Cost of Living Comparison Between Blantyre and Monkey Bay Cost of Living Comparison Between Blantyre and Monkey Bay

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.78 MWK 8,317

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.28 MWK 26.6K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.99 MWK 15.6K

Cappuccino

$2.67 MWK 4,648

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

$0.80 MWK 1,388

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 MWK 869

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.21 MWK 2,102

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 MWK 5,039

Milk (1 liter)

$0.97 MWK 1,686

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 MWK 2,256

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.02 MWK 3,514

Eggs

$1.75 MWK 3,047

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.65 MWK 6,352

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.54 MWK 9,642

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.30 MWK 11.0K

Apples (1kg)

$2.26 MWK 3,927

Banana (1kg)

$2.31 MWK 4,012

Oranges (1kg)

$2.49 MWK 4,324

Tomato (1kg)

$1.11 MWK 1,932

Potato (1kg)

$1.34 MWK 2,337

Onion (1kg)

$1.32 MWK 2,298

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.30 MWK 530

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 MWK 1,330

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.30 MWK 4,001

Wine (Bottle)

$10.52 MWK 18.3K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.89 MWK 1,540

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 MWK 2,885

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 MWK 1,531

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 MWK 1,059

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.38 MWK 4,137

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.24 MWK 10.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 MWK 2,701

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

$34.5K MWK 60.0M

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

$39.4K MWK 68.5M

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

$38.33 MWK 66.7K

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

$7.81 MWK 13.6K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$149 MWK 259.8K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.9 MWK 104.2K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.56 MWK 25.3K

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

$362 MWK 628.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$603 MWK 1.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.60 MWK 77.6K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.96 MWK 60.8K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.2 MWK 102.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 MWK 123.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$199 MWK 345.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$90.2 MWK 156.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$541 MWK 940.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$356 MWK 618.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$403 MWK 700.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$500 MWK 869.4K

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

Last update for Blantyre: April 27, 2026

Last update for Monkey Bay: April 26, 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

Blantyre vs Monkey Bay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For families, Monkey Bay is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Blantyre, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

It comes down to priorities – Monkey Bay wins on affordability, Blantyre on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.