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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $364 per month in Malindi vs $583 in Naivasha, rent included.

A couple spends around $596 per month in Malindi vs $973 in Naivasha, rent included.

A family of three spends $829 per month in Malindi vs $1,364 in Naivasha, rent included.

Malindi is about 38% cheaper than Naivasha, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Malindi and Naivasha are more affordable than the global median – Malindi 73% lower, Naivasha 56% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.11 KES 272

$5.37 KES 695

-60.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.20 KES 4,033

$39.34 KES 5,084

-20.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.95 KES 898

Cappuccino

$2.44 KES 315

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

$1.53 KES 198

$0.72 KES 93.0

112.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.89 KES 115

$0.53 KES 68.5

67.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.54 KES 457

$2.33 KES 302

51.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 KES 439

$2.94 KES 380

15.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 KES 127

$0.92 KES 118

6.52%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 KES 72.6

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.26 KES 163

$1.65 KES 213

-23.64%

Eggs

$2.91 KES 376

$1.62 KES 210

79.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.44 KES 1,479

$11.55 KES 1,493

-0.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.05 KES 781

$6.77 KES 875

-10.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.15 KES 665

$5.45 KES 705

-5.50%

Apples (1kg)

$3.05 KES 395

$3.04 KES 393

0.33%

Banana (1kg)

$0.76 KES 97.9

$1.04 KES 135

-26.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.64 KES 341

$2.17 KES 280

21.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.71 KES 91.3

$1.04 KES 135

-31.73%

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 KES 96.4

$1.04 KES 134

-27.88%

Onion (1kg)

$0.71 KES 92.2

$1.12 KES 145

-36.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 KES 83.5

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 KES 67.4

$0.80 KES 103

-35.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.11 KES 402

Wine (Bottle)

$7.65 KES 989

$11.70 KES 1,512

-34.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 KES 292

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 KES 349

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.59 KES 206

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 KES 204

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.97 KES 383

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 KES 177

$1.53 KES 198

-10.46%

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 2.6M

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

$78.4 KES 10.1K

$34.40 KES 4,446

127.97%

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

$16.70 KES 2,158

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.23 KES 4,037

$40.06 KES 5,178

-22.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.06 KES 4,919

Cinema Ticket

$6.24 KES 807

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

$205 KES 26.5K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,904 KES 1.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.03 KES 2,331

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.62 KES 3,052

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.8 KES 8,370

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.9 KES 7,355

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$116 KES 15.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$77.8 KES 10.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$382 KES 49.3K

$230 KES 29.8K

65.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$189 KES 24.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$785 KES 101.4K

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 Naivasha: July 26, 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: $166 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 60% 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 $546 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 $364 in Malindi and $583 in Naivasha. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 24% 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 $364 in Malindi and $583 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.