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 $874 per month in Da Nang vs $586 in Lilongwe, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,402 per month in Da Nang vs $1,131 in Lilongwe, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,930 per month in Da Nang vs $1,675 in Lilongwe, rent included.

Da Nang costs about 49% more than Lilongwe, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Da Nang and Lilongwe are more affordable than the global median – Da Nang 36% lower, Lilongwe 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.33 ₫60.8K

$5.01 MWK 8,607

-53.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.42 ₫506.1K

$32.21 MWK 55.3K

-39.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.46 ₫116.3K

$10.37 MWK 17.8K

-56.99%

Cappuccino

$1.72 ₫44.9K

$3.05 MWK 5,239

-43.61%

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

$0.68 ₫17.8K

$1.48 MWK 2,545

-54.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 ₫8,927

$0.35 MWK 599

-2.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.30 ₫33.9K

$1.97 MWK 3,385

-34.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 ₫61.5K

$3.98 MWK 6,837

-40.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 ₫40.1K

$0.94 MWK 1,609

63.83%

White Bread (500g)

$1.22 ₫31.9K

$1.37 MWK 2,351

-10.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ₫27.5K

$1.70 MWK 2,915

-37.65%

Eggs

$1.52 ₫39.7K

$2.98 MWK 5,124

-48.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.97 ₫337.8K

$15.46 MWK 26.6K

-16.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.05 ₫105.6K

$3.17 MWK 5,447

27.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.27 ₫241.6K

$4.05 MWK 6,958

128.89%

Apples (1kg)

$2.69 ₫70.2K

$2.55 MWK 4,376

5.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 ₫28.9K

$1.23 MWK 2,109

-9.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.33 ₫34.5K

$1.52 MWK 2,607

-12.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 ₫35.9K

$1.75 MWK 3,007

-21.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.09 ₫28.5K

$1.83 MWK 3,136

-40.44%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ₫31.6K

$1.40 MWK 2,409

-13.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 ₫26.8K

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₫13.6K

$0.54 MWK 925

-3.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.55 ₫40.5K

$1.57 MWK 2,699

-1.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.71 ₫201.0K

$14.43 MWK 24.8K

-46.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 ₫23.5K

$1.05 MWK 1,800

-14.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 ₫55.8K

$1.92 MWK 3,299

11.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.32 ₫8,217

$0.95 MWK 1,636

-66.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.07 ₫132.0K

$4.22 MWK 7,238

20.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.03 ₫26.9K

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.65 ₫17.0K

$2.66 MWK 4,563

-75.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.08 ₫497.0K

$2.10 MWK 3,611

808.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 ₫22.2K

$1.59 MWK 2,724

-46.54%

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

$30.7K ₫800.8M

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

$27.6K ₫717.9M

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

$88.0 ₫2.3M

$45.50 MWK 78.1K

93.41%

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

$6.28 ₫163.6K

$11.78 MWK 20.2K

-46.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.91 ₫206.1K

$61.7 MWK 105.9K

-87.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.18 ₫578.0K

$36.75 MWK 63.1K

-39.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.30 ₫138.1K

Cinema Ticket

$3.02 ₫78.6K

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

$161 ₫4.2M

$349 MWK 600.0K

-54.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ₫394.1M

$2,334 MWK 4.0M

548.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.10 ₫1.2M

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.21 ₫708.9K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 ₫2.7M

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.7 ₫2.1M

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$529 ₫13.8M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$346 ₫9.0M

$67.7 MWK 116.1K

410.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,037 ₫27.0M

$268 MWK 459.8K

287.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$809 ₫21.1M

$561 MWK 963.0K

44.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,809 ₫99.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,312 ₫34.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$350 ₫9.1M

$280 MWK 480.4K

24.94%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.72

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

Last update for Da Nang: August 30, 2026

Last update for Lilongwe: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 25% 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: $198 vs $204 – 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: $874 in Da Nang, $586 in Lilongwe – roughly 49% apart. Da Nang costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,311 per month in Da Nang and $879 in Lilongwe. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Interestingly, groceries are about 3% 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 $874 in Da Nang and $586 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 $586 in Lilongwe to $874 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.