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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $582 in Lilongwe versus $747 in Blantyre.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,135 in Lilongwe versus $1,183 in Blantyre.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,688 in Lilongwe versus $1,618 in Blantyre.

Living in Lilongwe costs roughly 22% less than in Blantyre, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lilongwe 56% lower, Blantyre 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.03 MWK 8,636

$5.01 MWK 8,598

0.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.03 MWK 55.0K

$14.89 MWK 25.6K

115.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.27 MWK 17.6K

$8.88 MWK 15.2K

15.65%

Cappuccino

$3.11 MWK 5,340

$2.61 MWK 4,490

19.16%

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

$0.98 MWK 1,690

$0.85 MWK 1,456

15.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 MWK 656

$0.53 MWK 910

-28.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.78 MWK 3,058

$1.19 MWK 2,041

49.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.05 MWK 6,952

$2.94 MWK 5,046

37.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.96 MWK 1,646

$0.94 MWK 1,615

2.13%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 MWK 2,150

$1.24 MWK 2,133

0.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.67 MWK 2,876

$1.98 MWK 3,391

-15.66%

Eggs

$2.70 MWK 4,631

$1.75 MWK 3,010

54.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.86 MWK 27.2K

$3.65 MWK 6,270

334.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.26 MWK 5,596

$5.51 MWK 9,453

-40.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.94 MWK 6,772

$6.24 MWK 10.7K

-36.86%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 MWK 4,512

$2.14 MWK 3,681

22.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.02 MWK 1,753

$2.37 MWK 4,061

-56.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 MWK 2,624

$2.39 MWK 4,107

-35.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 MWK 2,605

$1.10 MWK 1,884

38.18%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 MWK 2,412

$1.36 MWK 2,343

2.94%

Onion (1kg)

$1.26 MWK 2,168

$1.31 MWK 2,258

-3.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.31 MWK 526

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 MWK 1,038

$0.84 MWK 1,435

-28.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.56 MWK 2,686

$2.30 MWK 3,954

-32.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.62 MWK 25.1K

$10.74 MWK 18.4K

36.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 MWK 1,873

$0.91 MWK 1,563

19.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 MWK 3,244

$1.64 MWK 2,816

15.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.96 MWK 1,643

$0.88 MWK 1,515

9.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.43 MWK 7,603

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 MWK 1,039

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.58 MWK 4,423

$2.50 MWK 4,287

3.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.15 MWK 3,687

$6.07 MWK 10.4K

-64.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.63 MWK 2,794

$1.59 MWK 2,739

2.52%

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

$34.8K MWK 59.7M

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

$39.5K MWK 67.9M

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

$44.81 MWK 76.9K

$37.42 MWK 64.3K

19.75%

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

$11.78 MWK 20.2K

$8.14 MWK 14.0K

44.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.3 MWK 105.2K

$148 MWK 253.8K

-58.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.14 MWK 65.5K

$60.0 MWK 103.0K

-36.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.60 MWK 25.1K

Cinema Ticket

$3.87 MWK 6,643

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

$354 MWK 608.6K

$361 MWK 619.1K

-1.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,365 MWK 4.1M

$597 MWK 1.0M

296.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.00 MWK 77.3K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.22 MWK 58.8K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.1 MWK 101.5K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.3 MWK 118.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$200 MWK 343.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$66.9 MWK 114.8K

$89.3 MWK 153.3K

-25.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$270 MWK 463.8K

$542 MWK 931.4K

-50.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$548 MWK 941.5K

$353 MWK 606.9K

55.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$400 MWK 686.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$271 MWK 464.9K

$339 MWK 582.7K

-20.21%

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

Last update for Lilongwe: July 14, 2026

Last update for Blantyre: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Blantyre pays 25% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $32.00 in Lilongwe vs $15.00 in Blantyre for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $201 vs $181 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

Lilongwe vs Blantyre: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lilongwe and Blantyre differ by about 28% in total monthly costs ($582 vs $747 including rent). Lilongwe is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 25% lower in Blantyre. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Shoppers in Blantyre pay roughly 11% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $582 per month in Lilongwe versus $747 in Blantyre – a 28% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Lilongwe 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.

Expats usually find Lilongwe gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Blantyre. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.