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: $586 in Lilongwe versus $603 in Blantyre.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,131 in Lilongwe versus $1,033 in Blantyre.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,675 in Lilongwe versus $1,463 in Blantyre.

Living in Lilongwe costs roughly 3% less than in Blantyre, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lilongwe 57% lower, Blantyre 56% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.01 MWK 8,607

$4.08 MWK 6,999

22.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.21 MWK 55.3K

$13.16 MWK 22.6K

144.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.37 MWK 17.8K

$6.93 MWK 11.9K

49.64%

Cappuccino

$3.05 MWK 5,239

$2.76 MWK 4,731

10.51%

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

$1.48 MWK 2,545

$0.84 MWK 1,436

76.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 MWK 599

$0.48 MWK 827

-27.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.97 MWK 3,385

$1.05 MWK 1,807

87.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.98 MWK 6,837

$1.80 MWK 3,092

121.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 MWK 1,609

$1.02 MWK 1,747

-7.84%

White Bread (500g)

$1.37 MWK 2,351

$1.32 MWK 2,269

3.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 MWK 2,915

$2.01 MWK 3,458

-15.42%

Eggs

$2.98 MWK 5,124

$1.66 MWK 2,848

79.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.46 MWK 26.6K

$3.62 MWK 6,218

327.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 MWK 5,447

$5.67 MWK 9,744

-44.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.05 MWK 6,958

$6.42 MWK 11.0K

-36.92%

Apples (1kg)

$2.55 MWK 4,376

$2.19 MWK 3,755

16.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.23 MWK 2,109

$2.37 MWK 4,065

-48.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 MWK 2,607

$2.41 MWK 4,138

-36.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.75 MWK 3,007

$1.06 MWK 1,826

65.09%

Potato (1kg)

$1.83 MWK 3,136

$1.30 MWK 2,231

40.77%

Onion (1kg)

$1.40 MWK 2,409

$1.30 MWK 2,232

7.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 MWK 572

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 MWK 925

$0.82 MWK 1,411

-34.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.57 MWK 2,699

$2.33 MWK 3,996

-32.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.43 MWK 24.8K

$13.73 MWK 23.6K

5.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 MWK 1,800

$0.88 MWK 1,519

19.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 MWK 3,299

$1.57 MWK 2,703

22.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.95 MWK 1,636

$0.51 MWK 876

86.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.22 MWK 7,238

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.58 MWK 991

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.66 MWK 4,563

$1.49 MWK 2,552

78.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.10 MWK 3,611

$3.88 MWK 6,663

-45.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.59 MWK 2,724

$1.56 MWK 2,683

1.92%

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)

$38.6K MWK 66.3M

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

$45.50 MWK 78.1K

$26.69 MWK 45.8K

70.48%

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

$11.78 MWK 20.2K

$8.10 MWK 13.9K

45.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.7 MWK 105.9K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.75 MWK 63.1K

$59.2 MWK 101.7K

-37.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.09 MWK 25.9K

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

$349 MWK 600.0K

$390 MWK 670.1K

-10.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,334 MWK 4.0M

$591 MWK 1.0M

294.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$43.09 MWK 74.0K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.41 MWK 67.7K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$49.53 MWK 85.0K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.1 MWK 118.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$232 MWK 398.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$67.7 MWK 116.1K

$116 MWK 199.2K

-41.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$268 MWK 459.8K

$609 MWK 1.0M

-56.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$561 MWK 963.0K

$387 MWK 664.0K

45.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$393 MWK 675.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$280 MWK 480.4K

$333 MWK 571.7K

-15.98%

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

Last update for Lilongwe: August 30, 2026

Last update for Blantyre: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Blantyre pays 19% 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 $13.00 in Blantyre for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $204 vs $189 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 3% in total monthly costs ($586 vs $603 including rent). Lilongwe is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 19% 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 8% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $586 per month in Lilongwe versus $603 in Blantyre – a 3% 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 3% less than in Blantyre. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.