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

😐 Solo nomad: Blantyre is 23.5% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 13.3% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Blantyre is 8.2% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 9.2% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Blantyre
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.83 MWK 8,403
$2.03 ฿64.0
137.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.24 MWK 26.5K
$18.59 ฿586
-18.02%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.17 MWK 15.9K
$7.48 ฿236
22.59%
Cappuccino
$2.73 MWK 4,755
$2.00 ฿63.0
36.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86 MWK 1,488
$0.85 ฿26.72
1.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 MWK 844
$0.35 ฿11.09
40.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.19 MWK 2,067
$2.21 ฿69.8
-46.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 MWK 5,013
$3.76 ฿118
-23.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Blantyre
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.94 MWK 1,636
$1.72 ฿54.2
-45.35%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 MWK 2,273
$1.63 ฿51.5
-19.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.03 MWK 3,534
$1.16 ฿36.54
75.00%
Eggs
$1.66 MWK 2,889
$1.98 ฿62.4
-16.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.62 MWK 6,291
$15.93 ฿502
-77.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.70 MWK 9,919
$3.17 ฿99.9
79.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.27 MWK 10.9K
$10.90 ฿344
-42.48%
Apples (1kg)
$2.17 MWK 3,766
$2.65 ฿83.4
-18.11%
Banana (1kg)
$2.39 MWK 4,162
$1.22 ฿38.57
95.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.46 MWK 4,285
$1.70 ฿53.5
44.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.10 MWK 1,912
$1.59 ฿50.2
-30.82%
Potato (1kg)
$1.35 MWK 2,356
$1.32 ฿41.76
2.27%
Onion (1kg)
$1.30 MWK 2,264
$1.17 ฿36.86
11.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.30 MWK 530
$0.68 ฿21.38
-55.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 MWK 1,355
$0.56 ฿17.58
39.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.44 MWK 4,240
$4.51 ฿142
-45.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.63 MWK 18.5K
$19.07 ฿602
-44.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 MWK 1,562
$1.77 ฿55.8
-49.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61 MWK 2,795
$3.18 ฿100
-49.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Blantyre
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 MWK 1,525
$0.96 ฿30.37
-8.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$18.90 ฿596
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.56 MWK 979
$1.36 ฿42.83
-58.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.38 MWK 4,135
$1.35 ฿42.65
76.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.13 MWK 10.7K
$8.03 ฿253
-23.66%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.61 MWK 2,796
$1.24 ฿39.20
29.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.7K MWK 62.1M
$21.2K ฿667.5K
68.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K MWK 68.2M
$21.8K ฿686.1K
80.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Blantyre
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$37.83 MWK 65.8K
$71.2 ฿2,247
-46.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.02 MWK 13.9K
$14.09 ฿444
-43.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$148 MWK 257.6K
$17.47 ฿551
747.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Blantyre
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.5 MWK 101.7K
$42.07 ฿1,327
38.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.90 MWK 25.9K
$6.88 ฿217
116.57%
Cinema Ticket
-
$5.94 ฿187
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Blantyre
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$363 MWK 630.6K
$307 ฿9,694
17.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$583 MWK 1.0M
$14.8K ฿466.6K
-96.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Blantyre
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.03 MWK 78.3K
$55.7 ฿1,756
-19.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.32 MWK 59.7K
$26.79 ฿845
28.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$57.9 MWK 100.7K
$83.2 ฿2,625
-30.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.3 MWK 120.6K
$70.1 ฿2,211
-1.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Blantyre
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$198 MWK 344.7K
$427 ฿13.5K
-53.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$92.1 MWK 160.3K
$237 ฿7,478
-61.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$542 MWK 942.3K
$802 ฿25.3K
-32.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$355 MWK 617.3K
$503 ฿15.9K
-29.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,061 ฿65.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$399 MWK 694.2K
$1,533 ฿48.3K
-73.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Blantyre
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$495 MWK 860.6K
$654 ฿20.6K
-24.32%
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: March 2, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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