Cost of Living Comparison Between Malindi and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Malindi and Mexico City

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $350 per month in Malindi vs $1,484 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $573 per month in Malindi vs $2,381 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $796 per month in Malindi vs $3,278 in Mexico City, rent included.

Malindi is about 76% cheaper than Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Malindi sits 74% below the global median, while Mexico City is 11% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.14 KES 277

$12.98 MX$227

-83.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.23 KES 4,030

$53.1 MX$929

-41.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.72 MX$170

Cappuccino

$3.75 MX$65.6

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

$1.59 KES 205

$1.57 MX$27.46

1.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.90 KES 117

$1.13 MX$19.76

-20.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.50 KES 451

$3.18 MX$55.7

10.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.55 KES 458

$4.66 MX$81.6

-23.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 KES 127

$1.62 MX$28.37

-39.51%

White Bread (500g)

$2.71 MX$47.36

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 KES 156

$1.88 MX$32.89

-35.64%

Eggs

$2.99 KES 386

$2.51 MX$43.90

19.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.40 KES 1,471

$10.08 MX$176

13.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.20 KES 800

$8.29 MX$145

-25.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.94 KES 637

$11.94 MX$209

-58.63%

Apples (1kg)

$3.16 KES 407

$2.86 MX$50.1

10.49%

Banana (1kg)

$0.78 KES 101

$1.75 MX$30.62

-55.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.63 KES 340

$2.08 MX$36.48

26.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.72 KES 93.2

$1.97 MX$34.46

-63.45%

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 KES 96.5

$2.16 MX$37.79

-65.28%

Onion (1kg)

$0.71 KES 92.3

$2.18 MX$38.16

-67.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.39 MX$24.34

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 KES 66.8

$1.12 MX$19.69

-53.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.20 MX$73.5

Wine (Bottle)

$14.25 MX$249

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 MX$30.85

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 MX$64.5

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 MX$6.74

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.66 MX$327

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.39 MX$24.26

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.30 MX$5.32

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.42 MX$94.9

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.42 KES 184

$1.35 MX$23.63

5.19%

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

$18.9K MX$330.5K

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

$23.2K MX$405.2K

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

$77.1 KES 9,947

$40.82 MX$714

88.78%

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

$27.50 MX$481

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.93 KES 3,992

$30.38 MX$532

1.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.39 KES 4,955

$53.4 MX$935

-28.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.30 MX$460

Cinema Ticket

$6.27 MX$110

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

$436 MX$7,632

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K MX$183.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.8 MX$993

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.79 MX$784

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 MX$1,799

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 MX$1,888

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,000 MX$17.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$620 MX$10.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$386 KES 49.9K

$2,137 MX$37.4K

-81.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,235 MX$21.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,865 MX$67.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,332 MX$40.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,067 MX$18.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.34

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

Last update for Malindi: April 27, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $31.00 in Malindi versus $53.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $151 vs $286 – making Malindi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mexico City costs about 323% more than Malindi, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $525 per month in Malindi and $2,225 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $350 in Malindi and $1,484 in Mexico City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 89% more in Mexico City, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Malindi, where all-in costs run around $350, than in Mexico City at $1,484. In Malindi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Malindi costs $350 versus $1,484 in Mexico City. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Malindi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mexico City makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.