Cost of Living Comparison Between Da Nang and Blantyre Cost of Living Comparison Between Da Nang and Blantyre

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $720 in Da Nang versus $759 in Blantyre.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,104 in Da Nang versus $1,198 in Blantyre.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,488 in Da Nang versus $1,637 in Blantyre.

Living in Da Nang costs roughly 5% less than in Blantyre, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Da Nang 46% lower, Blantyre 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.97 ₫51.8K

$4.83 MWK 8,288

-59.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.92 ₫497.5K

$14.77 MWK 25.4K

28.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.60 ₫120.9K

$9.16 MWK 15.7K

-49.78%

Cappuccino

$1.63 ₫42.9K

$2.63 MWK 4,509

-38.02%

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

$0.50 ₫13.1K

$0.81 MWK 1,385

-38.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 ₫7,500

$0.49 MWK 849

-40.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.02 ₫26.9K

$1.19 MWK 2,044

-14.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 ₫42.0K

$2.85 MWK 4,896

-43.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 ₫37.5K

$0.96 MWK 1,651

48.96%

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 ₫26.9K

$1.30 MWK 2,237

-21.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 ₫30.4K

$2.04 MWK 3,507

-43.63%

Eggs

$1.42 ₫37.5K

$1.75 MWK 3,010

-18.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.25 ₫322.0K

$3.49 MWK 6,000

251.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ₫95.6K

$5.57 MWK 9,567

-34.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.13 ₫266.4K

$6.09 MWK 10.4K

66.34%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ₫72.2K

$2.27 MWK 3,903

21.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.00 ₫26.2K

$2.33 MWK 4,000

-57.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.09 ₫28.6K

$2.50 MWK 4,287

-56.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.07 ₫28.1K

$1.06 MWK 1,827

0.94%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 ₫29.8K

$1.30 MWK 2,234

-13.08%

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 ₫30.2K

$1.33 MWK 2,277

-13.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 ₫27.4K

$0.33 MWK 567

215.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ₫12.6K

$0.81 MWK 1,394

-40.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.36 ₫35.7K

$2.35 MWK 4,039

-42.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.71 ₫202.7K

$10.81 MWK 18.6K

-28.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 ₫22.7K

$0.96 MWK 1,640

-10.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 ₫43.8K

$1.65 MWK 2,830

0.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.32 ₫8,330

$0.84 MWK 1,438

-61.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.92 ₫103.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.90 ₫23.6K

$0.57 MWK 979

57.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 ₫18.1K

$2.37 MWK 4,072

-70.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.67 ₫306.9K

$6.25 MWK 10.7K

86.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 ₫23.5K

$1.55 MWK 2,659

-42.58%

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

$26.8K ₫705.5M

$35.6K MWK 61.1M

-24.54%

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

$28.1K ₫738.8M

$39.6K MWK 68.0M

-29.05%

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

$74.3 ₫2.0M

$38.46 MWK 66.0K

93.21%

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

$5.71 ₫150.2K

$7.76 MWK 13.3K

-26.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.07 ₫212.3K

$146 MWK 250.2K

-94.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.37 ₫535.7K

$59.6 MWK 102.3K

-65.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.65 ₫201.1K

$14.88 MWK 25.6K

-48.59%

Cinema Ticket

$3.11 ₫81.7K

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

$156 ₫4.1M

$355 MWK 610.0K

-56.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.7K ₫334.1M

$597 MWK 1.0M

2028.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.62 ₫1.0M

$45.54 MWK 78.2K

-15.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.00 ₫683.5K

$35.28 MWK 60.6K

-26.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$52.7 ₫1.4M

$57.7 MWK 99.1K

-8.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.8 ₫2.0M

$70.9 MWK 121.7K

6.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$360 ₫9.5M

$205 MWK 351.9K

75.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$249 ₫6.5M

$91.6 MWK 157.3K

171.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$727 ₫19.1M

$556 MWK 955.0K

30.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$459 ₫12.1M

$348 MWK 598.0K

31.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,870 ₫101.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,283 ₫33.7M

$396 MWK 680.6K

223.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$353 ₫9.3M

$338 MWK 580.6K

4.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.67

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

Last update for Da Nang: May 30, 2026

Last update for Blantyre: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $360 in Da Nang and $205 in Blantyre. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Da Nang pays 4% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $19.00 in Da Nang vs $15.00 in Blantyre for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $188 vs $182 per month, with Blantyre cheaper across the board.

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

Da Nang vs Blantyre: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Da Nang and Blantyre differ by about 5% in total monthly costs ($720 vs $759 including rent). Da Nang is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Da Nang pays 4% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $360 in Da Nang versus $205 in Blantyre. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Blantyre pay roughly 3% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $720 per month in Da Nang versus $759 in Blantyre – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Da Nang gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Da Nang and Blantyre are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Da Nang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Blantyre. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.