Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Blantyre Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Blantyre

🙂 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 7.7% cheaper than Blantyre without rent, and 18.4% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 0.3% cheaper than Blantyre without rent, and 12.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Blantyre
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.02 ฿65.3
$4.76 MWK 8,173
-57.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.78 ฿608
$14.87 MWK 25.5K
26.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.67 ฿248
$8.69 MWK 14.9K
-11.74%
Cappuccino
$1.98 ฿64.2
$2.72 MWK 4,677
-27.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ฿26.64
$0.84 MWK 1,445
-2.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ฿10.58
$0.53 MWK 907
-37.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.12 ฿68.6
$1.18 MWK 2,034
79.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿121
$2.93 MWK 5,033
27.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Blantyre
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿53.2
$1.03 MWK 1,763
59.22%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿50.9
$1.29 MWK 2,222
21.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.62
$2.04 MWK 3,510
-41.67%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿64.1
$1.73 MWK 2,972
14.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.99 ฿517
$3.52 MWK 6,041
354.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ฿101
$5.59 MWK 9,603
-44.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ฿361
$6.15 MWK 10.6K
81.46%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ฿89.2
$2.23 MWK 3,823
23.77%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.5
$2.29 MWK 3,924
-46.72%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿55.4
$2.43 MWK 4,175
-29.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿50.2
$1.09 MWK 1,875
42.20%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ฿43.21
$1.31 MWK 2,257
2.29%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.23
$1.35 MWK 2,318
-10.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.2
$0.31 MWK 530
132.26%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.05
$0.76 MWK 1,309
-30.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.72 ฿153
$2.38 MWK 4,090
98.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.39 ฿595
$10.73 MWK 18.4K
71.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿57.9
$0.97 MWK 1,672
84.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿104
$1.64 MWK 2,813
95.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Blantyre
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ฿30.44
$0.84 MWK 1,438
11.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.9 ฿612
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ฿46.08
$0.57 MWK 982
149.12%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.53
$2.41 MWK 4,130
-43.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 ฿254
$6.16 MWK 10.6K
27.44%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ฿40.4
$1.61 MWK 2,760
-22.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿684.9K
$35.2K MWK 60.4M
-39.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿706.8K
$38.4K MWK 65.9M
-43.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Blantyre
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.6 ฿2,285
$37.09 MWK 63.7K
90.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.72 ฿444
$8.1 MWK 13.9K
69.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.56 ฿568
$147 MWK 251.8K
-88.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Blantyre
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.64 ฿1,347
$59.5 MWK 102.1K
-29.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.9 ฿223
$14.66 MWK 25.2K
-52.93%
Cinema Ticket
$5.8 ฿188
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Blantyre
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ฿9,963
$356 MWK 610.9K
-13.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿475.8K
$597 MWK 1M
2361.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Blantyre
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 ฿1,793
$44.63 MWK 76.6K
24.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.4 ฿854
$35.22 MWK 60.5K
-25.04%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 ฿2,755
$57.6 MWK 98.9K
47.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 ฿2,323
$70.1 MWK 120.3K
2.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Blantyre
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ฿14K
$199 MWK 341.9K
118.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 ฿7,610
$91.9 MWK 157.8K
155.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$821 ฿26.6K
$540 MWK 926.5K
52.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿16.1K
$359 MWK 616K
38.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,180 ฿70.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,543 ฿49.9K
$400 MWK 686.1K
286.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Blantyre
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ฿22.8K
$487 MWK 837K
44.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
0
-

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

Last update for Blantyre: October 28, 2025

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