES 267

Banana (1kg)

$0.74 KES 95.9

Oranges (1kg)

$1.85 KES 240

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 KES 90.7

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 KES 87.6

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 KES 86.7

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 KES 72.3

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 KES 55.1

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.73 KES 614

Wine (Bottle)

$7.89 KES 1,022

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.02 KES 262

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 KES 367

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 KES 392

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.71 KES 222

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.71 KES 611

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 KES 179

$1.32 KES 171

4.55%

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

$12.1K KES 1.6M

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

$11.9K KES 1.5M

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

$55.3 KES 7,168

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

$13.06 KES 1,694

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.26 KES 3,923

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.94 KES 4,919

Cinema Ticket

$10.95 KES 1,420

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

$87.5 KES 11.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,369 KES 696.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.07 KES 1,694

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.59 KES 1,762

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$23.31 KES 3,023

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.52 KES 5,902

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$387 KES 50.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Malindi: September 28, 2026

Last update for Busia: September 29, 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.