- Cost of Living
- Bhutan
- Malawi
- Thimphu
- Zomba
- Comparison
Cost of living in Thimphu, Bhutan compared to Zomba, Malawi
Currency:
Food | + 5% | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Food in Thimphu (Bhutan) is 5% more expensive than in Zomba (Malawi) | ||||
Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district | 476 Ngultrum (5,106 Kwacha) | 2,000 Kwacha | + 155% | |
Combo meal in fast food restaurant (Big Mac Meal or similar) | 137 Ngultrum (1,469 Kwacha) | 1,600 Kwacha | - 8% | |
500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | 108 Ngultrum (1,154 Kwacha) | 2,500 Kwacha | - 54% | |
1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | 65 Ngultrum (698 Kwacha) | 500 Kwacha | + 40% | |
12 eggs, large | 122 Ngultrum (1,310 Kwacha) | - | - | |
1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | 20 Ngultrum (215 Kwacha) | 500 Kwacha | - 57% | |
500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | 125 Ngultrum (1,342 Kwacha) | - | - | |
1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | 75 Ngultrum (805 Kwacha) | - | - | |
1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | 30 Ngultrum (322 Kwacha) | - | - | |
0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | 50 Ngultrum (537 Kwacha) | - | - | |
1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | 300 Ngultrum (3,221 Kwacha) | - | - | |
2 liters of Coca-Cola | 82 Ngultrum (880 Kwacha) | - | - | |
Bread for 2 people for 1 day | 16 Ngultrum (169 Kwacha) | - | - | |
Housing | ||||
Housing in Thimphu (Bhutan) is in Zomba (Malawi) | ||||
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 Sqft) furnished accommodation in EXPENSIVE area | 34,339 Ngultrum (368,659 Kwacha) | - | - | |
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 Sqft) furnished accommodation in NORMAL area | 19,946 Ngultrum (214,138 Kwacha) | - | - | |
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | 9,500 Ngultrum (101,991 Kwacha) | - | - | |
Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 Sqft) furnished studio in EXPENSIVE area | 10,000 Ngultrum (107,359 Kwacha) | - | - | |
Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 Sqft) furnished studio in NORMAL area | 17,172 Ngultrum (184,355 Kwacha) | - | - | |
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 Sqft) studio | 4,750 Ngultrum (50,995 Kwacha) | - | - | |
Internet 8 Mbps (1 month) | 2,000 Ngultrum (21,472 Kwacha) | - | - | |
40” flat screen TV | 39,315 Ngultrum (422,086 Kwacha) | - | - | |
Microwave 800/900 Watt (Bosch, Panasonic, LG, Sharp, or equivalent brands) | 9,031 Ngultrum (96,961 Kwacha) | - | - | |
Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | 295 Ngultrum (3,171 Kwacha) | - | - | |
Hourly rate for cleaning help | 250 Ngultrum (2,684 Kwacha) | - | - | |
Clothes | ||||
Clothes in Thimphu (Bhutan) is in Zomba (Malawi) | ||||
1 pair of jeans (Levis 501 or similar) | 1,942 Ngultrum (20,844 Kwacha) | - | - | |
1 summer dress in a High Street Store (Zara, H&M or similar retailers) | 2,134 Ngultrum (22,911 Kwacha) | - | - | |
1 pair of sport shoes (Nike, Adidas, or equivalent brands) | 5,141 Ngultrum (55,197 Kwacha) | - | - | |
1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | 3,226 Ngultrum (34,633 Kwacha) | - | - | |
Transportation | ||||
Transportation in Thimphu (Bhutan) is in Zomba (Malawi) | ||||
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 TSI 150 CV (or equivalent), with no extras, new | 1,600,000 Ngultrum (17,177,427 Kwacha) | - | - | |
1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | 65 Ngultrum (703 Kwacha) | - | - | |
Monthly ticket public transport | 2,578 Ngultrum (27,677 Kwacha) | - | - | |
Taxi trip on a business day, basic tariff, 8 km. (5 miles) | - | - | - | |
Personal Care | ||||
Personal Care in Thimphu (Bhutan) is in Zomba (Malawi) | ||||
