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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $350 per month in Malindi vs $478 in Thika, rent included.

A couple spends around $573 per month in Malindi vs $795 in Thika, rent included.

A family of three spends $796 per month in Malindi vs $1,113 in Thika, rent included.

Malindi is about 27% cheaper than Thika, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Malindi and Thika are more affordable than the global median – Malindi 74% lower, Thika 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.14 KES 277

$5.27 KES 680

-59.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.23 KES 4,030

$39.16 KES 5,055

-20.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.95 KES 898

Cappuccino

$2.44 KES 315

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

$1.59 KES 205

$0.74 KES 95.7

114.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.90 KES 117

$0.50 KES 64.5

80.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.50 KES 451

$1.73 KES 223

102.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.55 KES 458

$1.98 KES 255

79.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 KES 127

$0.92 KES 119

6.52%

White Bread (500g)

$0.44 KES 57.4

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 KES 156

$1.33 KES 171

-9.02%

Eggs

$2.99 KES 386

$1.37 KES 177

118.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.40 KES 1,471

$11.51 KES 1,486

-0.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.20 KES 800

$6.86 KES 886

-9.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.94 KES 637

$1.98 KES 255

149.49%

Apples (1kg)

$3.16 KES 407

$3.02 KES 390

4.64%

Banana (1kg)

$0.78 KES 101

$1.07 KES 138

-27.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.63 KES 340

$2.09 KES 270

25.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.72 KES 93.2

$1.04 KES 134

-30.77%

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 KES 96.5

$1.03 KES 134

-27.18%

Onion (1kg)

$0.71 KES 92.3

$1.11 KES 143

-36.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 KES 88.5

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 KES 66.8

$0.82 KES 105

-36.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.35 KES 303

Wine (Bottle)

$5.65 KES 730

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 KES 223

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.91 KES 246

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.53 KES 197

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 KES 203

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.96 KES 382

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.42 KES 184

$1.02 KES 131

39.22%

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

$22.1K KES 2.9M

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

$19.7K KES 2.5M

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

$77.1 KES 9,947

$34.17 KES 4,410

125.52%

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

$17.06 KES 2,202

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.93 KES 3,992

$38.97 KES 5,030

-20.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.39 KES 4,955

Cinema Ticket

$6.30 KES 813

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

$202 KES 26.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,948 KES 1.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.57 KES 2,397

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.27 KES 3,132

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.5 KES 8,583

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.7 KES 7,315

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$386 KES 49.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$615 KES 79.4K

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Thika: April 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: $151 vs $176 – 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 36% 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 $717 in Thika. 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 $478 in Thika. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 16% 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 $350 in Malindi and $478 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.