Cost of Living Comparison Between Lilongwe and Odesa Cost of Living Comparison Between Lilongwe and Odesa

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $586 in Lilongwe versus $837 in Odesa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,131 in Lilongwe versus $1,336 in Odesa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,675 in Lilongwe versus $1,835 in Odesa.

Living in Lilongwe costs roughly 30% less than in Odesa, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lilongwe 57% lower, Odesa 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.01 MWK 8,607

$7.82 ₴350

-35.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.21 MWK 55.3K

$35.28 ₴1,578

-8.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.37 MWK 17.8K

$5.63 ₴252

84.19%

Cappuccino

$3.05 MWK 5,239

$1.55 ₴69.1

96.77%

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

$1.48 MWK 2,545

$0.86 ₴38.37

72.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 MWK 599

$0.83 ₴37.00

-57.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.97 MWK 3,385

$1.76 ₴78.8

11.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.98 MWK 6,837

$2.09 ₴93.6

90.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 MWK 1,609

$1.38 ₴61.6

-31.88%

White Bread (500g)

$1.37 MWK 2,351

$0.73 ₴32.70

87.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 MWK 2,915

$1.79 ₴80.2

-5.03%

Eggs

$2.98 MWK 5,124

$2.11 ₴94.3

41.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.46 MWK 26.6K

$9.95 ₴445

55.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 MWK 5,447

$5.36 ₴240

-40.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.05 MWK 6,958

$6.77 ₴303

-40.18%

Apples (1kg)

$2.55 MWK 4,376

$1.19 ₴53.0

114.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.23 MWK 2,109

$1.54 ₴69.0

-20.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 MWK 2,607

$2.00 ₴89.6

-24.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.75 MWK 3,007

$3.17 ₴142

-44.79%

Potato (1kg)

$1.83 MWK 3,136

$0.81 ₴36.04

125.93%

Onion (1kg)

$1.40 MWK 2,409

$0.49 ₴21.80

185.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.62 ₴72.3

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 MWK 925

$0.53 ₴23.53

1.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.57 MWK 2,699

$3.10 ₴139

-49.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.43 MWK 24.8K

$5.45 ₴244

164.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 MWK 1,800

$0.88 ₴39.29

19.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 MWK 3,299

$1.52 ₴67.9

26.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.95 MWK 1,636

$0.46 ₴20.71

106.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.22 MWK 7,238

$20.43 ₴914

-79.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.85 ₴82.9

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.66 MWK 4,563

$0.33 ₴14.56

706.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.10 MWK 3,611

$4.62 ₴207

-54.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.59 MWK 2,724

$1.61 ₴72.2

-1.24%

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

$30.2K ₴1.3M

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

$24.7K ₴1.1M

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

$45.50 MWK 78.1K

$114 ₴5,091

-60.02%

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

$11.78 MWK 20.2K

$7.20 ₴322

63.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.7 MWK 105.9K

$6.70 ₴300

820.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.75 MWK 63.1K

$22.22 ₴994

65.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.67 ₴567

Cinema Ticket

$5.66 ₴253

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

$349 MWK 600.0K

$260 ₴11.6K

34.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,334 MWK 4.0M

$3,734 ₴167.0K

-37.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.4 ₴3,013

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.96 ₴2,011

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.2 ₴4,035

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 ₴4,661

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$343 ₴15.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$67.7 MWK 116.1K

$194 ₴8,687

-65.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$268 MWK 459.8K

$584 ₴26.1K

-54.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$561 MWK 963.0K

$372 ₴16.6K

50.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,609 ₴72.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$893 ₴39.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$280 MWK 480.4K

$483 ₴21.6K

-42.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

21.17

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

Last update for Lilongwe: August 30, 2026

Last update for Odesa: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Odesa pays 73% 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 $35.00 in Odesa. Groceries flip the comparison at $204 vs $187, with Odesa cheaper for home cooking.

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 Odesa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lilongwe is cheaper overall, especially in Getting Around, Clothing & Footwear. The 43% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 73% lower in Odesa. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Shoppers in Odesa pay roughly 9% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Lilongwe – a meal for two runs $32.00 versus $35.00 in Odesa. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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 43% less than in Odesa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.