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

🙂 Solo nomad: Lilongwe is 30.6% cheaper than Blantyre without rent, and 22.1% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Lilongwe is 14.5% cheaper than Blantyre without rent, and 4.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lilongwe
Blantyre
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.94 MWK 8,619
$4.90 MWK 8,546
0.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.85 MWK 55.5K
$14.80 MWK 25.8K
115.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.19 MWK 17.8K
$9.02 MWK 15.7K
12.97%
Cappuccino
$3.09 MWK 5,384
$2.73 MWK 4,761
13.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.96 MWK 1,681
$0.83 MWK 1,448
15.66%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42 MWK 730
$0.53 MWK 929
-20.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.69 MWK 2,952
$1.19 MWK 2,072
42.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.94 MWK 6,861
$2.96 MWK 5,165
33.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lilongwe
Blantyre
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.94 MWK 1,635
$0.95 MWK 1,663
-1.05%
White Bread (500g)
$1.20 MWK 2,096
$1.29 MWK 2,254
-6.98%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 MWK 3,077
$2.05 MWK 3,577
-14.15%
Eggs
$2.61 MWK 4,553
$1.74 MWK 3,041
50.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.81 MWK 27.6K
$3.51 MWK 6,128
350.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.21 MWK 5,591
$5.65 MWK 9,845
-43.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.00 MWK 6,969
$5.99 MWK 10.4K
-33.22%
Apples (1kg)
$2.56 MWK 4,458
$2.24 MWK 3,908
14.29%
Banana (1kg)
$0.97 MWK 1,700
$2.39 MWK 4,173
-59.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.47 MWK 2,559
$2.44 MWK 4,250
-39.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.58 MWK 2,751
$1.09 MWK 1,905
44.95%
Potato (1kg)
$1.33 MWK 2,321
$1.31 MWK 2,284
1.53%
Onion (1kg)
$1.20 MWK 2,098
$1.30 MWK 2,271
-7.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$0.33 MWK 582
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60 MWK 1,048
$0.82 MWK 1,438
-26.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.58 MWK 2,752
$2.40 MWK 4,192
-34.17%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.62 MWK 25.5K
$10.70 MWK 18.7K
36.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MWK 1,892
$0.96 MWK 1,672
13.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 MWK 3,236
$1.59 MWK 2,777
16.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Lilongwe
Blantyre
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.96 MWK 1,680
$0.89 MWK 1,551
7.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$4.42 MWK 7,705
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$0.57 MWK 998
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.52 MWK 4,396
$2.41 MWK 4,197
4.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.12 MWK 3,702
$6.21 MWK 10.8K
-65.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.65 MWK 2,868
$1.60 MWK 2,790
3.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$34.5K MWK 60.2M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$38.6K MWK 67.2M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lilongwe
Blantyre
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$44.93 MWK 78.3K
$38.25 MWK 66.7K
17.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.92 MWK 20.8K
$7.94 MWK 13.8K
50.13%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.4 MWK 107.1K
$149 MWK 260.5K
-58.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lilongwe
Blantyre
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.73 MWK 64.0K
$59.6 MWK 103.9K
-38.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$14.96 MWK 26.1K
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.83 MWK 6,684
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lilongwe
Blantyre
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$351 MWK 612.7K
$360 MWK 626.9K
-2.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,347 MWK 4.1M
$589 MWK 1.0M
298.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lilongwe
Blantyre
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$45.61 MWK 79.5K
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$34.12 MWK 59.5K
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$59.6 MWK 103.9K
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$70.1 MWK 122.2K
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lilongwe
Blantyre
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$202 MWK 351.6K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$68.3 MWK 119.1K
$89.2 MWK 155.6K
-23.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$266 MWK 463.2K
$542 MWK 944.4K
-50.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$562 MWK 979.8K
$348 MWK 606.0K
61.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$398 MWK 693.8K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lilongwe
Blantyre
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$276 MWK 481.6K
$500 MWK 872.6K
-44.82%

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

Last update for Lilongwe: April 11, 2026

Last update for Blantyre: April 13, 2026

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

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