Cost of Living Comparison Between Nairobi and Malindi Cost of Living Comparison Between Nairobi and Malindi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $782 per month in Nairobi vs $344 in Malindi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,305 per month in Nairobi vs $574 in Malindi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,828 per month in Nairobi vs $804 in Malindi, rent included.

Nairobi costs about 128% more than Malindi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Nairobi and Malindi are more affordable than the global median – Nairobi 42% lower, Malindi 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.35 KES 693

$2.18 KES 283

145.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.02 KES 4,926

$31.16 KES 4,037

22.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.91 KES 895

Cappuccino

$2.39 KES 309

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

$0.71 KES 91.9

$1.58 KES 205

-55.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 KES 65.6

$0.89 KES 115

-42.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.31 KES 299

$3.40 KES 441

-32.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 KES 385

$3.55 KES 460

-16.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 KES 122

$0.91 KES 118

3.30%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 KES 68.3

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 KES 212

$1.27 KES 165

29.13%

Eggs

$1.69 KES 218

$2.98 KES 387

-43.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.74 KES 1,521

$11.55 KES 1,496

1.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.84 KES 886

$6.17 KES 799

10.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.44 KES 705

$5.09 KES 659

6.88%

Apples (1kg)

$3.03 KES 392

$3.18 KES 412

-4.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 KES 140

$0.79 KES 102

36.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.08 KES 269

$2.77 KES 359

-24.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.04 KES 135

$0.71 KES 91.8

46.48%

Potato (1kg)

$1.06 KES 138

$0.81 KES 105

30.86%

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 KES 150

$0.66 KES 86.1

74.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 KES 90.9

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 KES 102

$0.49 KES 63.5

61.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.04 KES 394

Wine (Bottle)

$11.67 KES 1,511

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 KES 288

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 KES 365

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.75 KES 96.7

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.59 KES 3,963

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.59 KES 206

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.50 KES 195

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.88 KES 373

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.56 KES 202

$1.41 KES 183

10.64%

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

$22.0K KES 2.9M

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

$20.4K KES 2.6M

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

$34.70 KES 4,495

$77.3 KES 10.0K

-55.10%

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

$16.60 KES 2,151

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.54 KES 5,122

$31.26 KES 4,049

26.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.29 KES 5,608

$38.10 KES 4,935

13.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.63 KES 2,672

Cinema Ticket

$6.07 KES 787

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

$202 KES 26.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,140 KES 1.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.28 KES 2,368

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.56 KES 3,053

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.4 KES 8,605

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.7 KES 7,339

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$450 KES 58.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$185 KES 23.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,134 KES 146.9K

$380 KES 49.3K

197.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$417 KES 54.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,558 KES 201.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$886 KES 114.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$416 KES 53.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.84

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

Last update for Nairobi: June 1, 2026

Last update for Malindi: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Nairobi versus $31.00 in Malindi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $207 vs $152 – 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

Nairobi vs Malindi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Nairobi costs about 128% 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 $1,174 per month in Nairobi and $516 in Malindi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $782 in Nairobi and $344 in Malindi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 36% more in Nairobi, 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 $782 in Nairobi and $344 in Malindi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Malindi costs $344 versus $782 in Nairobi. 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, Nairobi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.