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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 22.8% more expensive than Lilongwe without rent, and 44.8% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 13.9% more expensive than Lilongwe without rent, and 8.9% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.03 ฿64.0

$5.13 MWK 8,920

-60.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.59 ฿586

$32.31 MWK 56.2K

-42.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿236

$10.34 MWK 18.0K

-27.66%

Cappuccino

$2.00 ฿63.0

$3.00 MWK 5,211

-33.33%

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

$0.85 ฿26.72

$0.95 MWK 1,658

-10.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.09

$0.41 MWK 719

-14.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿69.8

$1.77 MWK 3,082

24.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.76 ฿118

$4.09 MWK 7,123

-8.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 ฿54.2

$1.00 MWK 1,736

72.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿51.5

$1.19 MWK 2,064

36.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 ฿36.54

$1.68 MWK 2,926

-30.95%

Eggs

$1.98 ฿62.4

$2.62 MWK 4,562

-24.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.93 ฿502

$15.95 MWK 27.8K

-0.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿99.9

$3.09 MWK 5,384

2.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿344

$3.95 MWK 6,866

175.95%

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 ฿83.4

$2.59 MWK 4,505

2.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿38.57

$0.99 MWK 1,719

23.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿53.5

$1.47 MWK 2,558

15.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿50.2

$1.52 MWK 2,636

4.61%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿41.76

$1.35 MWK 2,342

-2.22%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿36.86

$1.23 MWK 2,139

-4.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ฿21.38

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿17.58

$0.64 MWK 1,114

-12.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.51 ฿142

$1.56 MWK 2,718

189.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.07 ฿602

$14.31 MWK 24.9K

33.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 ฿55.8

$1.05 MWK 1,825

68.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿100

$1.86 MWK 3,242

70.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.96 ฿30.37

$0.89 MWK 1,550

7.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.90 ฿596

$4.44 MWK 7,719

325.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿42.83

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿42.65

$2.54 MWK 4,422

-46.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.03 ฿253

$2.13 MWK 3,713

277.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ฿39.20

$1.59 MWK 2,762

-22.01%

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

$21.2K ฿667.5K

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

$21.8K ฿686.1K

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

$71.2 ฿2,247

$45.36 MWK 78.9K

57.05%

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

$14.09 ฿444

$11.64 MWK 20.3K

21.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.47 ฿551

$63.3 MWK 110.2K

-72.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.07 ฿1,327

$37.74 MWK 65.6K

11.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿217

Cinema Ticket

$5.94 ฿187

$4.03 MWK 7,004

47.39%

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

$307 ฿9,694

$346 MWK 602.6K

-11.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿466.6K

$2,394 MWK 4.2M

518.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.7 ฿1,756

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.79 ฿845

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.2 ฿2,625

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.1 ฿2,211

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$427 ฿13.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,478

$66.8 MWK 116.2K

254.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$802 ฿25.3K

$269 MWK 468.6K

197.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$503 ฿15.9K

$561 MWK 976.1K

-10.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,061 ฿65.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,533 ฿48.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$654 ฿20.6K

$273 MWK 474.9K

139.46%

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: March 1, 2026

Last update for Lilongwe: March 2, 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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