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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $720 per month in Da Nang vs $581 in Lilongwe, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,104 per month in Da Nang vs $1,129 in Lilongwe, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,488 per month in Da Nang vs $1,676 in Lilongwe, rent included.

Da Nang costs about 24% more than Lilongwe, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Da Nang and Lilongwe are more affordable than the global median – Da Nang 46% lower, Lilongwe 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.97 ₫51.8K

$4.97 MWK 8,539

-60.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.92 ₫497.2K

$32.48 MWK 55.8K

-41.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.60 ₫120.8K

$10.27 MWK 17.6K

-55.21%

Cappuccino

$1.63 ₫42.9K

$3.12 MWK 5,349

-47.76%

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

$0.50 ₫13.1K

$0.90 MWK 1,540

-44.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 ₫7,495

$0.38 MWK 656

-23.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.02 ₫26.9K

$1.69 MWK 2,897

-39.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 ₫42.0K

$3.92 MWK 6,723

-59.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 ₫37.5K

$0.93 MWK 1,599

53.76%

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 ₫26.9K

$1.20 MWK 2,057

-15.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 ₫30.3K

$1.69 MWK 2,910

-31.95%

Eggs

$1.42 ₫37.4K

$2.69 MWK 4,627

-47.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.25 ₫321.8K

$16.01 MWK 27.5K

-23.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ₫95.5K

$3.17 MWK 5,446

14.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.13 ₫266.3K

$4.00 MWK 6,874

153.25%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ₫72.2K

$2.61 MWK 4,483

5.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.00 ₫26.2K

$0.97 MWK 1,667

3.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.09 ₫28.6K

$1.54 MWK 2,644

-29.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.07 ₫28.1K

$1.56 MWK 2,680

-31.41%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 ₫29.8K

$1.33 MWK 2,285

-15.04%

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 ₫30.2K

$1.26 MWK 2,163

-8.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 ₫27.4K

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ₫12.6K

$0.65 MWK 1,117

-26.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.36 ₫35.7K

$1.62 MWK 2,789

-16.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.71 ₫202.5K

$14.37 MWK 24.7K

-46.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 ₫22.7K

$1.05 MWK 1,796

-18.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 ₫43.7K

$1.89 MWK 3,240

-12.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.32 ₫8,325

$0.96 MWK 1,651

-66.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.92 ₫103.0K

$4.26 MWK 7,322

-7.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.90 ₫23.6K

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 ₫18.0K

$2.53 MWK 4,341

-72.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.67 ₫306.7K

$2.19 MWK 3,767

432.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 ₫23.4K

$1.65 MWK 2,830

-46.06%

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

$26.8K ₫705.1M

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

$28.1K ₫738.4M

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

$74.3 ₫2.0M

$44.67 MWK 76.7K

66.35%

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

$5.71 ₫150.1K

$11.56 MWK 19.9K

-50.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.07 ₫212.1K

$62.5 MWK 107.4K

-87.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.37 ₫535.3K

$37.37 MWK 64.2K

-45.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.65 ₫201.0K

Cinema Ticket

$3.11 ₫81.6K

$4.05 MWK 6,949

-23.21%

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

$156 ₫4.1M

$350 MWK 601.1K

-55.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.7K ₫333.9M

$2,340 MWK 4.0M

443.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.62 ₫1.0M

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.00 ₫683.1K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$52.7 ₫1.4M

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.8 ₫2.0M

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$360 ₫9.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$249 ₫6.5M

$68.2 MWK 117.0K

264.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$727 ₫19.1M

$272 MWK 467.6K

166.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$459 ₫12.0M

$554 MWK 952.0K

-17.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,870 ₫101.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,283 ₫33.7M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$353 ₫9.3M

$279 MWK 479.5K

26.44%

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 Lilongwe: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 26% higher in Da Nang, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Da Nang versus $32.00 in Lilongwe. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $200 – making Da Nang the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Lilongwe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $720 in Da Nang, $581 in Lilongwe – roughly 24% apart. Da Nang costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,080 per month in Da Nang and $872 in Lilongwe. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Interestingly, groceries are about 6% cheaper in Da Nang – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Da Nang and $32.00 in Lilongwe. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $720 in Da Nang and $581 in Lilongwe, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Da Nang has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $581 in Lilongwe to $720 in Da Nang. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Lilongwe. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Da Nang makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.