Cost of Living Comparison Between Malindi and Nanyuki Cost of Living Comparison Between Malindi and Nanyuki

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $364 per month in Malindi vs $601 in Nanyuki, rent included.

A couple spends around $596 per month in Malindi vs $999 in Nanyuki, rent included.

A family of three spends $829 per month in Malindi vs $1,398 in Nanyuki, rent included.

Malindi is about 39% cheaper than Nanyuki, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.11 KES 272

$3.76 KES 486

-43.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.20 KES 4,033

$31.02 KES 4,009

0.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.91 KES 893

Cappuccino

$1.82 KES 236

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

$1.53 KES 198

$0.70 KES 90.0

118.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.89 KES 115

$0.53 KES 69.1

67.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.54 KES 457

$2.28 KES 295

55.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 KES 439

$2.98 KES 385

14.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 KES 127

$0.91 KES 118

7.69%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 KES 67.9

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.26 KES 163

$1.14 KES 148

10.53%

Eggs

$2.91 KES 376

$1.60 KES 206

81.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.44 KES 1,479

$11.59 KES 1,498

-1.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.05 KES 781

$6.70 KES 866

-9.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.15 KES 665

$3.98 KES 514

29.40%

Apples (1kg)

$3.05 KES 395

$3.13 KES 404

-2.56%

Banana (1kg)

$0.76 KES 97.9

$1.05 KES 135

-27.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.64 KES 341

$2.09 KES 270

26.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.71 KES 91.3

$1.00 KES 130

-29.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 KES 96.4

$1.04 KES 134

-27.88%

Onion (1kg)

$0.71 KES 92.2

$1.11 KES 143

-36.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 KES 90.3

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 KES 67.4

$0.81 KES 105

-35.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.65 KES 342

Wine (Bottle)

$7.65 KES 989

$11.36 KES 1,468

-32.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.94 KES 251

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 KES 254

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 KES 48.26

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.59 KES 206

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 KES 196

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.91 KES 376

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 KES 177

$1.20 KES 156

14.17%

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

$21.3K KES 2.7M

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

$19.8K KES 2.6M

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

$78.4 KES 10.1K

$34.63 KES 4,477

126.45%

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

$16.80 KES 2,171

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.23 KES 4,037

$38.94 KES 5,033

-19.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.06 KES 4,919

$54.9 KES 7,094

-30.65%

Cinema Ticket

$6.28 KES 811

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

$65.5 KES 8,465

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,838 KES 1.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.57 KES 2,401

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.15 KES 3,122

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.0 KES 8,536

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.9 KES 7,357

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$98.5 KES 12.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$79.1 KES 10.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$382 KES 49.3K

$333 KES 43.0K

14.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$212 KES 27.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$115 KES 14.8K

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Nanyuki: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $31.00 in Malindi versus $31.00 in Nanyuki. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $166 vs $195 – 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 Nanyuki: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Nanyuki costs about 65% 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 $901 in Nanyuki. 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 $601 in Nanyuki. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 18% more in Nanyuki, 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 $601 in Nanyuki, 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, Nanyuki makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.