Cost of Living Comparison Between Malindi and Thika Cost of Living Comparison Between Malindi and Thika

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $364 per month in Malindi vs $472 in Thika, rent included.

A couple spends around $596 per month in Malindi vs $791 in Thika, rent included.

A family of three spends $829 per month in Malindi vs $1,110 in Thika, rent included.

Malindi is about 23% cheaper than Thika, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Malindi and Thika are more affordable than the global median – Malindi 73% lower, Thika 65% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.11 KES 272

$5.46 KES 705

-61.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.20 KES 4,033

$38.67 KES 4,998

-19.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.85 KES 885

Cappuccino

$2.41 KES 311

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

$1.53 KES 198

$0.75 KES 96.6

104.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.89 KES 115

$0.50 KES 65.0

78.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.54 KES 457

$1.65 KES 213

114.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 KES 439

$1.99 KES 257

70.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 KES 127

$0.87 KES 113

12.64%

White Bread (500g)

$0.44 KES 56.9

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.26 KES 163

$1.37 KES 177

-8.03%

Eggs

$2.91 KES 376

$1.35 KES 174

115.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.44 KES 1,479

$11.55 KES 1,493

-0.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.05 KES 781

$6.85 KES 885

-11.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.15 KES 665

$1.88 KES 243

173.94%

Apples (1kg)

$3.05 KES 395

$3.02 KES 391

0.99%

Banana (1kg)

$0.76 KES 97.9

$1.04 KES 134

-26.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.64 KES 341

$2.11 KES 273

25.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.71 KES 91.3

$1.00 KES 129

-29.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 KES 96.4

$1.07 KES 138

-29.91%

Onion (1kg)

$0.71 KES 92.2

$1.11 KES 144

-36.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 KES 83.9

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 KES 67.4

$0.76 KES 98.1

-31.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.37 KES 306

Wine (Bottle)

$7.65 KES 989

$5.67 KES 733

34.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 KES 218

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 KES 256

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.57 KES 203

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 KES 197

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.97 KES 384

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 KES 177

$1.05 KES 136

30.48%

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

$22.0K KES 2.8M

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

$19.9K KES 2.6M

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

$78.4 KES 10.1K

$33.97 KES 4,391

130.85%

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

$16.57 KES 2,142

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.23 KES 4,037

$39.97 KES 5,166

-21.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.06 KES 4,919

Cinema Ticket

$6.13 KES 793

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

$203 KES 26.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,150 KES 1.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.27 KES 2,362

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.31 KES 3,142

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.4 KES 8,585

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.6 KES 7,190

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$382 KES 49.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$613 KES 79.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.5

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

Last update for Malindi: July 26, 2026

Last update for Thika: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $31.00 in Malindi versus $39.00 in Thika. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $166 vs $174 – 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 Thika: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Thika costs about 29% 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 $707 in Thika. 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 $472 in Thika. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 5% more in Thika, 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 $472 in Thika, 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, Thika makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.