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: $348 in Malindi versus $529 in Eldoret.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $571 in Malindi versus $935 in Eldoret.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $794 in Malindi versus $1,341 in Eldoret.

Living in Malindi costs roughly 34% less than in Eldoret, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Malindi 74% lower, Eldoret 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.12 KES 274

$5.39 KES 699

-60.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.55 KES 3,962

$38.45 KES 4,985

-20.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.01 KES 909

Cappuccino

$2.49 KES 323

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

$1.60 KES 207

$0.75 KES 96.7

113.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 KES 119

$0.51 KES 65.5

78.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.57 KES 463

$2.26 KES 294

57.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 KES 461

$2.85 KES 370

24.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.97 KES 126

$0.70 KES 91.2

38.57%

White Bread (500g)

$0.47 KES 61.2

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 KES 164

$1.18 KES 154

7.63%

Eggs

$2.92 KES 379

$1.58 KES 204

84.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.84 KES 1,535

$3.84 KES 498

208.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.05 KES 785

$3.65 KES 473

65.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.11 KES 662

$4.14 KES 537

23.43%

Apples (1kg)

$3.03 KES 393

$3.16 KES 410

-4.11%

Banana (1kg)

$0.78 KES 101

$0.88 KES 114

-11.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.67 KES 347

$1.65 KES 214

61.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.67 KES 87.3

$1.04 KES 135

-35.58%

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 KES 97.4

$0.52 KES 66.9

44.23%

Onion (1kg)

$0.70 KES 91.0

$0.84 KES 109

-16.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 KES 84.2

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 KES 62.0

$0.68 KES 87.8

-29.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.18 KES 413

Wine (Bottle)

$5.65 KES 733

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 KES 224

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.53 KES 199

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.35 KES 175

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.57 KES 204

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.56 KES 202

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.93 KES 380

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 KES 176

$1.48 KES 191

-8.11%

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

$21.7K KES 2.8M

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

$19.8K KES 2.6M

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

$76.8 KES 9,957

$34.23 KES 4,438

124.36%

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

$16.98 KES 2,202

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.80 KES 3,993

$39.36 KES 5,103

-21.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.73 KES 5,021

$38.19 KES 4,952

1.41%

Cinema Ticket

$5.05 KES 655

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

$63.2 KES 8,196

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,903 KES 1.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.69 KES 1,516

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.05 KES 3,119

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$19.24 KES 2,495

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.23 KES 4,568

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$91.4 KES 11.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$88.2 KES 11.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$392 KES 50.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$268 KES 34.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$624 KES 81.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Malindi: June 7, 2026

Last update for Eldoret: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $31.00 in Malindi vs $38.00 in Eldoret. Groceries flip the comparison at $151 vs $135, 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

Malindi wins on cost – living expenses run 52% lower than in Eldoret. 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 $522 in Malindi and $793 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.

All in, you'll spend $348 per month in Malindi versus $529 in Eldoret – a 52% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Shoppers in Eldoret pay roughly 12% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

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.

Expats usually find Malindi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 52% less than in Eldoret. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.