Cost of Living Comparison Between Lilongwe and Nkhotakota Cost of Living Comparison Between Lilongwe and Nkhotakota

😐 Solo nomad: Lilongwe is 53.3% more expensive than Nkhotakota without rent, and 115.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Lilongwe is 95.4% more expensive than Nkhotakota without rent, and 168.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lilongwe
Nkhotakota
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.13 MWK 8,920
$4.87 MWK 8,473
5.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.31 MWK 56.2K
-
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.34 MWK 18.0K
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.00 MWK 5,211
$4.98 MWK 8,660
-39.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95 MWK 1,658
$0.52 MWK 910
82.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41 MWK 719
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.77 MWK 3,082
$1.52 MWK 2,644
16.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.09 MWK 7,123
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-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lilongwe
Nkhotakota
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.00 MWK 1,736
$2.03 MWK 3,524
-50.74%
White Bread (500g)
$1.19 MWK 2,064
$0.49 MWK 845
142.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.68 MWK 2,926
$0.99 MWK 1,718
69.70%
Eggs
$2.62 MWK 4,562
$1.83 MWK 3,176
43.17%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.95 MWK 27.8K
$2.94 MWK 5,120
442.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.09 MWK 5,384
$3.07 MWK 5,346
0.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$3.95 MWK 6,866
$3.92 MWK 6,819
0.77%
Apples (1kg)
$2.59 MWK 4,505
$5.13 MWK 8,922
-49.51%
Banana (1kg)
$0.99 MWK 1,719
$3.04 MWK 5,287
-67.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.47 MWK 2,558
$1.99 MWK 3,459
-26.13%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 MWK 2,636
$1.01 MWK 1,762
50.50%
Potato (1kg)
$1.35 MWK 2,342
$0.98 MWK 1,710
37.76%
Onion (1kg)
$1.23 MWK 2,139
$1.94 MWK 3,376
-36.60%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.64 MWK 1,114
$1.96 MWK 3,405
-67.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.56 MWK 2,718
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$14.31 MWK 24.9K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.05 MWK 1,825
$1.01 MWK 1,759
3.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 MWK 3,242
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Lilongwe
Nkhotakota
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.89 MWK 1,550
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$4.44 MWK 7,719
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.54 MWK 4,422
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.13 MWK 3,713
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.59 MWK 2,762
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lilongwe
Nkhotakota
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$45.36 MWK 78.9K
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64 MWK 20.3K
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.3 MWK 110.2K
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lilongwe
Nkhotakota
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.74 MWK 65.6K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.03 MWK 7,004
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lilongwe
Nkhotakota
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$346 MWK 602.6K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,394 MWK 4.2M
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lilongwe
Nkhotakota
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$66.8 MWK 116.2K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$269 MWK 468.6K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$561 MWK 976.1K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lilongwe
Nkhotakota
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$273 MWK 474.9K
-
-

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

Last update for Lilongwe: March 2, 2026

Last update for Nkhotakota: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

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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