Cost of Living Comparison Between Malindi and Naivasha Cost of Living Comparison Between Malindi and Naivasha

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $345 per month in Malindi vs $584 in Naivasha, rent included.

A couple spends around $578 per month in Malindi vs $996 in Naivasha, rent included.

A family of three spends $811 per month in Malindi vs $1,408 in Naivasha, rent included.

Malindi is about 41% cheaper than Naivasha, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Malindi and Naivasha are more affordable than the global median – Malindi 74% lower, Naivasha 56% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.14 KES 278

$5.49 KES 711

-61.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.28 KES 4,047

$39.35 KES 5,092

-20.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.70 KES 867

Cappuccino

$2.48 KES 321

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

$1.54 KES 199

$0.70 KES 90.2

120.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.89 KES 115

$0.50 KES 64.5

78.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.53 KES 457

$2.36 KES 305

49.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 KES 439

$2.82 KES 364

20.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.92 KES 119

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 KES 68.0

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.25 KES 162

$1.59 KES 205

-21.38%

Eggs

$2.99 KES 387

$1.63 KES 210

83.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.71 KES 1,515

$11.60 KES 1,500

0.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.05 KES 783

$6.83 KES 883

-11.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.07 KES 656

$5.76 KES 745

-11.98%

Apples (1kg)

$3.05 KES 394

$3.15 KES 408

-3.17%

Banana (1kg)

$0.75 KES 96.9

$1.09 KES 141

-31.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.76 KES 357

$2.08 KES 269

32.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.67 KES 86.6

$1.06 KES 137

-36.79%

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 KES 97.0

$1.08 KES 140

-30.56%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 KES 86.4

$1.12 KES 145

-40.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 KES 83.7

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 KES 61.7

$0.76 KES 98.9

-36.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.18 KES 412

Wine (Bottle)

$11.58 KES 1,499

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 KES 292

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 KES 347

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.52 KES 197

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 KES 205

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.96 KES 383

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 KES 183

$1.53 KES 198

-7.84%

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

$21.7K KES 2.8M

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

$20.2K KES 2.6M

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

$78.7 KES 10.2K

$33.91 KES 4,389

132.14%

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

$16.93 KES 2,191

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.99 KES 4,010

$39.45 KES 5,105

-21.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.52 KES 4,985

Cinema Ticket

$6.13 KES 793

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

$204 KES 26.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,965 KES 1.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.91 KES 2,318

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.84 KES 3,085

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.5 KES 8,599

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.0 KES 7,380

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$114 KES 14.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$77.2 KES 9,994

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$392 KES 50.8K

$231 KES 29.9K

70.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$183 KES 23.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$758 KES 98.1K

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: June 15, 2026

Last update for Naivasha: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $31.00 in Malindi versus $39.00 in Naivasha. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $150 vs $206 – 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 Naivasha: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Naivasha costs about 69% more than Malindi, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $518 per month in Malindi and $875 in Naivasha. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $345 in Malindi and $584 in Naivasha. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 37% more in Naivasha, 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 $345 in Malindi and $584 in Naivasha, 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, Naivasha makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.