Cost of Living Comparison Between Malindi and Eldoret Cost of Living Comparison Between Malindi and Eldoret

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $499 in Malindi versus $500 in Eldoret.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $795 in Malindi versus $866 in Eldoret.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,091 in Malindi versus $1,232 in Eldoret.

Monthly costs are close between Malindi and Eldoret; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

Both cities sit below the global median: Malindi 64% lower, Eldoret 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 KES 269

$1.59 KES 205

30.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.48 KES 3,039

$34.83 KES 4,509

-32.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.44 KES 1,351

$6.24 KES 807

67.31%

Cappuccino

$3.70 KES 479

$2.81 KES 363

31.67%

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

$0.94 KES 122

$0.30 KES 38.27

213.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 KES 54.9

$0.38 KES 49.06

10.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.29 KES 297

$2.29 KES 296

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.22 KES 417

$2.63 KES 340

22.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.90 KES 116

$0.67 KES 87.3

34.33%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 KES 67.5

$0.46 KES 60.0

13.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 KES 165

$1.53 KES 199

-16.99%

Eggs

$1.73 KES 224

$1.57 KES 204

10.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.15 KES 1,444

$3.95 KES 512

182.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.49 KES 711

$4.18 KES 541

31.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.97 KES 643

$4.28 KES 554

16.12%

Apples (1kg)

$2.08 KES 270

$2.35 KES 304

-11.49%

Banana (1kg)

$0.75 KES 97.1

$1.04 KES 134

-27.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.76 KES 228

$0.66 KES 85.9

166.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 KES 90.4

$0.88 KES 113

-20.45%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 KES 91.2

$0.56 KES 73.0

25.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.72 KES 93.4

$0.45 KES 58.2

60.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.61 KES 78.6

$0.70 KES 90.5

-12.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 KES 55.5

$0.61 KES 78.8

-29.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.67 KES 605

$3.52 KES 456

32.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.68 KES 994

$5.95 KES 770

29.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.03 KES 263

$2.02 KES 262

0.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 KES 384

$1.56 KES 202

90.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.43 KES 185

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.01 KES 390

$1.56 KES 203

92.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.76 KES 228

$1.55 KES 201

13.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.71 KES 610

$2.97 KES 384

58.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 KES 180

$1.47 KES 190

-5.44%

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

$12.1K KES 1.6M

$21.8K KES 2.8M

-44.55%

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

$12.0K KES 1.6M

$20.6K KES 2.7M

-41.79%

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

$55.7 KES 7,205

$39.60 KES 5,126

40.56%

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

$13.01 KES 1,684

$15.71 KES 2,034

-17.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.64 KES 3,967

$35.72 KES 4,624

-14.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.93 KES 5,040

$38.22 KES 4,948

1.86%

Cinema Ticket

$10.79 KES 1,397

$4.94 KES 640

118.42%

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

$85.9 KES 11.1K

$65.6 KES 8,489

30.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,448 KES 705.2K

$11.5K KES 1.5M

-52.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$12.91 KES 1,671

$11.68 KES 1,512

10.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.86 KES 1,794

$27.55 KES 3,566

-49.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$22.72 KES 2,941

$19.63 KES 2,541

15.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.60 KES 6,032

$35.18 KES 4,554

32.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$94.2 KES 12.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$88.2 KES 11.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$392 KES 50.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$274 KES 35.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$625 KES 81.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.71

-11.62%

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

Last update for Malindi: September 13, 2026

Last update for Eldoret: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $23.00 in Malindi vs $35.00 in Eldoret. Groceries flip the comparison at $170 vs $132, with Eldoret cheaper for home cooking.

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 Eldoret: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

You'd need roughly $749 in Malindi and $750 in Eldoret 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 Eldoret pay roughly 29% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Malindi – a meal for two runs $23.00 versus $35.00 in Eldoret. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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.

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