Cost of Living Comparison Between Mombasa and Malindi Cost of Living Comparison Between Mombasa and Malindi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $618 per month in Mombasa vs $363 in Malindi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,060 per month in Mombasa vs $592 in Malindi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,502 per month in Mombasa vs $821 in Malindi, rent included.

Mombasa costs about 70% more than Malindi, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Mombasa and Malindi are more affordable than the global median – Mombasa 54% lower, Malindi 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.35 KES 304

$2.19 KES 283

7.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.18 KES 2,478

$31.56 KES 4,077

-39.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.80 KES 1,137

Cappuccino

$3.18 KES 411

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

$0.48 KES 62.4

$1.52 KES 196

-68.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 KES 61.7

$0.94 KES 122

-48.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.96 KES 253

$3.47 KES 448

-43.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 KES 364

$3.58 KES 462

-21.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.82 KES 106

$0.91 KES 118

-9.89%

White Bread (500g)

$0.49 KES 63.9

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 KES 180

$1.23 KES 158

13.82%

Eggs

$1.79 KES 231

$2.96 KES 382

-39.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.71 KES 1,255

$11.60 KES 1,498

-16.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.82 KES 752

$6.27 KES 810

-7.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.22 KES 675

$5.06 KES 654

3.16%

Apples (1kg)

$1.79 KES 231

$3.07 KES 397

-41.69%

Banana (1kg)

$0.91 KES 117

$0.75 KES 96.6

21.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 KES 197

$2.63 KES 340

-42.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.79 KES 102

$0.70 KES 91.1

12.86%

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 KES 87.5

$0.79 KES 102

-13.92%

Onion (1kg)

$1.08 KES 139

$0.66 KES 85.3

63.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 KES 85.4

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 KES 78.0

$0.52 KES 66.6

15.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.30 KES 427

Wine (Bottle)

$7.95 KES 1,027

$7.66 KES 989

3.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.88 KES 242

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 KES 358

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.75 KES 96.4

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.08 KES 4,532

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.05 KES 394

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.94 KES 251

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.58 KES 592

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.60 KES 206

$1.44 KES 186

11.11%

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

$12.0K KES 1.5M

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

$11.8K KES 1.5M

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

$44.61 KES 5,764

$77.5 KES 10.0K

-42.46%

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

$14.45 KES 1,867

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.55 KES 5,626

$31.55 KES 4,077

38.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.09 KES 2,337

$38.14 KES 4,927

-52.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.19 KES 2,480

Cinema Ticket

$4.71 KES 609

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

$87.7 KES 11.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,406 KES 698.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.03 KES 1,684

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.80 KES 1,784

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$23.61 KES 3,050

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.93 KES 5,934

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$181 KES 23.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$118 KES 15.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$590 KES 76.3K

$386 KES 49.9K

52.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$462 KES 59.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,440 KES 702.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,820 KES 493.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$321 KES 41.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Mombasa: July 14, 2026

Last update for Malindi: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Mombasa versus $32.00 in Malindi. Groceries tell a different story – $169 in Mombasa vs $166 in Malindi – so Malindi wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Mombasa vs Malindi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mombasa costs about 70% more than Malindi, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $928 per month in Mombasa and $544 in Malindi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $618 in Mombasa and $363 in Malindi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 2% more in Mombasa, 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 $618 in Mombasa and $363 in Malindi, 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, Mombasa makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.