🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $350 in Malindi versus $453 in Machakos.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $573 in Malindi versus $752 in Machakos.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $796 in Malindi versus $1,051 in Machakos.
🙂Living in Malindi costs roughly 23% less than in Machakos, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Malindi74% lower, Machakos66% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Malindi
Machakos
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.14KES 277
$2.34KES 302
-8.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.23KES 4,030
$38.88KES 5,018
-19.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$6.85KES 884
-
Cappuccino
-
$1.99KES 257
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59KES 205
$0.74KES 95.7
114.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90KES 117
$0.50KES 64.9
80.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.50KES 451
$1.91KES 247
83.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.55KES 458
$2.70KES 348
31.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Malindi
Machakos
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$0.98KES 127
$0.38KES 48.71
157.89%
White Bread(500g)
-
$0.45KES 57.8
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.21KES 156
$0.81KES 104
49.38%
Eggs
$2.99KES 386
$1.35KES 175
121.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.40KES 1,471
$11.65KES 1,504
-2.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.20KES 800
$6.69KES 864
-7.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.94KES 637
$4.57KES 590
8.10%
Apples(1kg)
$3.16KES 407
$1.53KES 197
106.54%
Banana(1kg)
$0.78KES 101
$0.73KES 94.5
6.85%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.63KES 340
$0.41KES 52.4
541.46%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.72KES 93.2
$0.37KES 48.38
94.59%
Potato(1kg)
$0.75KES 96.5
$0.78KES 101
-3.85%
Onion(1kg)
$0.71KES 92.3
$0.75KES 97.4
-5.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$0.65KES 84.0
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52KES 66.8
$0.41KES 52.8
26.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$3.01KES 388
-
Wine(Bottle)
-
$11.72KES 1,512
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.98KES 255
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.73KES 353
-
🚌 Getting Around
Malindi
Machakos
Diferencia
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$0.75KES 97.1
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.80KES 104
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$2.97KES 383
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.42KES 184
$1.45KES 187
-2.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$21.9KKES 2.8M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$20.2KKES 2.6M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Malindi
Machakos
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$77.1KES 9,947
$33.86KES 4,370
127.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$7.93KES 1,023
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.93KES 3,992
$11.71KES 1,511
164.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Malindi
Machakos
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.39KES 4,955
-
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$6.05KES 781
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Malindi
Machakos
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$45.51KES 5,874
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$8,077KES 1.0M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Malindi
Machakos
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$11.55KES 1,491
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$24.37KES 3,145
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$66.4KES 8,570
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$38.37KES 4,952
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Malindi
Machakos
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$92.4KES 11.9K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$69.9KES 9,021
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$386KES 49.9K
$154KES 19.8K
151.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$115KES 14.8K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Malindi
Machakos
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$389KES 50.2K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
14.84
-
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Malindi: April 27, 2026
Última actualización para Machakos: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $31.00 in Malindi vs $39.00 in Machakos for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $151 vs $165 per month, with Malindi cheaper across the board.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Malindi vs Machakos: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Which city is more expensive, Malindi or Machakos?
Malindi wins on cost – living expenses run 29% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Malindi vs Machakos?
You'd need roughly $525 in Malindi and $680 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.
How much does it cost to live in Malindi compared to Machakos?
All in, you'll spend $350 per month in Malindi versus $453 in Machakos – a 29% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Are groceries more expensive in Malindi or Machakos?
Supermarket bills run roughly 9% higher in Machakos. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $800/month in Malindi or Machakos?
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.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Malindi or Machakos?
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.
How safe is Malindi compared to Machakos?
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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Malindi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in Machakos. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Malindi vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado