Cost of Living Comparison Between Malindi and Machakos Cost of Living Comparison Between Malindi and Machakos

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $499 in Malindi versus $526 in Machakos.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $795 in Malindi versus $809 in Machakos.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,091 in Malindi versus $1,092 in Machakos.

Living in Malindi costs roughly 5% less than in Machakos, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Malindi 64% lower, Machakos 62% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 KES 269

$3.07 KES 397

-32.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.48 KES 3,038

$19.14 KES 2,476

22.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.44 KES 1,350

$6.36 KES 823

64.15%

Cappuccino

$3.70 KES 479

$1.96 KES 254

88.78%

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

$0.94 KES 122

$0.60 KES 77.3

56.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 KES 54.9

$0.53 KES 69.0

-20.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.29 KES 297

$2.13 KES 276

7.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.22 KES 417

$2.74 KES 355

17.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.90 KES 116

$0.38 KES 48.67

136.84%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 KES 67.5

$0.47 KES 61.1

10.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 KES 165

$0.73 KES 94.8

73.97%

Eggs

$1.73 KES 224

$1.38 KES 178

25.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.15 KES 1,443

$10.68 KES 1,383

4.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.49 KES 710

$6.50 KES 841

-15.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.97 KES 643

$4.68 KES 606

6.20%

Apples (1kg)

$2.08 KES 270

$1.57 KES 204

32.48%

Banana (1kg)

$0.75 KES 97.0

$0.81 KES 104

-7.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.76 KES 228

$0.38 KES 48.89

363.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 KES 90.4

$0.37 KES 48.05

89.19%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 KES 91.1

$0.80 KES 104

-12.50%

Onion (1kg)

$0.72 KES 93.3

$0.78 KES 101

-7.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.61 KES 78.6

$0.69 KES 89.0

-11.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 KES 55.5

$0.38 KES 48.70

13.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.67 KES 605

$3.39 KES 439

37.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.68 KES 994

$11.68 KES 1,512

-34.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.03 KES 262

$1.95 KES 253

4.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 KES 384

$2.83 KES 366

4.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.01 KES 390

$0.79 KES 102

281.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.76 KES 228

$0.79 KES 102

122.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.71 KES 610

$2.86 KES 370

64.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 KES 179

$1.43 KES 186

-2.80%

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

$12.1K KES 1.6M

$21.9K KES 2.8M

-44.81%

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

$12.0K KES 1.6M

$20.5K KES 2.6M

-41.46%

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

$55.7 KES 7,203

$62.6 KES 8,097

-11.04%

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

$13.01 KES 1,683

$7.54 KES 976

72.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.64 KES 3,965

$11.42 KES 1,477

168.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.93 KES 5,038

$38.55 KES 4,988

0.99%

Cinema Ticket

$10.79 KES 1,397

$7.71 KES 997

39.95%

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

$85.9 KES 11.1K

$46.27 KES 5,988

85.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,448 KES 704.9K

$11.4K KES 1.5M

-52.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$12.91 KES 1,670

$11.44 KES 1,480

12.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.86 KES 1,793

$27.85 KES 3,604

-50.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$22.72 KES 2,940

$71.0 KES 9,181

-67.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.60 KES 6,030

$38.84 KES 5,026

19.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$92.3 KES 11.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$70.3 KES 9,094

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$392 KES 50.7K

$154 KES 20.0K

153.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$115 KES 14.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$391 KES 50.6K

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 Machakos: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $23.00 in Malindi vs $19.00 in Machakos for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $170 vs $162 per month, with Machakos cheaper across the board.

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 Machakos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Malindi wins on cost – living expenses run 5% lower than in Machakos. 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 $749 in Malindi and $789 in Machakos 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 Machakos pay roughly 5% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $499 per month in Malindi versus $526 in Machakos – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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.

Safety-wise, Malindi and Machakos are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Malindi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Machakos. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.