Cost of Living Comparison Between China and Malawi Cost of Living Comparison Between China and Malawi

Name: Malawi
Address: MW

🙂 Solo nomad: China is 14.7% cheaper than Malawi without rent, and 16.2% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: China is 16.4% cheaper than Malawi without rent, and 10.6% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.77 ¥19.31

$4.87 MWK 8,508

-43.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.14 ¥169

$21.27 MWK 37.1K

13.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.75 ¥33.15

$8.45 MWK 14.8K

-43.79%

Cappuccino

$3.02 ¥21.06

$2.81 MWK 4,907

7.47%

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

$0.44 ¥3.06

$0.81 MWK 1,420

-45.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 ¥1.87

$0.47 MWK 819

-42.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.96 ¥6.67

$1.33 MWK 2,313

-27.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 ¥14.21

$2.87 MWK 5,003

-28.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 ¥12.21

$1.05 MWK 1,831

66.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.69 ¥11.79

$1.30 MWK 2,273

30.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 ¥6.85

$1.55 MWK 2,699

-36.77%

Eggs

$1.60 ¥11.19

$2.37 MWK 4,145

-32.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.34 ¥93.1

$7.43 MWK 13.0K

79.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.27 ¥22.82

$3.41 MWK 5,945

-4.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.63 ¥74.2

$5.47 MWK 9,552

94.33%

Apples (1kg)

$1.74 ¥12.16

$2.36 MWK 4,119

-26.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.26 ¥8.76

$1.69 MWK 2,950

-25.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.45 ¥10.13

$2.24 MWK 3,913

-35.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.19 ¥8.28

$1.24 MWK 2,160

-4.03%

Potato (1kg)

$0.73 ¥5.08

$1.37 MWK 2,395

-46.72%

Onion (1kg)

$0.86 ¥5.99

$1.31 MWK 2,289

-34.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 ¥4.30

$0.33 MWK 577

87.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ¥3.71

$1.16 MWK 2,032

-54.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.44 ¥24.03

$2.40 MWK 4,198

43.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.63 ¥81.2

$12.58 MWK 22.0K

-7.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 ¥5.88

$0.97 MWK 1,696

-13.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 ¥11.30

$1.93 MWK 3,370

-16.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.44 ¥3.07

$0.94 MWK 1,640

-53.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.71 ¥145

$2.21 MWK 3,863

837.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 ¥9.91

$0.61 MWK 1,064

132.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 ¥2.27

$2.46 MWK 4,299

-86.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.51 ¥45.42

$6.19 MWK 10.8K

5.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 ¥8.19

$1.63 MWK 2,848

-28.22%

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

$19.2K ¥133.9K

$35.3K MWK 61.7M

-45.73%

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

$16.6K ¥116.1K

$39.3K MWK 68.6M

-57.65%

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

$51.4 ¥359

$47.92 MWK 83.6K

7.28%

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

$9.63 ¥67.2

$10.30 MWK 18.0K

-6.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.22 ¥78.3

$70.4 MWK 122.9K

-84.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.09 ¥273

$45.04 MWK 78.6K

-13.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.70 ¥103

$15.07 MWK 26.3K

-2.46%

Cinema Ticket

$6.14 ¥42.89

$3.99 MWK 6,957

53.88%

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

$416 ¥2,905

$376 MWK 657.2K

10.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.9K ¥125.0K

$1,454 MWK 2.5M

1131.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.24 ¥316

$40.95 MWK 71.5K

10.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.59 ¥228

$35.04 MWK 61.2K

-6.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.0 ¥509

$58.6 MWK 102.3K

24.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.8 ¥508

$70.6 MWK 123.3K

3.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ¥3,018

$205 MWK 358.1K

110.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$253 ¥1,767

$81.9 MWK 142.9K

209.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$923 ¥6,441

$447 MWK 779.5K

106.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$546 ¥3,811

$349 MWK 609.6K

56.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,324 ¥37.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,784 ¥19.4K

$393 MWK 686.0K

608.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,037 ¥7,240

$314 MWK 548.8K

229.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.06

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

Last update for China: January 11, 2026

Last update for Malawi: January 13, 2026

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Cost of Living Comparison Between China and Malawi Cost of Living Comparison Between China and Malawi

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