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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $350 per month in Malindi vs $593 in Naivasha, rent included.

A couple spends around $573 per month in Malindi vs $999 in Naivasha, rent included.

A family of three spends $796 per month in Malindi vs $1,405 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 277

$5.31 KES 685

-59.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.23 KES 4,030

$38.46 KES 4,964

-18.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.00 KES 903

Cappuccino

$2.44 KES 315

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

$1.59 KES 205

$0.70 KES 90.7

127.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.90 KES 117

$0.50 KES 64.7

80.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.50 KES 451

$2.25 KES 291

55.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.55 KES 458

$2.95 KES 381

20.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 KES 127

$0.94 KES 121

4.26%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 KES 67.6

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 KES 156

$1.59 KES 206

-23.90%

Eggs

$2.99 KES 386

$1.68 KES 217

77.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.40 KES 1,471

$11.59 KES 1,496

-1.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.20 KES 800

$6.79 KES 876

-8.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.94 KES 637

$5.68 KES 733

-13.03%

Apples (1kg)

$3.16 KES 407

$3.17 KES 409

-0.32%

Banana (1kg)

$0.78 KES 101

$1.05 KES 135

-25.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.63 KES 340

$2.10 KES 271

25.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.72 KES 93.2

$1.06 KES 137

-32.08%

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 KES 96.5

$1.07 KES 138

-29.91%

Onion (1kg)

$0.71 KES 92.3

$1.17 KES 151

-39.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 KES 88.2

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 KES 66.8

$0.81 KES 105

-35.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.15 KES 406

Wine (Bottle)

$11.51 KES 1,486

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 KES 295

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 KES 365

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.52 KES 197

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.50 KES 193

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.86 KES 370

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.42 KES 184

$1.57 KES 202

-9.55%

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

$21.8K 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)

$77.1 KES 9,947

$34.07 KES 4,398

126.18%

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

$16.95 KES 2,188

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.93 KES 3,992

$39.34 KES 5,077

-21.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.39 KES 4,955

Cinema Ticket

$6.04 KES 780

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

$200 KES 25.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,196 KES 1.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.94 KES 2,315

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.99 KES 3,096

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.8 KES 8,360

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.5 KES 7,416

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$114 KES 14.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$77.6 KES 10.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$386 KES 49.9K

$228 KES 29.5K

69.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$184 KES 23.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$757 KES 97.8K

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Naivasha: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $31.00 in Malindi versus $38.00 in Naivasha. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $151 vs $207 – 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 $525 per month in Malindi and $890 in Naivasha. 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 $593 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 $350 in Malindi and $593 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.