Cost of Living Comparison Between Blantyre and Lilongwe Cost of Living Comparison Between Blantyre and Lilongwe

😐 Solo nomad: Blantyre is 51.7% more expensive than Lilongwe without rent, and 25.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Blantyre is 23.3% more expensive than Lilongwe without rent, and 1.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Blantyre
Lilongwe
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.83 MWK 8,403
$5.13 MWK 8,920
-5.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.24 MWK 26.5K
$32.31 MWK 56.2K
-52.83%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.17 MWK 15.9K
$10.34 MWK 18.0K
-11.32%
Cappuccino
$2.73 MWK 4,755
$3.00 MWK 5,211
-9.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86 MWK 1,488
$0.95 MWK 1,658
-9.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 MWK 844
$0.41 MWK 719
19.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.19 MWK 2,067
$1.77 MWK 3,082
-32.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 MWK 5,013
$4.09 MWK 7,123
-29.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Blantyre
Lilongwe
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.94 MWK 1,636
$1.00 MWK 1,736
-6.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 MWK 2,273
$1.19 MWK 2,064
10.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.03 MWK 3,534
$1.68 MWK 2,926
20.83%
Eggs
$1.66 MWK 2,889
$2.62 MWK 4,562
-36.64%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.62 MWK 6,291
$15.95 MWK 27.8K
-77.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.70 MWK 9,919
$3.09 MWK 5,384
84.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.27 MWK 10.9K
$3.95 MWK 6,866
58.73%
Apples (1kg)
$2.17 MWK 3,766
$2.59 MWK 4,505
-16.22%
Banana (1kg)
$2.39 MWK 4,162
$0.99 MWK 1,719
141.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.46 MWK 4,285
$1.47 MWK 2,558
67.35%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.10 MWK 1,912
$1.52 MWK 2,636
-27.63%
Potato (1kg)
$1.35 MWK 2,356
$1.35 MWK 2,342
-
Onion (1kg)
$1.30 MWK 2,264
$1.23 MWK 2,139
5.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.30 MWK 530
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 MWK 1,355
$0.64 MWK 1,114
21.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.44 MWK 4,240
$1.56 MWK 2,718
56.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.63 MWK 18.5K
$14.31 MWK 24.9K
-25.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 MWK 1,562
$1.05 MWK 1,825
-14.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61 MWK 2,795
$1.86 MWK 3,242
-13.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Blantyre
Lilongwe
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 MWK 1,525
$0.89 MWK 1,550
-1.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$4.44 MWK 7,719
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.56 MWK 979
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.38 MWK 4,135
$2.54 MWK 4,422
-6.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.13 MWK 10.7K
$2.13 MWK 3,713
187.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.61 MWK 2,796
$1.59 MWK 2,762
1.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.7K MWK 62.1M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K MWK 68.2M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Blantyre
Lilongwe
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$37.83 MWK 65.8K
$45.36 MWK 78.9K
-16.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.02 MWK 13.9K
$11.64 MWK 20.3K
-31.10%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$148 MWK 257.6K
$63.3 MWK 110.2K
133.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Blantyre
Lilongwe
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.5 MWK 101.7K
$37.74 MWK 65.6K
54.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.90 MWK 25.9K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$4.03 MWK 7,004
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Blantyre
Lilongwe
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$363 MWK 630.6K
$346 MWK 602.6K
4.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$583 MWK 1.0M
$2,394 MWK 4.2M
-75.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Blantyre
Lilongwe
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.03 MWK 78.3K
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.32 MWK 59.7K
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$57.9 MWK 100.7K
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.3 MWK 120.6K
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Blantyre
Lilongwe
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$198 MWK 344.7K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$92.1 MWK 160.3K
$66.8 MWK 116.2K
37.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$542 MWK 942.3K
$269 MWK 468.6K
101.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$355 MWK 617.3K
$561 MWK 976.1K
-36.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$399 MWK 694.2K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Blantyre
Lilongwe
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$495 MWK 860.6K
$273 MWK 474.9K
81.22%

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

Last update for Blantyre: March 2, 2026

Last update for Lilongwe: March 2, 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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