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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $348 per month in Malindi vs $480 in Thika, rent included.

A couple spends around $571 per month in Malindi vs $809 in Thika, rent included.

A family of three spends $794 per month in Malindi vs $1,137 in Thika, rent included.

Malindi is about 28% 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

$2.12 KES 274

$5.53 KES 717

-61.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.55 KES 3,962

$38.49 KES 4,991

-20.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.64 KES 861

Cappuccino

$2.38 KES 308

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

$1.60 KES 207

$0.75 KES 97.2

113.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 KES 119

$0.54 KES 70.3

68.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.57 KES 463

$1.67 KES 217

113.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 KES 461

$1.99 KES 258

78.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.97 KES 126

$0.88 KES 114

10.23%

White Bread (500g)

$0.47 KES 61.5

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 KES 164

$1.36 KES 177

-6.62%

Eggs

$2.92 KES 379

$1.36 KES 176

114.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.84 KES 1,535

$11.66 KES 1,512

1.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.05 KES 785

$6.55 KES 849

-7.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.11 KES 662

$1.92 KES 249

166.15%

Apples (1kg)

$3.03 KES 393

$3.13 KES 406

-3.19%

Banana (1kg)

$0.78 KES 101

$1.07 KES 139

-27.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.67 KES 347

$2.09 KES 271

27.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.67 KES 87.3

$1.05 KES 136

-36.19%

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 KES 97.4

$1.07 KES 139

-29.91%

Onion (1kg)

$0.70 KES 91.0

$1.12 KES 146

-37.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.64 KES 83.0

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 KES 62.0

$0.76 KES 98.9

-36.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.36 KES 306

Wine (Bottle)

$5.90 KES 765

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 KES 224

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 KES 257

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.59 KES 206

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.50 KES 195

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.83 KES 367

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 KES 176

$1.06 KES 138

28.30%

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

$21.5K KES 2.8M

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)

$76.8 KES 9,957

$34.61 KES 4,488

121.90%

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

$17.09 KES 2,216

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.80 KES 3,993

$39.46 KES 5,116

-21.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.73 KES 5,021

Cinema Ticket

$6.31 KES 819

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

$205 KES 26.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,182 KES 1.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.51 KES 2,400

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.40 KES 3,164

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.5 KES 8,626

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.5 KES 7,328

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$392 KES 50.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$612 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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Thika: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $31.00 in Malindi versus $38.00 in Thika. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $151 vs $175 – 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 38% 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 $522 per month in Malindi and $721 in Thika. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $348 in Malindi and $480 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 $348 in Malindi and $480 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.