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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $472 per month in Thika vs $364 in Malindi, rent included.

A couple spends around $791 per month in Thika vs $596 in Malindi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,110 per month in Thika vs $829 in Malindi, rent included.

Thika costs about 29% more than Malindi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Thika and Malindi are more affordable than the global median – Thika 65% lower, Malindi 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.46 KES 705

$2.11 KES 272

158.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.67 KES 4,998

$31.20 KES 4,033

23.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.85 KES 885

Cappuccino

$2.41 KES 311

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

$0.75 KES 96.6

$1.53 KES 198

-50.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 KES 65.0

$0.89 KES 115

-43.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.65 KES 213

$3.54 KES 457

-53.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 KES 257

$3.40 KES 439

-41.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.87 KES 113

$0.98 KES 127

-11.22%

White Bread (500g)

$0.44 KES 56.9

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.37 KES 177

$1.26 KES 163

8.73%

Eggs

$1.35 KES 174

$2.91 KES 376

-53.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.55 KES 1,493

$11.44 KES 1,479

0.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.85 KES 885

$6.05 KES 781

13.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$1.88 KES 243

$5.15 KES 665

-63.50%

Apples (1kg)

$3.02 KES 391

$3.05 KES 395

-0.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 KES 134

$0.76 KES 97.9

36.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.11 KES 273

$2.64 KES 341

-20.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.00 KES 129

$0.71 KES 91.3

40.85%

Potato (1kg)

$1.07 KES 138

$0.75 KES 96.4

42.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 KES 144

$0.71 KES 92.2

56.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 KES 83.9

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 KES 98.1

$0.52 KES 67.4

46.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.37 KES 306

Wine (Bottle)

$5.67 KES 733

$7.65 KES 989

-25.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 KES 218

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 KES 256

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.57 KES 203

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 KES 197

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.97 KES 384

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.05 KES 136

$1.37 KES 177

-23.36%

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

$22.0K KES 2.8M

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

$19.9K KES 2.6M

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

$33.97 KES 4,391

$78.4 KES 10.1K

-56.68%

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

$16.57 KES 2,142

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.97 KES 5,166

$31.23 KES 4,037

27.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.06 KES 4,919

Cinema Ticket

$6.13 KES 793

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

$203 KES 26.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,150 KES 1.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.27 KES 2,362

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.31 KES 3,142

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.4 KES 8,585

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.6 KES 7,190

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$382 KES 49.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$613 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 Thika: July 26, 2026

Last update for Malindi: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Thika versus $31.00 in Malindi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $174 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

Thika vs Malindi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Thika costs about 29% 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 $707 per month in Thika 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 $472 in Thika and $364 in Malindi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 5% 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 $472 in Thika and $364 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, Thika makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.