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: $364 in Malindi versus $442 in Machakos.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $596 in Malindi versus $763 in Machakos.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $829 in Malindi versus $1,085 in Machakos.

Living in Malindi costs roughly 18% less than in Machakos, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Malindi 73% lower, Machakos 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.11 KES 272

$2.37 KES 307

-10.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.20 KES 4,033

$38.19 KES 4,936

-18.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.63 KES 857

Cappuccino

$1.89 KES 244

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

$1.53 KES 198

$0.71 KES 91.6

115.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.89 KES 115

$0.50 KES 64.4

78.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.54 KES 457

$1.95 KES 252

81.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 KES 439

$2.65 KES 342

28.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 KES 127

$0.41 KES 52.8

139.02%

White Bread (500g)

$0.48 KES 61.6

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.26 KES 163

$0.76 KES 97.7

65.79%

Eggs

$2.91 KES 376

$1.37 KES 177

112.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.44 KES 1,479

$11.41 KES 1,475

0.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.05 KES 781

$6.59 KES 851

-8.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.15 KES 665

$4.68 KES 604

10.04%

Apples (1kg)

$3.05 KES 395

$1.51 KES 195

101.99%

Banana (1kg)

$0.76 KES 97.9

$0.74 KES 95.6

2.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.64 KES 341

$0.37 KES 48.17

613.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.71 KES 91.3

$0.38 KES 48.78

86.84%

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 KES 96.4

$0.73 KES 94.9

2.74%

Onion (1kg)

$0.71 KES 92.2

$0.79 KES 102

-10.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 KES 85.0

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 KES 67.4

$0.37 KES 48.00

40.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.12 KES 403

Wine (Bottle)

$7.65 KES 989

$11.40 KES 1,474

-32.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 KES 253

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.79 KES 361

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 KES 98.2

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.73 KES 94.8

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.94 KES 379

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 KES 177

$1.51 KES 195

-9.27%

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

$21.4K KES 2.8M

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

$19.7K KES 2.5M

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

$78.4 KES 10.1K

$34.06 KES 4,402

130.24%

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

$7.77 KES 1,004

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.23 KES 4,037

$11.38 KES 1,471

174.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.06 KES 4,919

Cinema Ticket

$6.02 KES 778

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

$47.26 KES 6,109

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,045 KES 1.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.59 KES 1,498

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.79 KES 3,075

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.9 KES 8,522

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.20 KES 4,937

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$92.3 KES 11.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$68.4 KES 8,838

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$382 KES 49.3K

$156 KES 20.1K

145.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$114 KES 14.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$380 KES 49.1K

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Machakos: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $31.00 in Malindi vs $38.00 in Machakos. Groceries flip the comparison at $166 vs $163, with Machakos 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 Machakos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Malindi wins on cost – living expenses run 21% 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 $546 in Malindi and $663 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 $364 per month in Malindi versus $442 in Machakos – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Shoppers in Machakos pay roughly 2% 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.

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 21% less than in Machakos. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.