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: $747 in Blantyre versus $582 in Lilongwe.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,183 in Blantyre versus $1,135 in Lilongwe.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,618 in Blantyre versus $1,688 in Lilongwe.

Living in Blantyre is roughly 28% more expensive than in Lilongwe, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Blantyre 44% lower, Lilongwe 56% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.01 MWK 8,598

$5.03 MWK 8,636

-0.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.89 MWK 25.6K

$32.03 MWK 55.0K

-53.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.88 MWK 15.2K

$10.27 MWK 17.6K

-13.53%

Cappuccino

$2.61 MWK 4,490

$3.11 MWK 5,340

-16.08%

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

$0.85 MWK 1,456

$0.98 MWK 1,690

-13.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 MWK 910

$0.38 MWK 656

39.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.19 MWK 2,041

$1.78 MWK 3,058

-33.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 MWK 5,046

$4.05 MWK 6,952

-27.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 MWK 1,615

$0.96 MWK 1,646

-2.08%

White Bread (500g)

$1.24 MWK 2,133

$1.25 MWK 2,150

-0.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.98 MWK 3,391

$1.67 MWK 2,876

18.56%

Eggs

$1.75 MWK 3,010

$2.70 MWK 4,631

-35.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.65 MWK 6,270

$15.86 MWK 27.2K

-76.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.51 MWK 9,453

$3.26 MWK 5,596

69.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.24 MWK 10.7K

$3.94 MWK 6,772

58.38%

Apples (1kg)

$2.14 MWK 3,681

$2.63 MWK 4,512

-18.63%

Banana (1kg)

$2.37 MWK 4,061

$1.02 MWK 1,753

132.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 MWK 4,107

$1.53 MWK 2,624

56.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.10 MWK 1,884

$1.52 MWK 2,605

-27.63%

Potato (1kg)

$1.36 MWK 2,343

$1.40 MWK 2,412

-2.86%

Onion (1kg)

$1.31 MWK 2,258

$1.26 MWK 2,168

3.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.31 MWK 526

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 MWK 1,435

$0.60 MWK 1,038

40.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.30 MWK 3,954

$1.56 MWK 2,686

47.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.74 MWK 18.4K

$14.62 MWK 25.1K

-26.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 MWK 1,563

$1.09 MWK 1,873

-16.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 MWK 2,816

$1.89 MWK 3,244

-13.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 MWK 1,515

$0.96 MWK 1,643

-8.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.43 MWK 7,603

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 MWK 1,039

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.50 MWK 4,287

$2.58 MWK 4,423

-3.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.07 MWK 10.4K

$2.15 MWK 3,687

182.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.59 MWK 2,739

$1.63 MWK 2,794

-2.45%

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)

$39.5K MWK 67.9M

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

$37.42 MWK 64.3K

$44.81 MWK 76.9K

-16.49%

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

$8.14 MWK 14.0K

$11.78 MWK 20.2K

-30.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$148 MWK 253.8K

$61.3 MWK 105.2K

141.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.0 MWK 103.0K

$38.14 MWK 65.5K

57.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.60 MWK 25.1K

Cinema Ticket

$3.87 MWK 6,643

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

$361 MWK 619.1K

$354 MWK 608.6K

1.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$597 MWK 1.0M

$2,365 MWK 4.1M

-74.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.00 MWK 77.3K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.22 MWK 58.8K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.1 MWK 101.5K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.3 MWK 118.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$200 MWK 343.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$89.3 MWK 153.3K

$66.9 MWK 114.8K

33.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$542 MWK 931.4K

$270 MWK 463.8K

100.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$353 MWK 606.9K

$548 MWK 941.5K

-35.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$400 MWK 686.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$339 MWK 582.7K

$271 MWK 464.9K

25.32%

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

Last update for Blantyre: July 14, 2026

Last update for Lilongwe: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Blantyre pays 25% 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: $15.00 in Blantyre vs $32.00 in Lilongwe for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $181 vs $201 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 28% in total monthly costs ($747 vs $582 including rent). Lilongwe is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 25% 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 11% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $747 per month in Blantyre versus $582 in Lilongwe – a 28% 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 28% less than in Blantyre. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.