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 $704 per month in Da Nang vs $582 in Lilongwe, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,081 per month in Da Nang vs $1,135 in Lilongwe, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,458 per month in Da Nang vs $1,688 in Lilongwe, rent included.

Da Nang costs about 21% more than Lilongwe, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Da Nang and Lilongwe are more affordable than the global median – Da Nang 47% lower, Lilongwe 56% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.93 ₫50.8K

$5.03 MWK 8,636

-61.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.46 ₫511.5K

$32.03 MWK 55.0K

-39.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.65 ₫122.2K

$10.27 MWK 17.6K

-54.72%

Cappuccino

$1.61 ₫42.3K

$3.11 MWK 5,340

-48.23%

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

$0.51 ₫13.4K

$0.98 MWK 1,690

-47.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 ₫7,592

$0.38 MWK 656

-23.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.07 ₫28.2K

$1.78 MWK 3,058

-39.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 ₫41.7K

$4.05 MWK 6,952

-60.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 ₫36.3K

$0.96 MWK 1,646

43.75%

White Bread (500g)

$0.95 ₫24.9K

$1.25 MWK 2,150

-24.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 ₫30.7K

$1.67 MWK 2,876

-29.94%

Eggs

$1.43 ₫37.5K

$2.70 MWK 4,631

-47.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.59 ₫331.0K

$15.86 MWK 27.2K

-20.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.64 ₫95.8K

$3.26 MWK 5,596

11.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.79 ₫257.3K

$3.94 MWK 6,772

148.48%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ₫72.4K

$2.63 MWK 4,512

4.94%

Banana (1kg)

$0.94 ₫24.8K

$1.02 MWK 1,753

-7.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.12 ₫29.4K

$1.53 MWK 2,624

-26.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.05 ₫27.6K

$1.52 MWK 2,605

-30.92%

Potato (1kg)

$1.10 ₫28.9K

$1.40 MWK 2,412

-21.43%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ₫31.4K

$1.26 MWK 2,168

-5.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.00 ₫26.3K

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ₫12.7K

$0.60 MWK 1,038

-20.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.38 ₫36.3K

$1.56 MWK 2,686

-11.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.52 ₫197.7K

$14.62 MWK 25.1K

-48.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 ₫21.4K

$1.09 MWK 1,873

-25.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 ₫42.1K

$1.89 MWK 3,244

-15.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.32 ₫8,321

$0.96 MWK 1,643

-66.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.73 ₫98.2K

$4.43 MWK 7,603

-15.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.82 ₫21.5K

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 ₫18.3K

$2.58 MWK 4,423

-73.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.03 ₫316.4K

$2.15 MWK 3,687

459.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 ₫24.0K

$1.63 MWK 2,794

-44.17%

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

$27.2K ₫715.1M

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

$28.1K ₫739.2M

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

$74.1 ₫1.9M

$44.81 MWK 76.9K

65.28%

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

$5.97 ₫157.0K

$11.78 MWK 20.2K

-49.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.07 ₫212.3K

$61.3 MWK 105.2K

-86.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.06 ₫527.5K

$38.14 MWK 65.5K

-47.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.52 ₫197.6K

Cinema Ticket

$3.00 ₫78.9K

$3.87 MWK 6,643

-22.48%

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

$153 ₫4.0M

$354 MWK 608.6K

-56.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.8K ₫336.9M

$2,365 MWK 4.1M

441.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.61 ₫1.0M

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.60 ₫673.1K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$52.7 ₫1.4M

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.9 ₫2.0M

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$365 ₫9.6M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$244 ₫6.4M

$66.9 MWK 114.8K

264.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$732 ₫19.2M

$270 MWK 463.8K

170.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$458 ₫12.0M

$548 MWK 941.5K

-16.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,767 ₫99.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,304 ₫34.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$359 ₫9.4M

$271 MWK 464.9K

32.59%

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Lilongwe: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 33% 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: $186 vs $201 – 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: $704 in Da Nang, $582 in Lilongwe – roughly 21% apart. Da Nang costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,056 per month in Da Nang and $873 in Lilongwe. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Interestingly, groceries are about 8% 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 $704 in Da Nang and $582 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 $582 in Lilongwe to $704 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.