Cost of Living Comparison Between Malindi and Mombasa Cost of Living Comparison Between Malindi and Mombasa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $363 per month in Malindi vs $618 in Mombasa, rent included.

A couple spends around $592 per month in Malindi vs $1,060 in Mombasa, rent included.

A family of three spends $821 per month in Malindi vs $1,502 in Mombasa, rent included.

Malindi is about 41% cheaper than Mombasa, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Malindi and Mombasa are more affordable than the global median – Malindi 73% lower, Mombasa 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.19 KES 283

$2.35 KES 304

-6.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.56 KES 4,077

$19.18 KES 2,478

64.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.80 KES 1,137

Cappuccino

$3.18 KES 411

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

$1.52 KES 196

$0.48 KES 62.4

216.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.94 KES 122

$0.48 KES 61.7

95.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.47 KES 448

$1.96 KES 253

77.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 KES 462

$2.82 KES 364

26.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.91 KES 118

$0.82 KES 106

10.98%

White Bread (500g)

$0.49 KES 63.9

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 KES 158

$1.40 KES 180

-12.14%

Eggs

$2.96 KES 382

$1.79 KES 231

65.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.60 KES 1,498

$9.71 KES 1,255

19.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.27 KES 810

$5.82 KES 752

7.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.06 KES 654

$5.22 KES 675

-3.07%

Apples (1kg)

$3.07 KES 397

$1.79 KES 231

71.51%

Banana (1kg)

$0.75 KES 96.6

$0.91 KES 117

-17.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.63 KES 340

$1.52 KES 197

73.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 KES 91.1

$0.79 KES 102

-11.39%

Potato (1kg)

$0.79 KES 102

$0.68 KES 87.5

16.18%

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 KES 85.3

$1.08 KES 139

-38.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 KES 85.4

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 KES 66.6

$0.60 KES 78.0

-13.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.30 KES 427

Wine (Bottle)

$7.66 KES 989

$7.95 KES 1,027

-3.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.88 KES 242

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 KES 358

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.75 KES 96.4

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.08 KES 4,532

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.05 KES 394

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.94 KES 251

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.58 KES 592

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 KES 186

$1.60 KES 206

-10.00%

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

$12.0K KES 1.5M

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

$11.8K KES 1.5M

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

$77.5 KES 10.0K

$44.61 KES 5,764

73.80%

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

$14.45 KES 1,867

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.55 KES 4,077

$43.55 KES 5,626

-27.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.14 KES 4,927

$18.09 KES 2,337

110.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.19 KES 2,480

Cinema Ticket

$4.71 KES 609

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

$87.7 KES 11.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,406 KES 698.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.03 KES 1,684

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.80 KES 1,784

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$23.61 KES 3,050

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.93 KES 5,934

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$181 KES 23.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$118 KES 15.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$386 KES 49.9K

$590 KES 76.3K

-34.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$462 KES 59.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,440 KES 702.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,820 KES 493.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$321 KES 41.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Malindi: July 13, 2026

Last update for Mombasa: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Malindi versus $19.00 in Mombasa. Groceries tell a different story – $166 in Malindi vs $169 in Mombasa – so Malindi wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Mombasa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mombasa costs about 70% more than Malindi, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $544 per month in Malindi and $928 in Mombasa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $363 in Malindi and $618 in Mombasa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 2% more in Mombasa, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $363 in Malindi and $618 in Mombasa, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Malindi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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