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

🙂 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 15.9% cheaper than Blantyre without rent, and 17.5% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 7.1% cheaper than Blantyre without rent, and 9.8% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.01 ฿64.4

$4.90 MWK 8,546

-58.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.23 ฿583

$14.80 MWK 25.8K

23.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.65 ฿245

$9.02 MWK 15.7K

-15.19%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿61.4

$2.73 MWK 4,761

-29.67%

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

$0.84 ฿26.91

$0.83 MWK 1,448

1.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.39

$0.53 MWK 929

-32.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.19 ฿70.0

$1.19 MWK 2,072

84.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿121

$2.96 MWK 5,165

28.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿52.4

$0.95 MWK 1,663

72.63%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿51.8

$1.29 MWK 2,254

25.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 ฿36.89

$2.05 MWK 3,577

-43.90%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿62.0

$1.74 MWK 3,041

11.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.94 ฿510

$3.51 MWK 6,128

354.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.10 ฿99.2

$5.65 MWK 9,845

-45.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.07 ฿354

$5.99 MWK 10.4K

84.81%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿86.6

$2.24 MWK 3,908

20.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿37.70

$2.39 MWK 4,173

-50.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿54.5

$2.44 MWK 4,250

-29.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.61 ฿51.3

$1.09 MWK 1,905

47.71%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿44.54

$1.31 MWK 2,284

6.11%

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 ฿36.72

$1.30 MWK 2,271

-11.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿22.77

$0.33 MWK 582

115.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ฿17.60

$0.82 MWK 1,438

-32.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.57 ฿146

$2.40 MWK 4,192

90.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.87 ฿604

$10.70 MWK 18.7K

76.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ฿58.2

$0.96 MWK 1,672

89.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 ฿103

$1.59 MWK 2,777

101.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.17

$0.89 MWK 1,551

-1.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.89 ฿604

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.18

$0.57 MWK 998

147.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.30 ฿41.60

$2.41 MWK 4,197

-46.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.20 ฿262

$6.21 MWK 10.8K

32.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.19

$1.60 MWK 2,790

-23.13%

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

$21.2K ฿677.2K

$34.5K MWK 60.2M

-38.67%

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

$22.3K ฿713.5K

$38.6K MWK 67.2M

-42.14%

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

$69.9 ฿2,234

$38.25 MWK 66.7K

82.67%

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

$14.07 ฿450

$7.94 MWK 13.8K

77.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.70 ฿566

$149 MWK 260.5K

-88.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ฿1,324

$59.6 MWK 103.9K

-30.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.69 ฿214

$14.96 MWK 26.1K

-55.28%

Cinema Ticket

$5.74 ฿184

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

$299 ฿9,569

$360 MWK 626.9K

-16.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿480.0K

$589 MWK 1.0M

2449.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 ฿1,753

$45.61 MWK 79.5K

20.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.35 ฿843

$34.12 MWK 59.5K

-22.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.7 ฿2,707

$59.6 MWK 103.9K

42.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.7 ฿2,230

$70.1 MWK 122.2K

-0.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$427 ฿13.7K

$202 MWK 351.6K

111.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$241 ฿7,699

$89.2 MWK 155.6K

169.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$811 ฿25.9K

$542 MWK 944.4K

49.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$498 ฿15.9K

$348 MWK 606.0K

43.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,022 ฿64.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,524 ฿48.7K

$398 MWK 693.8K

282.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$639 ฿20.4K

$500 MWK 872.6K

27.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 13, 2026

Last update for Blantyre: April 13, 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

Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared

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