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 $1,472 per month in Mexico City vs $364 in Malindi, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,359 per month in Mexico City vs $596 in Malindi, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,245 per month in Mexico City vs $829 in Malindi, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 304% more than Malindi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Mexico City sits 11% above the global median, while Malindi is 73% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.14 MX$229

$2.11 KES 272

522.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.5 MX$934

$31.20 KES 4,033

71.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.33 MX$163

Cappuccino

$3.70 MX$64.5

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

$1.60 MX$27.98

$1.53 KES 198

4.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.49

$0.89 KES 115

25.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.14 MX$54.7

$3.54 KES 457

-11.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.85 MX$84.5

$3.40 KES 439

42.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 MX$28.84

$0.98 KES 127

68.37%

White Bread (500g)

$2.71 MX$47.34

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.91 MX$33.29

$1.26 KES 163

51.59%

Eggs

$2.59 MX$45.17

$2.91 KES 376

-11.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.81 MX$171

$11.44 KES 1,479

-14.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.43 MX$147

$6.05 KES 781

39.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.93 MX$208

$5.15 KES 665

131.65%

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 MX$51.5

$3.05 KES 395

-3.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 MX$30.35

$0.76 KES 97.9

128.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.04 MX$35.66

$2.64 KES 341

-22.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 MX$35.93

$0.71 KES 91.3

190.14%

Potato (1kg)

$2.15 MX$37.49

$0.75 KES 96.4

186.67%

Onion (1kg)

$2.26 MX$39.33

$0.71 KES 92.2

218.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.39 MX$24.17

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.47

$0.52 KES 67.4

115.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.22 MX$73.6

Wine (Bottle)

$17.51 MX$305

$7.65 KES 989

128.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.82

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 MX$63.4

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.35 MX$6.15

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.32 MX$337

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 MX$24.00

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.81

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.28 MX$92.0

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 MX$23.69

$1.37 KES 177

-0.73%

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

$19.1K MX$333.2K

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

$23.6K MX$411.7K

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

$40.53 MX$707

$78.4 KES 10.1K

-48.32%

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

$27.38 MX$478

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.38 MX$530

$31.23 KES 4,037

-2.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.2 MX$911

$38.06 KES 4,919

37.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.48 MX$462

Cinema Ticket

$6.19 MX$108

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

$425 MX$7,414

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K MX$187.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.3 MX$1,017

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.57 MX$777

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 MX$1,805

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 MX$1,897

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,014 MX$17.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$623 MX$10.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,119 MX$37.0K

$382 KES 49.3K

455.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,223 MX$21.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,792 MX$66.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,110 MX$36.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,052 MX$18.4K

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: July 25, 2026

Last update for Malindi: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $54.0 in Mexico City versus $31.00 in Malindi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $166 – 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 304% 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 $2,208 per month in Mexico City and $546 in Malindi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,472 in Mexico City and $364 in Malindi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 77% 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 $364, than in Mexico City at $1,472. 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 $364 versus $1,472 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.