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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $344 per month in Malindi vs $604 in Mombasa, rent included.

A couple spends around $574 per month in Malindi vs $1,064 in Mombasa, rent included.

A family of three spends $804 per month in Malindi vs $1,525 in Mombasa, rent included.

Malindi is about 43% cheaper than Mombasa, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Malindi and Mombasa are more affordable than the global median – Malindi 74% lower, Mombasa 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.18 KES 283

$2.37 KES 308

-8.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.16 KES 4,037

$19.29 KES 2,498

61.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.53 KES 1,106

Cappuccino

$3.25 KES 421

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

$1.58 KES 205

$0.51 KES 66.3

209.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.89 KES 115

$0.47 KES 61.2

89.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.40 KES 441

$1.90 KES 246

78.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.55 KES 460

$2.93 KES 380

21.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.91 KES 118

$0.81 KES 104

12.35%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 KES 69.3

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 KES 165

$1.44 KES 187

-11.81%

Eggs

$2.98 KES 387

$1.73 KES 223

72.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.55 KES 1,496

$9.96 KES 1,291

15.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.17 KES 799

$5.82 KES 754

6.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.09 KES 659

$5.24 KES 679

-2.86%

Apples (1kg)

$3.18 KES 412

$1.81 KES 234

75.69%

Banana (1kg)

$0.79 KES 102

$0.93 KES 121

-15.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.77 KES 359

$1.56 KES 202

77.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.71 KES 91.8

$0.76 KES 98.2

-6.58%

Potato (1kg)

$0.81 KES 105

$0.71 KES 92.4

14.08%

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 KES 86.1

$1.05 KES 136

-37.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 KES 86.9

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 KES 63.5

$0.57 KES 74.0

-14.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 KES 430

Wine (Bottle)

$7.90 KES 1,023

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.94 KES 252

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 KES 354

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 KES 103

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.09 KES 4,546

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 KES 391

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 KES 252

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.61 KES 597

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 KES 183

$1.60 KES 208

-11.88%

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

$12.1K KES 1.6M

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)

$77.3 KES 10.0K

$44.87 KES 5,813

72.25%

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

$14.07 KES 1,822

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.26 KES 4,049

$44.11 KES 5,715

-29.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.10 KES 4,935

$18.18 KES 2,356

109.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.95 KES 2,455

Cinema Ticket

$4.55 KES 589

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

$87.3 KES 11.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,325 KES 689.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.39 KES 1,734

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.83 KES 1,792

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$23.61 KES 3,059

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.29 KES 6,126

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$178 KES 23.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$115 KES 14.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$380 KES 49.3K

$605 KES 78.4K

-37.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 KES 60.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,402 KES 699.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,839 KES 497.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$318 KES 41.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Malindi: June 1, 2026

Last update for Mombasa: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $31.00 in Malindi versus $19.00 in Mombasa. Groceries tell a different story – $152 in Malindi vs $170 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 76% 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 $516 per month in Malindi and $907 in Mombasa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $344 in Malindi and $604 in Mombasa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 12% 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 $344 in Malindi and $604 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.