Cost of Living Comparison Between Malindi and Kisii Cost of Living Comparison Between Malindi and Kisii

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $500 in Malindi versus $309 in Kisii.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $785 in Malindi versus $442 in Kisii.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,070 in Malindi versus $576 in Kisii.

Living in Malindi is roughly 62% more expensive than in Kisii, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Malindi 64% lower, Kisii 78% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.09 KES 271

$2.67 KES 345

-21.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.34 KES 3,019

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.59 KES 1,370

Cappuccino

$3.71 KES 480

$1.40 KES 181

165.00%

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

$0.95 KES 123

$0.82 KES 105

15.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.43 KES 55.6

$0.22 KES 28.43

95.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.29 KES 297

$1.83 KES 236

25.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.26 KES 422

$2.34 KES 302

39.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.93 KES 121

$0.88 KES 114

5.68%

White Bread (500g)

$0.49 KES 63.0

$0.48 KES 62.1

2.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 KES 156

$2.34 KES 302

-48.29%

Eggs

$1.74 KES 225

$1.83 KES 236

-4.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.21 KES 1,450

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.46 KES 707

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.11 KES 661

$4.56 KES 590

12.06%

Apples (1kg)

$2.14 KES 277

Banana (1kg)

$0.73 KES 94.1

Oranges (1kg)

$1.84 KES 238

Tomato (1kg)

$0.69 KES 89.0

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 KES 87.8

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 KES 84.9

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.60 KES 78.2

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 KES 55.1

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.52 KES 584

Wine (Bottle)

$7.83 KES 1,013

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 KES 256

$1.96 KES 253

1.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 KES 384

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.41 KES 52.8

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.66 KES 2,026

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.00 KES 388

$0.75 KES 96.4

300.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.71 KES 221

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.49 KES 581

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 KES 176

$1.55 KES 201

-12.26%

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

$12.3K KES 1.6M

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

$12.0K KES 1.5M

$11.4K KES 1.5M

5.17%

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

$55.3 KES 7,149

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

$13.28 KES 1,717

$16.47 KES 2,131

-19.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.29 KES 4,047

$49.35 KES 6,383

-36.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.80 KES 5,019

Cinema Ticket

$10.95 KES 1,417

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

$87.7 KES 11.3K

$38.45 KES 4,973

127.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,331 KES 689.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.03 KES 1,686

$11.39 KES 1,473

14.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.53 KES 1,750

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$23.02 KES 2,977

$39.25 KES 5,076

-41.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.51 KES 5,887

$30.78 KES 3,981

47.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$78.2 KES 10.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$383 KES 49.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$157 KES 20.3K

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 6, 2026

Last update for Kisii: September 5, 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 Kisii: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kisii wins on cost – living expenses run 62% lower than in Malindi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kisii the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $750 in Malindi and $464 in Kisii 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 $500 per month in Malindi versus $309 in Kisii – a 62% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 217% higher in Malindi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Kisii 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 Kisii gentler on the wallet – expenses run 62% less than in Malindi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.