Cost of Living Comparison Between Lilongwe and Semey Cost of Living Comparison Between Lilongwe and Semey

🙂 Solo nomad: Lilongwe is 3.5% cheaper than Semey without rent, and 17.5% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Lilongwe is 13.6% more expensive than Semey without rent, and 10.5% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.95 MWK 8,493

$4.51 ₸2,304

9.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.35 MWK 55.5K

$27.24 ₸13.9K

18.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.11 MWK 17.4K

$4.9 ₸2,504

106.33%

Cappuccino

$3 MWK 5,151

$1.58 ₸810

89.87%

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

$0.9 MWK 1,542

$0.9 ₸462

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 MWK 659

$0.51 ₸263

-25.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 MWK 2,947

$1.19 ₸606

44.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 MWK 6,727

$1.83 ₸936

114.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1 MWK 1,719

$0.73 ₸373

36.99%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 MWK 2,157

$0.34 ₸174

270.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 MWK 2,929

$1.6 ₸819

6.87%

Eggs

$2.64 MWK 4,531

$1.27 ₸650

107.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.92 MWK 27.3K

$8.58 ₸4,385

85.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.28 MWK 5,638

$4.64 ₸2,374

-29.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4 MWK 6,864

$6.98 ₸3,570

-42.69%

Apples (1kg)

$2.64 MWK 4,532

$1.35 ₸689

95.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.03 MWK 1,765

$1.97 ₸1,007

-47.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.51 MWK 2,598

$1.93 ₸988

-21.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.5 MWK 2,582

$1.89 ₸966

-20.63%

Potato (1kg)

$1.4 MWK 2,411

$0.59 ₸304

137.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.28 MWK 2,191

$0.41 ₸208

212.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 ₸520

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 MWK 1,117

$0.77 ₸394

-15.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.62 MWK 2,778

$2.69 ₸1,377

-39.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 MWK 25.4K

$6.02 ₸3,079

146.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 MWK 1,775

$0.99 ₸507

4.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 MWK 3,225

$1.59 ₸815

18.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 MWK 1,606

$0.2 ₸100

370.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.24 MWK 7,280

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.03 ₸524

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.57 MWK 4,414

$0.63 ₸323

307.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.21 MWK 3,797

$4.65 ₸2,377

-52.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.59 MWK 2,738

$0.46 ₸236

245.65%

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

$19.8K ₸10.1M

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

$24.4K ₸12.5M

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

$44.67 MWK 76.7K

$49.23 ₸25.2K

-9.26%

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

$11.59 MWK 19.9K

$8.59 ₸4,392

34.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.5 MWK 109K

$12.7 ₸6,495

399.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.07 MWK 65.4K

$32.93 ₸16.8K

15.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.87 ₸5,048

Cinema Ticket

$3.88 MWK 6,662

$4.32 ₸2,209

-10.19%

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

$343 MWK 589.7K

$209 ₸106.9K

64.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,351 MWK 4M

$4,944 ₸2.5M

-52.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.1 ₸29.2K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.03 ₸17.9K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.5 ₸44.8K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.7 ₸40.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$309 ₸158.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$68.3 MWK 117.2K

$205 ₸104.6K

-66.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$267 MWK 457.9K

$522 ₸266.7K

-48.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$563 MWK 966.9K

$391 ₸200K

43.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$16.1K MWK 27.6M

$815 ₸416.6K

1871.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$737 ₸376.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$280 MWK 480.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.39

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

Last update for Lilongwe: October 28, 2025

Last update for Semey: October 28, 2025

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