Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Malindi Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Malindi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,484 per month in Mexico City vs $350 in Malindi, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,381 per month in Mexico City vs $573 in Malindi, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,278 per month in Mexico City vs $796 in Malindi, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 323% more than Malindi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Mexico City sits 11% above the global median, while Malindi is 74% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.98 MX$227

$2.14 KES 277

506.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.1 MX$929

$31.23 KES 4,030

69.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.72 MX$170

Cappuccino

$3.75 MX$65.6

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

$1.57 MX$27.46

$1.59 KES 205

-1.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.13 MX$19.76

$0.90 KES 117

25.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.18 MX$55.7

$3.50 KES 451

-9.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.66 MX$81.6

$3.55 KES 458

31.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 MX$28.37

$0.98 KES 127

65.31%

White Bread (500g)

$2.71 MX$47.36

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.88 MX$32.89

$1.21 KES 156

55.37%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.90

$2.99 KES 386

-16.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.08 MX$176

$11.40 KES 1,471

-11.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.29 MX$145

$6.20 KES 800

33.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.94 MX$209

$4.94 KES 637

141.70%

Apples (1kg)

$2.86 MX$50.1

$3.16 KES 407

-9.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.75 MX$30.62

$0.78 KES 101

124.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.08 MX$36.48

$2.63 KES 340

-20.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.97 MX$34.46

$0.72 KES 93.2

173.61%

Potato (1kg)

$2.16 MX$37.79

$0.75 KES 96.5

188.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 MX$38.16

$0.71 KES 92.3

207.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.39 MX$24.34

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.69

$0.52 KES 66.8

115.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.20 MX$73.5

Wine (Bottle)

$14.25 MX$249

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 MX$30.85

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 MX$64.5

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 MX$6.74

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.66 MX$327

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.39 MX$24.26

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.30 MX$5.32

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.42 MX$94.9

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 MX$23.63

$1.42 KES 184

-4.93%

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

$18.9K MX$330.5K

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

$23.2K MX$405.2K

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

$40.82 MX$714

$77.1 KES 9,947

-47.03%

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

$27.50 MX$481

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.38 MX$532

$30.93 KES 3,992

-1.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.4 MX$935

$38.39 KES 4,955

39.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.30 MX$460

Cinema Ticket

$6.27 MX$110

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

$436 MX$7,632

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K MX$183.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.8 MX$993

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.79 MX$784

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 MX$1,799

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 MX$1,888

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,000 MX$17.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$620 MX$10.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,137 MX$37.4K

$386 KES 49.9K

453.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,235 MX$21.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,865 MX$67.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,332 MX$40.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,067 MX$18.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.34

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

Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026

Last update for Malindi: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $53.0 in Mexico City versus $31.00 in Malindi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $286 vs $151 – 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

Mexico City vs Malindi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mexico City costs about 323% more than Malindi, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,225 per month in Mexico City and $525 in Malindi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,484 in Mexico City and $350 in Malindi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 89% more in Mexico City, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Malindi, where all-in costs run around $350, than in Mexico City at $1,484. In Malindi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Malindi costs $350 versus $1,484 in Mexico City. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Malindi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mexico City makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.