Cost of Living Comparison Between Australia and Malawi Cost of Living Comparison Between Australia and Malawi

😐 Solo nomad: Australia is 70.7% more expensive than Malawi without rent, and 243.7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Australia is 83.3% more expensive than Malawi without rent, and 173.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Australia
Malawi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.97 A$24.47
$4.91 MWK 8,439
225.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.2 A$118
$21.68 MWK 37.2K
255.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.66 A$14.8
$8.75 MWK 15K
10.40%
Cappuccino
$3.57 A$5.48
$2.81 MWK 4,828
27.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64 A$4.04
$0.86 MWK 1,480
206.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 A$3.41
$0.43 MWK 734
416.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.57 A$10.06
$1.32 MWK 2,266
397.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.98 A$10.7
$2.98 MWK 5,109
134.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Australia
Malawi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.5 A$2.3
$1.01 MWK 1,736
48.51%
White Bread (500g)
$2.42 A$3.7
$1.27 MWK 2,182
90.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.02 A$3.1
$1.54 MWK 2,649
31.17%
Eggs
$4.38 A$6.71
$2.26 MWK 3,888
93.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.86 A$13.58
$7.4 MWK 12.7K
19.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.26 A$12.66
$3.35 MWK 5,748
146.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.14 A$21.66
$5.52 MWK 9,471
156.16%
Apples (1kg)
$3.24 A$4.96
$2.45 MWK 4,207
32.24%
Banana (1kg)
$2.68 A$4.11
$1.74 MWK 2,986
54.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.86 A$4.39
$2.26 MWK 3,884
26.55%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.25 A$6.5
$1.24 MWK 2,122
242.74%
Potato (1kg)
$2.55 A$3.91
$1.39 MWK 2,379
83.45%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 A$3.35
$1.39 MWK 2,378
57.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.24 A$3.43
$0.34 MWK 577
558.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.57 A$2.41
$1.13 MWK 1,932
38.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$31.36 A$48.04
$2.42 MWK 4,158
1195.87%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.32 A$20.41
$12.42 MWK 21.3K
7.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.61 A$7.06
$0.94 MWK 1,612
390.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.97 A$7.61
$1.95 MWK 3,347
154.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Australia
Malawi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.97 A$4.54
$1.02 MWK 1,744
191.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$98 A$150
$2.13 MWK 3,661
4502.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.62 A$5.55
$0.57 MWK 977
535.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.82 A$2.79
$2.47 MWK 4,234
-26.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$37.78 A$57.9
$5.94 MWK 10.2K
536.03%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.2 A$1.84
$1.63 MWK 2,806
-26.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.1K A$44.6K
$35.2K MWK 60.5M
-17.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K A$34.5K
$38.4K MWK 66M
-41.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Australia
Malawi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$180 A$276
$47.9 MWK 82.2K
275.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.23 A$40.19
$10.39 MWK 17.8K
152.45%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.8 A$80.9
$71.4 MWK 122.6K
-25.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Australia
Malawi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.77 A$71.7
$44.82 MWK 77K
4.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.37 A$25.08
$14.77 MWK 25.4K
10.83%
Cinema Ticket
$13.82 A$21.18
$3.99 MWK 6,859
246.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Australia
Malawi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,599 A$2,450
$380 MWK 652.9K
320.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.3K A$18.8K
$1,471 MWK 2.5M
734.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Australia
Malawi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.7 A$110
$42.07 MWK 72.2K
70.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.5 A$78.8
$34.19 MWK 58.7K
50.48%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 A$155
$59.5 MWK 102.2K
69.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110 A$168
$70.3 MWK 120.7K
56.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Australia
Malawi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,395 A$2,137
$205 MWK 352.1K
580.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,106 A$1,694
$81.6 MWK 140.1K
1254.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,271 A$3,480
$440 MWK 755.3K
416.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,775 A$2,719
$356 MWK 610.9K
398.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,985 A$10.7K
$16.1K MWK 27.6M
-56.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,106 A$7,823
$397 MWK 681.1K
1187.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Australia
Malawi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,626 A$5,555
$311 MWK 533.4K
1067.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.35
0
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Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Australia: October 29, 2025

Last update for Malawi: October 27, 2025

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