- Cost of Living
- Malawi
- United States
- Comparison
Cost of living in Malawi compared to United States
Currency:
| Food | - 52% | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food in Malawi is 52% cheaper than in United States | ||||
| Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district | 4,241 Kwacha ($5.89) | $14 | - 58% | |
| Combo meal in fast food restaurant (Big Mac Meal or similar) | 4,119 Kwacha ($5.72) | $8 | - 25% | |
| 500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | 1,929 Kwacha ($2.68) | $4.54 | - 41% | |
| 1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | 718 Kwacha ($1.00) | $0.89 | + 12% | |
| 12 eggs, large | 881 Kwacha ($1.22) | $3.17 | - 61% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | 822 Kwacha ($1.14) | $4.01 | - 72% | |
| 500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | 5,362 Kwacha ($7) | $6 | + 18% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | 1,690 Kwacha ($2.35) | $3.34 | - 30% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | 541 Kwacha ($0.75) | $1.60 | - 53% | |
| 0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | 710 Kwacha ($0.99) | $3.44 | - 71% | |
| 1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | 7,025 Kwacha ($10) | $15 | - 34% | |
| 2 liters of Coca-Cola | 926 Kwacha ($1.29) | $1.91 | - 33% | |
| Bread for 2 people for 1 day | 521 Kwacha ($0.72) | $2.13 | - 66% | |
| Housing | - 46% | |||
| Housing in Malawi is 46% cheaper than in United States | ||||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 Sqft) furnished accommodation in EXPENSIVE area | 751,096 Kwacha ($1,043) | $2,044 | - 49% | |
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 Sqft) furnished accommodation in NORMAL area | 350,415 Kwacha ($487) | $1,582 | - 69% | |
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | 29,864 Kwacha ($41) | $177 | - 77% | |
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 Sqft) furnished studio in EXPENSIVE area | 456,347 Kwacha ($634) | $1,587 | - 60% | |
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 Sqft) furnished studio in NORMAL area | 249,884 Kwacha ($347) | $1,129 | - 69% | |
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 Sqft) studio | 23,815 Kwacha ($33) | $121 | - 73% | |
| Internet 8 Mbps (1 month) | 47,984 Kwacha ($67) | $48 | + 39% | |
| 40” flat screen TV | 376,543 Kwacha ($523) | $334 | + 57% | |
| Microwave 800/900 Watt (Bosch, Panasonic, LG, Sharp, or equivalent brands) | 69,630 Kwacha ($97) | $119 | - 19% | |
| Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | 3,012 Kwacha ($4.18) | $11 | - 61% | |
| Hourly rate for cleaning help | - | $23 | - | |
| Clothes | + 36% | |||
| Clothes in Malawi is 36% more expensive than in United States | ||||
| 1 pair of jeans (Levis 501 or similar) | 44,815 Kwacha ($62) | $47 | + 32% | |
| 1 summer dress in a High Street Store (Zara, H&M or similar retailers) | 49,753 Kwacha ($69) | $45 | + 55% | |
| 1 pair of sport shoes (Nike, Adidas, or equivalent brands) | 64,877 Kwacha ($90) | $85 | + 6% | |
| 1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | 70,247 Kwacha ($98) | $115 | - 15% | |
| Transportation | - 32% | |||
| Transportation in Malawi is 32% cheaper than in United States | ||||
| Volkswagen Golf 1.4 TSI 150 CV (or equivalent), with no extras, new | 15,000,000 Kwacha ($20,833) | $22,371 | - 7% | |
| 1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | 846 Kwacha ($1.17) | $0.77 | + 53% | |
| Monthly ticket public transport | 30,979 Kwacha ($43) | $85 | - 49% | |
| Personal Care | - 60% | |||
| Personal Care in Malawi is 60% cheaper than in United States | ||||
| Cold medicine for 6 days (Tylenol, Frenadol, Coldrex, or equivalent brands) | 2,000 Kwacha ($2.78) | $7 | - 61% | |
| 1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | - | $18 | - | |
| Short visit to private Doctor (15 minutes) | 20,191 Kwacha ($28) | $111 | - 75% | |
| 1 box of 32 tampons (Tampax, OB, ...) | - | $7 | - | |
| Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | 1,125 Kwacha ($1.56) | $3.50 | - 55% | |
| Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | 1,000 Kwacha ($1.39) | $5.14 | - 73% | |
| 4 rolls of toilet paper | 660 Kwacha ($0.92) | $3.49 | - 74% | |
| Tube of toothpaste | 700 Kwacha ($0.97) | $1.86 | - 48% | |
| Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | - | $21 | - | |
| Entertainment | - 57% | |||
| Entertainment in Malawi is 57% cheaper than in United States | ||||
| Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | 15,151 Kwacha ($21) | $45 | - 53% | |
| 2 tickets to the movies | 4,000 Kwacha ($5.56) | $25 | - 78% | |
| 2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | - | $173 | - | |
| Dinner for two at an Italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | 22,548 Kwacha ($31) | $79 | - 60% | |
| 1 cocktail drink in downtown club | 3,175 Kwacha ($4.41) | $12 | - 62% | |
| Cappuccino in expat area of the city | 1,563 Kwacha ($2.17) | $4.86 | - 55% | |
| 1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | 1,053 Kwacha ($1.46) | $5.88 | - 75% | |
| iPad Wi-Fi 128GB | 300,000 Kwacha ($417) | $425 | - 2% | |
| 1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | 80 Kwacha ($0.11) | $0.34 | - 67% | |
| 1 month of gym membership in business district | 16,519 Kwacha ($23) | $54 | - 57% | |
| 1 package of Marlboro cigarettes | 752 Kwacha ($1.04) | $8 | - 87% | |
| TOTAL | - 43% | |||
WARNING! This comparison is based on only a few data points. At this point it is only a guess. It is based on 92,244 prices entered by 13,258 different people.
These prices were last updated on December 16, 2018.
Exchange rate:
0.00139
USD
/
MWK
Cost of living in Malawi is 43% cheaper than in United States
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