Cold medicine for 6 days (Tylenol, Frenadol, Coldrex, or equivalent brands) | 55 Ngultrum (593 Kwacha) | - | - | |
1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | 80 Ngultrum (859 Kwacha) | - | - | |
Short visit to private Doctor (15 minutes) | 1,283 Ngultrum (13,778 Kwacha) | - | - | |
1 box of 32 tampons (Tampax, OB, ...) | 331 Ngultrum (3,556 Kwacha) | - | - | |
Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | 364 Ngultrum (3,912 Kwacha) | - | - | |
Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | 340 Ngultrum (3,649 Kwacha) | - | - | |
4 rolls of toilet paper | 104 Ngultrum (1,117 Kwacha) | - | - | |
Tube of toothpaste | 54 Ngultrum (579 Kwacha) | - | - | |
Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | 150 Ngultrum (1,610 Kwacha) | - | - | |
Entertainment | ||||
Entertainment in Thimphu (Bhutan) is in Zomba (Malawi) | ||||
Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | 1,487 Ngultrum (15,969 Kwacha) | - | - | |
2 tickets to the movies | 502 Ngultrum (5,392 Kwacha) | - | - | |
2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | 825 Ngultrum (8,862 Kwacha) | - | - | |
Dinner for two at an Italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | 2,309 Ngultrum (24,791 Kwacha) | - | - | |
1 cocktail drink in downtown club | 838 Ngultrum (8,992 Kwacha) | - | - | |
Cappuccino in expat area of the city | 100 Ngultrum (1,074 Kwacha) | - | - | |
1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | 77 Ngultrum (830 Kwacha) | - | - | |
iPad Wi-Fi 128GB | 45,000 Ngultrum (483,115 Kwacha) | - | - | |
1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | 2.36 Ngultrum (25 Kwacha) | - | - | |
1 month of gym membership in business district | 3,630 Ngultrum (38,969 Kwacha) | - | - | |
1 package of Marlboro cigarettes | 180 Ngultrum (1,932 Kwacha) | - | - | |
TOTAL | + 5% |

These prices were last updated on April 22, 2018.
Exchange rate:
10.736
MWK
/
BTN
Do you live in Zomba? We need your help!
Recent Comparisons
- Cost of living in Vancouver is about the same as in Toronto
- Cost of living in Tokyo is 94% more expensive than in Kuala Lumpur
- Cost of living in Melbourne is 13% cheaper than in Sydney
- Cost of living in Davao is 66% cheaper than in Honolulu
- Cost of living in Kuala Lumpur is 52% cheaper than in Singapore
- Cost of living in New York is about the same as in London
- Cost of living in Toronto is 77% more expensive than in Santo Domingo
- Cost of living in Toronto is 25% more expensive than in Montreal
- Cost of living in SF is about the same as in New York
- Cost of living in Osaka is 16% cheaper than in Tokyo
Compare other countries
Cost of Living and Prices in Similar Cities
- Cost of Living, Prices in Masvingo (Zimbabwe)
- Cost of Living, Prices in Kadoma (Zimbabwe)
- Cost of Living, Prices in Chipata (Zambia)
- Cost of Living, Prices in Bharatpur (Nepal)
- Cost of Living, Prices in Myitkyina (Myanmar)
- Cost of Living, Prices in Butwal (Nepal)
- Cost of Living, Prices in Antsiranana (Madagascar)
- Cost of Living, Prices in Dharan Bazar (Nepal)
Cost of living in Thimphu (Bhutan) is 5% more expensive than in Zomba (Malawi)
For example, you would need at least 1,114,315 Kwacha
(103,793 Ngultrum)
in Thimphu
to maintain the same standard of living that you can have with
1,060,000 Kwacha
in Zomba.
Recent Prices Added
- Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district in Campinas costs R$ 45 (14 minutes ago)
- Summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) in Bangkok costs 1,490 ฿ (25 minutes ago)
- Ipad wi-fi 128gb in Valletta costs €415 (37 minutes ago)
- Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) in Manila costs Php270 (40 minutes ago)
- Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district in Barcelona costs €1.89 (42 minutes ago)
- Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district in Salt Lake City, Utah costs $12 (about 1 hour ago)