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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $603 in Blantyre versus $586 in Lilongwe.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,033 in Blantyre versus $1,131 in Lilongwe.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,463 in Blantyre versus $1,675 in Lilongwe.

Living in Blantyre is roughly 3% more expensive than in Lilongwe, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Blantyre 56% lower, Lilongwe 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.08 MWK 6,999

$5.01 MWK 8,607

-18.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.16 MWK 22.6K

$32.21 MWK 55.3K

-59.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.93 MWK 11.9K

$10.37 MWK 17.8K

-33.17%

Cappuccino

$2.76 MWK 4,731

$3.05 MWK 5,239

-9.51%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.84 MWK 1,436

$1.48 MWK 2,545

-43.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 MWK 827

$0.35 MWK 599

37.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.05 MWK 1,807

$1.97 MWK 3,385

-46.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.80 MWK 3,092

$3.98 MWK 6,837

-54.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 MWK 1,747

$0.94 MWK 1,609

8.51%

White Bread (500g)

$1.32 MWK 2,269

$1.37 MWK 2,351

-3.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.01 MWK 3,458

$1.70 MWK 2,915

18.24%

Eggs

$1.66 MWK 2,848

$2.98 MWK 5,124

-44.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.62 MWK 6,218

$15.46 MWK 26.6K

-76.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.67 MWK 9,744

$3.17 MWK 5,447

78.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.42 MWK 11.0K

$4.05 MWK 6,958

58.52%

Apples (1kg)

$2.19 MWK 3,755

$2.55 MWK 4,376

-14.12%

Banana (1kg)

$2.37 MWK 4,065

$1.23 MWK 2,109

92.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 MWK 4,138

$1.52 MWK 2,607

58.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.06 MWK 1,826

$1.75 MWK 3,007

-39.43%

Potato (1kg)

$1.30 MWK 2,231

$1.83 MWK 3,136

-28.96%

Onion (1kg)

$1.30 MWK 2,232

$1.40 MWK 2,409

-7.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 MWK 572

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 MWK 1,411

$0.54 MWK 925

51.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 MWK 3,996

$1.57 MWK 2,699

48.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.73 MWK 23.6K

$14.43 MWK 24.8K

-4.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 MWK 1,519

$1.05 MWK 1,800

-16.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 MWK 2,703

$1.92 MWK 3,299

-18.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MWK 876

$0.95 MWK 1,636

-46.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.22 MWK 7,238

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.58 MWK 991

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.49 MWK 2,552

$2.66 MWK 4,563

-43.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.88 MWK 6,663

$2.10 MWK 3,611

84.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.56 MWK 2,683

$1.59 MWK 2,724

-1.89%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$34.8K MWK 59.7M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$38.6K MWK 66.3M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$26.69 MWK 45.8K

$45.50 MWK 78.1K

-41.34%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$8.10 MWK 13.9K

$11.78 MWK 20.2K

-31.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.7 MWK 105.9K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.2 MWK 101.7K

$36.75 MWK 63.1K

61.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.09 MWK 25.9K

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$390 MWK 670.1K

$349 MWK 600.0K

11.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$591 MWK 1.0M

$2,334 MWK 4.0M

-74.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$43.09 MWK 74.0K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.41 MWK 67.7K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$49.53 MWK 85.0K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.1 MWK 118.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$232 MWK 398.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$116 MWK 199.2K

$67.7 MWK 116.1K

71.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$609 MWK 1.0M

$268 MWK 459.8K

127.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$387 MWK 664.0K

$561 MWK 963.0K

-31.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$393 MWK 675.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$333 MWK 571.7K

$280 MWK 480.4K

19.02%

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

Last update for Blantyre: August 31, 2026

Last update for Lilongwe: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Blantyre pays 19% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $13.00 in Blantyre vs $32.00 in Lilongwe for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $189 vs $204 per month, with Blantyre cheaper across the board.

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

Blantyre vs Lilongwe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Blantyre and Lilongwe differ by about 3% in total monthly costs ($603 vs $586 including rent). Lilongwe is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 19% higher in Blantyre, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Shoppers in Blantyre pay roughly 8% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $603 per month in Blantyre versus $586 in Lilongwe – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Lilongwe gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Lilongwe gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Blantyre. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.