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: $364 in Malindi versus $540 in Eldoret.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $596 in Malindi versus $935 in Eldoret.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $829 in Malindi versus $1,329 in Eldoret.

Living in Malindi costs roughly 33% less than in Eldoret, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Malindi 73% lower, Eldoret 59% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.11 KES 272

$5.33 KES 689

-60.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.20 KES 4,033

$38.65 KES 4,995

-19.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.67 KES 862

Cappuccino

$2.44 KES 315

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

$1.53 KES 198

$0.75 KES 97.3

104.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.89 KES 115

$0.54 KES 69.9

64.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.54 KES 457

$2.35 KES 304

50.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 KES 439

$2.87 KES 372

18.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 KES 127

$0.76 KES 97.7

28.95%

White Bread (500g)

$0.47 KES 61.3

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.26 KES 163

$1.23 KES 159

2.44%

Eggs

$2.91 KES 376

$1.58 KES 204

84.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.44 KES 1,479

$3.92 KES 507

191.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.05 KES 781

$3.67 KES 474

64.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.15 KES 665

$4.30 KES 556

19.77%

Apples (1kg)

$3.05 KES 395

$3.02 KES 390

0.99%

Banana (1kg)

$0.76 KES 97.9

$0.87 KES 112

-12.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.64 KES 341

$1.65 KES 213

60.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.71 KES 91.3

$1.05 KES 135

-32.38%

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 KES 96.4

$0.56 KES 72.3

33.93%

Onion (1kg)

$0.71 KES 92.2

$0.89 KES 115

-20.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.64 KES 82.4

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 KES 67.4

$0.65 KES 83.6

-20.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.16 KES 409

Wine (Bottle)

$7.65 KES 989

$5.66 KES 731

35.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 KES 228

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 KES 205

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 KES 176

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.59 KES 205

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 KES 203

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.95 KES 382

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 KES 177

$1.55 KES 201

-11.61%

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

$22.1K KES 2.9M

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

$20.2K KES 2.6M

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

$78.4 KES 10.1K

$33.69 KES 4,354

132.77%

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

$17.12 KES 2,213

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.23 KES 4,037

$39.54 KES 5,110

-21.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.06 KES 4,919

$38.33 KES 4,954

-0.70%

Cinema Ticket

$4.95 KES 640

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

$63.4 KES 8,191

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,183 KES 1.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.47 KES 1,482

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.98 KES 3,099

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$19.64 KES 2,539

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$34.13 KES 4,411

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$94.5 KES 12.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$90.6 KES 11.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$382 KES 49.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$266 KES 34.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$610 KES 78.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Malindi: July 26, 2026

Last update for Eldoret: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $31.00 in Malindi vs $39.00 in Eldoret. Groceries flip the comparison at $166 vs $136, 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 48% 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 $546 in Malindi and $810 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 $364 per month in Malindi versus $540 in Eldoret – a 48% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Shoppers in Eldoret pay roughly 22% 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 48% less than in Eldoret. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.