Cost of Living Comparison Between Lilongwe and Blantyre Cost of Living Comparison Between Lilongwe and Blantyre

🙂 Solo nomad: Lilongwe is 29.7% cheaper than Blantyre without rent, and 22.2% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Lilongwe is 2.9% cheaper than Blantyre without rent, and 0.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lilongwe
Blantyre
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.95 MWK 8,493
$4.76 MWK 8,173
3.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.35 MWK 55.5K
$14.87 MWK 25.5K
117.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.11 MWK 17.4K
$8.69 MWK 14.9K
16.34%
Cappuccino
$3 MWK 5,151
$2.72 MWK 4,677
10.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.9 MWK 1,542
$0.84 MWK 1,445
7.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38 MWK 659
$0.53 MWK 907
-28.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.72 MWK 2,947
$1.18 MWK 2,034
45.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.92 MWK 6,727
$2.93 MWK 5,033
33.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lilongwe
Blantyre
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1 MWK 1,719
$1.03 MWK 1,763
-2.91%
White Bread (500g)
$1.26 MWK 2,157
$1.29 MWK 2,222
-2.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.71 MWK 2,929
$2.04 MWK 3,510
-16.18%
Eggs
$2.64 MWK 4,531
$1.73 MWK 2,972
52.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.92 MWK 27.3K
$3.52 MWK 6,041
352.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.28 MWK 5,638
$5.59 MWK 9,603
-41.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4 MWK 6,864
$6.15 MWK 10.6K
-34.96%
Apples (1kg)
$2.64 MWK 4,532
$2.23 MWK 3,823
18.39%
Banana (1kg)
$1.03 MWK 1,765
$2.29 MWK 3,924
-55.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 MWK 2,598
$2.43 MWK 4,175
-37.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.5 MWK 2,582
$1.09 MWK 1,875
37.61%
Potato (1kg)
$1.4 MWK 2,411
$1.31 MWK 2,257
6.87%
Onion (1kg)
$1.28 MWK 2,191
$1.35 MWK 2,318
-5.19%
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$0.31 MWK 530
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65 MWK 1,117
$0.76 MWK 1,309
-14.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.62 MWK 2,778
$2.38 MWK 4,090
-31.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.81 MWK 25.4K
$10.73 MWK 18.4K
38.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.03 MWK 1,775
$0.97 MWK 1,672
6.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88 MWK 3,225
$1.64 MWK 2,813
14.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Lilongwe
Blantyre
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 MWK 1,606
$0.84 MWK 1,438
11.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$4.24 MWK 7,280
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$0.57 MWK 982
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.57 MWK 4,414
$2.41 MWK 4,130
6.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.21 MWK 3,797
$6.16 MWK 10.6K
-64.12%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.59 MWK 2,738
$1.61 MWK 2,760
-1.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$35.2K MWK 60.4M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$38.4K MWK 65.9M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lilongwe
Blantyre
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$44.67 MWK 76.7K
$37.09 MWK 63.7K
20.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.59 MWK 19.9K
$8.1 MWK 13.9K
43.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.5 MWK 109K
$147 MWK 251.8K
-56.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lilongwe
Blantyre
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.07 MWK 65.4K
$59.5 MWK 102.1K
-35.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$14.66 MWK 25.2K
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.88 MWK 6,662
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lilongwe
Blantyre
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$343 MWK 589.7K
$356 MWK 610.9K
-3.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,351 MWK 4M
$597 MWK 1M
293.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lilongwe
Blantyre
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$44.63 MWK 76.6K
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$35.22 MWK 60.5K
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$57.6 MWK 98.9K
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$70.1 MWK 120.3K
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lilongwe
Blantyre
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$199 MWK 341.9K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$68.3 MWK 117.2K
$91.9 MWK 157.8K
-25.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$267 MWK 457.9K
$540 MWK 926.5K
-50.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$563 MWK 966.9K
$359 MWK 616K
56.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$16.1K MWK 27.6M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$400 MWK 686.1K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lilongwe
Blantyre
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$280 MWK 480.6K
$487 MWK 837K
-42.58%

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

Last update for Lilongwe: October 28, 2025

Last update for Blantyre: October 28, 2025

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