Cost of Living Comparison Between Lilongwe and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Lilongwe and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $582 in Lilongwe versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,135 in Lilongwe versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,688 in Lilongwe versus $3,763 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Lilongwe costs roughly 59% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lilongwe is 56% below, Ubud, Bali is 5% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.03 MWK 8,636

$3.45 Rp 62.1K

45.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.03 MWK 55.0K

$32.34 Rp 581.1K

-0.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.27 MWK 17.6K

$4.84 Rp 87.1K

112.19%

Cappuccino

$3.11 MWK 5,340

$2.75 Rp 49.4K

13.09%

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

$0.98 MWK 1,690

$1.38 Rp 24.9K

-28.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 MWK 656

$0.75 Rp 13.5K

-49.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.78 MWK 3,058

$2.99 Rp 53.8K

-40.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.05 MWK 6,952

$3.85 Rp 69.2K

5.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.96 MWK 1,646

$1.74 Rp 31.2K

-44.83%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 MWK 2,150

$2.46 Rp 44.2K

-49.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.67 MWK 2,876

$1.17 Rp 21.0K

42.74%

Eggs

$2.70 MWK 4,631

$2.43 Rp 43.7K

11.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.86 MWK 27.2K

$14.50 Rp 260.6K

9.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.26 MWK 5,596

$4.35 Rp 78.2K

-25.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.94 MWK 6,772

$11.98 Rp 215.3K

-67.11%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 MWK 4,512

$3.72 Rp 66.8K

-29.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.02 MWK 1,753

$1.63 Rp 29.2K

-37.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 MWK 2,624

$2.74 Rp 49.3K

-44.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 MWK 2,605

$2.24 Rp 40.3K

-32.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 MWK 2,412

$1.92 Rp 34.5K

-27.08%

Onion (1kg)

$1.26 MWK 2,168

$2.28 Rp 40.9K

-44.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 MWK 1,038

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

-16.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.56 MWK 2,686

$3.29 Rp 59.0K

-52.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.62 MWK 25.1K

$23.19 Rp 416.8K

-36.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 MWK 1,873

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

-60.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 MWK 3,244

$2.73 Rp 49.1K

-30.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.96 MWK 1,643

$0.27 Rp 4,786

255.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.43 MWK 7,603

$8.11 Rp 145.7K

-45.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,675

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.58 MWK 4,423

$0.42 Rp 7,545

514.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.15 MWK 3,687

$6.22 Rp 111.8K

-65.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.63 MWK 2,794

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

101.23%

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

$26.6K Rp 478.2M

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

$32.2K Rp 578.5M

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

$44.81 MWK 76.9K

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

-42.81%

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

$11.78 MWK 20.2K

$4.07 Rp 73.1K

189.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.3 MWK 105.2K

$24.33 Rp 437.1K

151.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.14 MWK 65.5K

$98.6 Rp 1.8M

-61.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.34 Rp 113.9K

Cinema Ticket

$3.87 MWK 6,643

$3.99 Rp 71.6K

-3.01%

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

$354 MWK 608.6K

$305 Rp 5.5M

16.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,365 MWK 4.1M

$6,642 Rp 119.4M

-64.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.1 Rp 972.9K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.81 Rp 679.4K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.6M

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.4 Rp 1.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$992 Rp 17.8M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$66.9 MWK 114.8K

$673 Rp 12.1M

-90.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$270 MWK 463.8K

$3,375 Rp 60.7M

-92.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$548 MWK 941.5K

$2,050 Rp 36.8M

-73.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,805 Rp 50.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,227 Rp 40.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$271 MWK 464.9K

$167 Rp 3.0M

62.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

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

Last update for Lilongwe: July 14, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Lilongwe pays 62% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $32.00 in Lilongwe vs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $201 vs $297 per month, with Lilongwe 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 Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lilongwe is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Clothing & Footwear. The 142% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 62% higher in Lilongwe, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Supermarket bills run roughly 48% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

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

At $582 in Lilongwe versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Lilongwe but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Lilongwe the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Lilongwe is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ubud, Bali, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Lilongwe and Ubud, Bali are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Lilongwe gentler on the wallet – expenses run 142% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.