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

Name: Malawi
Address: MW

🙂 Solo nomad: China is 20% cheaper than Malawi without rent, and 19% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: China is 16.2% cheaper than Malawi without rent, and 11.2% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.85 ¥20.46

$4.91 MWK 8,439

-41.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.97 ¥172

$21.68 MWK 37.2K

10.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.96 ¥35.61

$8.75 MWK 15K

-43.31%

Cappuccino

$3.13 ¥22.47

$2.81 MWK 4,828

11.39%

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

$0.44 ¥3.18

$0.86 MWK 1,480

-48.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 ¥2.1

$0.43 MWK 734

-32.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.95 ¥6.83

$1.32 MWK 2,266

-28.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 ¥15.32

$2.98 MWK 5,109

-28.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 ¥13.23

$1.01 MWK 1,736

83.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.68 ¥12.06

$1.27 MWK 2,182

32.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.95 ¥6.81

$1.54 MWK 2,649

-38.31%

Eggs

$1.55 ¥11.11

$2.26 MWK 3,888

-31.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.25 ¥95.1

$7.4 MWK 12.7K

79.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.28 ¥23.52

$3.35 MWK 5,748

-2.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.85 ¥77.8

$5.52 MWK 9,471

96.56%

Apples (1kg)

$1.77 ¥12.66

$2.45 MWK 4,207

-27.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.26 ¥9.01

$1.74 MWK 2,986

-27.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.5 ¥10.73

$2.26 MWK 3,884

-33.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.19 ¥8.5

$1.24 MWK 2,122

-4.03%

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 ¥5.4

$1.39 MWK 2,379

-46.04%

Onion (1kg)

$0.86 ¥6.15

$1.39 MWK 2,378

-38.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.61 ¥4.37

$0.34 MWK 577

79.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 ¥4.14

$1.13 MWK 1,932

-48.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.45 ¥24.74

$2.42 MWK 4,158

42.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.3 ¥81.1

$12.42 MWK 21.3K

-9.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 ¥6

$0.94 MWK 1,612

-10.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 ¥12.05

$1.95 MWK 3,347

-13.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.4 ¥2.86

$1.02 MWK 1,744

-60.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.83 ¥149

$2.13 MWK 3,661

877.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ¥9.74

$0.57 MWK 977

138.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 ¥2.55

$2.47 MWK 4,234

-85.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.8 ¥48.75

$5.94 MWK 10.2K

14.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ¥8.05

$1.63 MWK 2,806

-31.29%

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

$19.2K ¥137.7K

$35.2K MWK 60.5M

-45.51%

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

$16.7K ¥119.8K

$38.4K MWK 66M

-56.55%

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

$51.4 ¥369

$47.9 MWK 82.2K

7.37%

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

$9.77 ¥70.1

$10.39 MWK 17.8K

-5.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.34 ¥81.3

$71.4 MWK 122.6K

-84.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.55 ¥284

$44.82 MWK 77K

-11.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.89 ¥107

$14.77 MWK 25.4K

0.81%

Cinema Ticket

$6.23 ¥44.71

$3.99 MWK 6,859

56.14%

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

$417 ¥2,989

$380 MWK 652.9K

9.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.7K ¥126.8K

$1,471 MWK 2.5M

1101.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.65 ¥327

$42.07 MWK 72.2K

8.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.49 ¥240

$34.19 MWK 58.7K

-2.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.8 ¥515

$59.5 MWK 102.2K

20.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.9 ¥523

$70.3 MWK 120.7K

3.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$445 ¥3,194

$205 MWK 352.1K

117.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$255 ¥1,830

$81.6 MWK 140.1K

212.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$915 ¥6,566

$440 MWK 755.3K

108.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$543 ¥3,895

$356 MWK 610.9K

52.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,142 ¥44.1K

$16.1K MWK 27.6M

-61.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,860 ¥20.5K

$397 MWK 681.1K

621.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$942 ¥6,755

$311 MWK 533.4K

203.14%

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: October 29, 2025

Last update for Malawi: October 27, 2025

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