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

😐 Solo nomad: Blantyre is 44.1% more expensive than Lilongwe without rent, and 28.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Blantyre is 17% more expensive than Lilongwe without rent, and 3.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Blantyre
Lilongwe
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.90 MWK 8,546
$4.94 MWK 8,619
-0.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.80 MWK 25.8K
$31.85 MWK 55.5K
-53.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.02 MWK 15.7K
$10.19 MWK 17.8K
-11.48%
Cappuccino
$2.73 MWK 4,761
$3.09 MWK 5,384
-11.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 MWK 1,448
$0.96 MWK 1,681
-13.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53 MWK 929
$0.42 MWK 730
26.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.19 MWK 2,072
$1.69 MWK 2,952
-29.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96 MWK 5,165
$3.94 MWK 6,861
-24.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Blantyre
Lilongwe
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.95 MWK 1,663
$0.94 MWK 1,635
1.06%
White Bread (500g)
$1.29 MWK 2,254
$1.20 MWK 2,096
7.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.05 MWK 3,577
$1.76 MWK 3,077
16.48%
Eggs
$1.74 MWK 3,041
$2.61 MWK 4,553
-33.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.51 MWK 6,128
$15.81 MWK 27.6K
-77.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.65 MWK 9,845
$3.21 MWK 5,591
76.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.99 MWK 10.4K
$4.00 MWK 6,969
49.75%
Apples (1kg)
$2.24 MWK 3,908
$2.56 MWK 4,458
-12.50%
Banana (1kg)
$2.39 MWK 4,173
$0.97 MWK 1,700
146.39%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.44 MWK 4,250
$1.47 MWK 2,559
65.99%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.09 MWK 1,905
$1.58 MWK 2,751
-31.01%
Potato (1kg)
$1.31 MWK 2,284
$1.33 MWK 2,321
-1.50%
Onion (1kg)
$1.30 MWK 2,271
$1.20 MWK 2,098
8.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.33 MWK 582
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 MWK 1,438
$0.60 MWK 1,048
36.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.40 MWK 4,192
$1.58 MWK 2,752
51.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.70 MWK 18.7K
$14.62 MWK 25.5K
-26.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.96 MWK 1,672
$1.09 MWK 1,892
-11.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 MWK 2,777
$1.86 MWK 3,236
-14.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Blantyre
Lilongwe
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.89 MWK 1,551
$0.96 MWK 1,680
-7.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$4.42 MWK 7,705
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.57 MWK 998
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.41 MWK 4,197
$2.52 MWK 4,396
-4.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.21 MWK 10.8K
$2.12 MWK 3,702
192.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.60 MWK 2,790
$1.65 MWK 2,868
-3.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K MWK 60.2M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.6K MWK 67.2M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Blantyre
Lilongwe
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$38.25 MWK 66.7K
$44.93 MWK 78.3K
-14.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.94 MWK 13.8K
$11.92 MWK 20.8K
-33.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$149 MWK 260.5K
$61.4 MWK 107.1K
143.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Blantyre
Lilongwe
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$59.6 MWK 103.9K
$36.73 MWK 64.0K
62.29%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.96 MWK 26.1K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$3.83 MWK 6,684
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Blantyre
Lilongwe
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$360 MWK 626.9K
$351 MWK 612.7K
2.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$589 MWK 1.0M
$2,347 MWK 4.1M
-74.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Blantyre
Lilongwe
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.61 MWK 79.5K
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.12 MWK 59.5K
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$59.6 MWK 103.9K
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.1 MWK 122.2K
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Blantyre
Lilongwe
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$202 MWK 351.6K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$89.2 MWK 155.6K
$68.3 MWK 119.1K
30.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$542 MWK 944.4K
$266 MWK 463.2K
103.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$348 MWK 606.0K
$562 MWK 979.8K
-38.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$398 MWK 693.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Blantyre
Lilongwe
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$500 MWK 872.6K
$276 MWK 481.6K
81.21%

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

Last update for Blantyre: April 13, 2026

Last update for Lilongwe: April 11, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

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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