Cost of Living Comparison Between Malindi and Nakuru Cost of Living Comparison Between Malindi and Nakuru

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $344 per month in Malindi vs $587 in Nakuru, rent included.

A couple spends around $574 per month in Malindi vs $995 in Nakuru, rent included.

A family of three spends $804 per month in Malindi vs $1,403 in Nakuru, rent included.

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

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.18 KES 283

$3.42 KES 443

-36.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.16 KES 4,037

$37.95 KES 4,916

-17.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.92 KES 896

Cappuccino

$1.70 KES 220

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

$1.58 KES 205

$0.38 KES 48.75

315.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.89 KES 115

$0.32 KES 41.55

178.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.40 KES 441

$1.37 KES 178

148.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.55 KES 460

$1.54 KES 199

130.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.91 KES 118

$0.52 KES 67.3

75.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.48 KES 62.0

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 KES 165

$1.16 KES 150

9.48%

Eggs

$2.98 KES 387

$1.32 KES 170

125.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.55 KES 1,496

$7.94 KES 1,028

45.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.17 KES 799

$6.44 KES 834

-4.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.09 KES 659

$4.19 KES 543

21.48%

Apples (1kg)

$3.18 KES 412

$1.71 KES 221

85.96%

Banana (1kg)

$0.79 KES 102

$0.44 KES 57.4

79.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.77 KES 359

$1.78 KES 230

55.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.71 KES 91.8

$0.55 KES 71.7

29.09%

Potato (1kg)

$0.81 KES 105

$0.40 KES 52.4

102.50%

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 KES 86.1

$0.57 KES 73.3

15.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.64 KES 82.8

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 KES 63.5

$0.61 KES 78.6

-19.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.98 KES 256

Wine (Bottle)

$11.49 KES 1,488

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 KES 205

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 KES 232

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 KES 102

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.55 KES 3,440

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.53 KES 198

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.75 KES 97.0

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 KES 364

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 KES 183

$1.26 KES 163

11.90%

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

$12.5K KES 1.6M

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

$14.9K KES 1.9M

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

$77.3 KES 10.0K

$31.44 KES 4,072

145.83%

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

$16.75 KES 2,170

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.26 KES 4,049

$39.81 KES 5,157

-21.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.10 KES 4,935

$45.56 KES 5,903

-16.37%

Cinema Ticket

$5.39 KES 698

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

$200 KES 25.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,810 KES 493.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.28 KES 2,368

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.64 KES 3,062

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$37.95 KES 4,917

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.6 KES 7,077

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$229 KES 29.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$115 KES 14.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$380 KES 49.3K

$384 KES 49.7K

-0.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$271 KES 35.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.5

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

Last update for Malindi: June 1, 2026

Last update for Nakuru: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $31.00 in Malindi versus $38.00 in Nakuru. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $152 vs $156 – 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 Nakuru: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Nakuru costs about 71% 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 $516 per month in Malindi and $881 in Nakuru. 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 $587 in Nakuru. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 3% more in Nakuru, 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 $587 in Nakuru, 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, Nakuru makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.