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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 11.2% more expensive than Lilongwe without rent, and 46.5% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 21.2% more expensive than Lilongwe without rent, and 6.7% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.97 ฿62.0

$4.94 MWK 8,620

-60.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.68 ฿587

$32.06 MWK 56.0K

-41.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿249

$10.19 MWK 17.8K

-22.28%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿63.7

$2.95 MWK 5,149

-31.53%

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

$0.84 ฿26.45

$0.92 MWK 1,601

-8.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.07

$0.42 MWK 732

-16.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.22 ฿69.9

$1.77 MWK 3,088

25.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿113

$3.95 MWK 6,888

-9.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.67 ฿52.4

$1.01 MWK 1,766

65.35%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿51.1

$1.23 MWK 2,149

31.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿37.83

$1.69 MWK 2,944

-28.99%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿60.8

$2.64 MWK 4,602

-26.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.00 ฿503

$15.54 MWK 27.1K

2.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.16 ฿99.2

$3.23 MWK 5,644

-2.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.93 ฿344

$4.06 MWK 7,082

169.21%

Apples (1kg)

$2.67 ฿83.8

$2.61 MWK 4,552

2.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿36.99

$0.97 MWK 1,694

21.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿51.5

$1.46 MWK 2,556

12.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿49.83

$1.57 MWK 2,736

1.27%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿41.64

$1.36 MWK 2,374

-2.94%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿37.49

$1.21 MWK 2,114

-1.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿22.20

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿17.75

$0.65 MWK 1,136

-13.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿146

$1.61 MWK 2,813

188.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.96 ฿596

$14.66 MWK 25.6K

29.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 ฿55.7

$1.08 MWK 1,891

63.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿101

$1.85 MWK 3,235

72.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿28.32

$0.88 MWK 1,541

2.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.24 ฿605

$4.28 MWK 7,467

349.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿42.78

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿42.37

$2.52 MWK 4,398

-46.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.15 ฿256

$2.14 MWK 3,742

280.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿38.43

$1.60 MWK 2,788

-23.75%

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

$21.4K ฿671.8K

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

$21.7K ฿683.8K

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

$70.3 ฿2,210

$45.13 MWK 78.8K

55.77%

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

$13.91 ฿437

$11.87 MWK 20.7K

17.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿566

$63.6 MWK 111.0K

-71.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.78 ฿1,314

$37.00 MWK 64.6K

12.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.80 ฿214

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿180

$3.91 MWK 6,828

46.29%

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

$308 ฿9,693

$351 MWK 613.1K

-12.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿465.7K

$2,375 MWK 4.1M

523.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.9 ฿1,756

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.71 ฿840

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,658

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.8 ฿2,227

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$431 ฿13.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,439

$68.1 MWK 118.8K

247.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$811 ฿25.5K

$266 MWK 463.9K

205.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$501 ฿15.7K

$554 MWK 967.2K

-9.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,202 ฿69.2K

$16.2K MWK 28.4M

-86.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,600 ฿50.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$684 ฿21.5K

$279 MWK 487.7K

144.97%

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: January 13, 2026

Last update for Lilongwe: January 11, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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