Cost of Living Comparison Between Blantyre and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Blantyre and Chiang Mai

😐 Solo nomad: Blantyre is 8.4% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 15.6% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Blantyre is 0.3% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 11.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Blantyre
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.76 MWK 8,173
$2.02 ฿65.3
135.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.87 MWK 25.5K
$18.78 ฿608
-20.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.69 MWK 14.9K
$7.67 ฿248
13.30%
Cappuccino
$2.72 MWK 4,677
$1.98 ฿64.2
37.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 MWK 1,445
$0.82 ฿26.64
2.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53 MWK 907
$0.33 ฿10.58
60.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.18 MWK 2,034
$2.12 ฿68.6
-44.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93 MWK 5,033
$3.73 ฿121
-21.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Blantyre
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.03 MWK 1,763
$1.64 ฿53.2
-37.20%
White Bread (500g)
$1.29 MWK 2,222
$1.57 ฿50.9
-17.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.04 MWK 3,510
$1.19 ฿38.62
71.43%
Eggs
$1.73 MWK 2,972
$1.98 ฿64.1
-12.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.52 MWK 6,041
$15.99 ฿517
-77.99%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.59 MWK 9,603
$3.12 ฿101
79.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.15 MWK 10.6K
$11.16 ฿361
-44.89%
Apples (1kg)
$2.23 MWK 3,823
$2.76 ฿89.2
-19.20%
Banana (1kg)
$2.29 MWK 3,924
$1.22 ฿39.5
87.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.43 MWK 4,175
$1.71 ฿55.4
42.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.09 MWK 1,875
$1.55 ฿50.2
-29.68%
Potato (1kg)
$1.31 MWK 2,257
$1.34 ฿43.21
-2.24%
Onion (1kg)
$1.35 MWK 2,318
$1.21 ฿39.23
11.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.31 MWK 530
$0.72 ฿23.2
-56.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76 MWK 1,309
$0.53 ฿17.05
43.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.38 MWK 4,090
$4.72 ฿153
-49.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.73 MWK 18.4K
$18.39 ฿595
-41.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.97 MWK 1,672
$1.79 ฿57.9
-45.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 MWK 2,813
$3.21 ฿104
-48.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Blantyre
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 MWK 1,438
$0.94 ฿30.44
-10.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$18.9 ฿612
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.57 MWK 982
$1.42 ฿46.08
-59.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.41 MWK 4,130
$1.35 ฿43.53
78.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.16 MWK 10.6K
$7.85 ฿254
-21.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.61 MWK 2,760
$1.25 ฿40.4
28.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.2K MWK 60.4M
$21.2K ฿684.9K
66.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.4K MWK 65.9M
$21.8K ฿706.8K
75.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Blantyre
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$37.09 MWK 63.7K
$70.6 ฿2,285
-47.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.1 MWK 13.9K
$13.72 ฿444
-40.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$147 MWK 251.8K
$17.56 ฿568
735.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Blantyre
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$59.5 MWK 102.1K
$41.64 ฿1,347
42.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.66 MWK 25.2K
$6.9 ฿223
112.46%
Cinema Ticket
-
$5.8 ฿188
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Blantyre
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$356 MWK 610.9K
$308 ฿9,963
15.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$597 MWK 1M
$14.7K ฿475.8K
-95.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Blantyre
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.63 MWK 76.6K
$55.4 ฿1,793
-19.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.22 MWK 60.5K
$26.4 ฿854
33.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$57.6 MWK 98.9K
$85.1 ฿2,755
-32.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.1 MWK 120.3K
$71.8 ฿2,323
-2.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Blantyre
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$199 MWK 341.9K
$434 ฿14K
-54.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$91.9 MWK 157.8K
$235 ฿7,610
-60.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$540 MWK 926.5K
$821 ฿26.6K
-34.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$359 MWK 616K
$498 ฿16.1K
-27.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,180 ฿70.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$400 MWK 686.1K
$1,543 ฿49.9K
-74.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Blantyre
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$487 MWK 837K
$703 ฿22.8K
-30.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
5
-

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

Last update for Blantyre: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

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