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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $363 per month in Malindi vs $606 in Nakuru, rent included.

A couple spends around $592 per month in Malindi vs $996 in Nakuru, rent included.

A family of three spends $821 per month in Malindi vs $1,386 in Nakuru, rent included.

Malindi is about 40% cheaper than Nakuru, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Malindi and Nakuru are more affordable than the global median – Malindi 73% lower, Nakuru 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.19 KES 283

$3.51 KES 454

-37.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.56 KES 4,078

$38.94 KES 5,032

-18.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.90 KES 891

Cappuccino

$1.72 KES 223

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

$1.52 KES 196

$0.37 KES 48.23

310.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.94 KES 122

$0.32 KES 41.63

193.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.47 KES 448

$1.42 KES 184

144.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 KES 462

$1.51 KES 196

137.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.91 KES 118

$0.51 KES 66.0

78.43%

White Bread (500g)

$0.51 KES 65.7

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 KES 158

$1.15 KES 148

6.96%

Eggs

$2.96 KES 382

$1.36 KES 176

117.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.60 KES 1,498

$7.62 KES 985

52.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.27 KES 810

$6.40 KES 827

-2.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.06 KES 654

$4.30 KES 556

17.67%

Apples (1kg)

$3.07 KES 397

$1.70 KES 220

80.59%

Banana (1kg)

$0.75 KES 96.7

$0.45 KES 57.7

66.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.63 KES 340

$1.71 KES 221

53.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 KES 91.1

$0.60 KES 77.8

16.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.79 KES 102

$0.40 KES 51.9

97.50%

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 KES 85.4

$0.56 KES 72.4

17.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 KES 83.9

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 KES 66.6

$0.60 KES 78.1

-13.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.04 KES 264

Wine (Bottle)

$7.66 KES 989

$11.75 KES 1,518

-34.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 KES 208

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.80 KES 233

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 KES 97.7

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.48 KES 3,422

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.58 KES 204

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 KES 95.4

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.95 KES 381

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 KES 186

$1.27 KES 164

13.39%

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)

$14.7K KES 1.9M

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

$77.5 KES 10.0K

$30.33 KES 3,920

155.62%

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

$17.05 KES 2,204

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.55 KES 4,077

$39.44 KES 5,096

-20.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.14 KES 4,928

$47.30 KES 6,112

-19.37%

Cinema Ticket

$5.44 KES 703

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

$204 KES 26.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,922 KES 506.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.52 KES 2,394

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.31 KES 3,141

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$37.95 KES 4,904

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.9 KES 7,099

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$229 KES 29.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$115 KES 14.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$386 KES 49.9K

$393 KES 50.8K

-1.67%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Nakuru: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Malindi versus $39.00 in Nakuru. Groceries tell a different story – $166 in Malindi vs $156 in Nakuru – so Nakuru 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 Nakuru: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Nakuru costs about 67% 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 $544 per month in Malindi and $908 in Nakuru. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $363 in Malindi and $606 in Nakuru. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 6% cheaper in Nakuru – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $363 in Malindi and $606 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.