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: $348 in Malindi versus $443 in Machakos.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $571 in Malindi versus $754 in Machakos.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $794 in Malindi versus $1,065 in Machakos.

Living in Malindi costs roughly 21% less than in Machakos, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Malindi 74% lower, Machakos 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.12 KES 274

$2.34 KES 303

-9.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.55 KES 3,962

$38.41 KES 4,980

-20.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.89 KES 893

Cappuccino

$1.95 KES 252

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

$1.60 KES 207

$0.69 KES 90.1

131.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 KES 119

$0.51 KES 65.7

78.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.57 KES 463

$1.88 KES 243

89.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 KES 461

$2.77 KES 359

28.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.97 KES 126

$0.40 KES 52.4

142.50%

White Bread (500g)

$0.44 KES 56.9

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 KES 164

$0.76 KES 97.9

67.11%

Eggs

$2.92 KES 379

$1.36 KES 176

114.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.84 KES 1,535

$11.49 KES 1,490

3.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.05 KES 785

$6.77 KES 878

-10.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.11 KES 662

$4.75 KES 615

7.58%

Apples (1kg)

$3.03 KES 393

$1.53 KES 198

98.04%

Banana (1kg)

$0.78 KES 101

$0.75 KES 96.9

4.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.67 KES 347

$0.37 KES 48.26

621.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.67 KES 87.3

$0.38 KES 49.23

76.32%

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 KES 97.4

$0.80 KES 104

-6.25%

Onion (1kg)

$0.70 KES 91.0

$0.78 KES 101

-10.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 KES 83.7

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 KES 62.0

$0.38 KES 48.81

26.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.11 KES 404

Wine (Bottle)

$11.55 KES 1,498

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 KES 257

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 KES 356

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.73 KES 95.2

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.80 KES 103

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.96 KES 384

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 KES 176

$1.51 KES 196

-9.93%

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

$22.0K KES 2.8M

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

$19.6K KES 2.5M

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

$76.8 KES 9,957

$34.62 KES 4,489

121.84%

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

$7.56 KES 980

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.80 KES 3,993

$11.64 KES 1,510

164.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.73 KES 5,021

Cinema Ticket

$6.27 KES 813

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

$46.87 KES 6,077

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,961 KES 1.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.72 KES 1,520

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.84 KES 3,091

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.5 KES 8,497

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.27 KES 4,962

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$93.1 KES 12.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$68.7 KES 8,910

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$392 KES 50.8K

$152 KES 19.7K

158.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$118 KES 15.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$393 KES 50.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.84

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

Last update for Malindi: June 7, 2026

Last update for Machakos: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $31.00 in Malindi vs $38.00 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.

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 27% 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 $522 in Malindi and $665 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.

All in, you'll spend $348 per month in Malindi versus $443 in Machakos – a 27% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 9% higher in Machakos. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

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 27% less than in Machakos. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.