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: $581 in Lilongwe versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,129 in Lilongwe versus $2,540 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,676 in Lilongwe versus $3,660 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 57% below, Ubud, Bali is 6% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.97 MWK 8,539

$3.56 Rp 64.3K

39.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.48 MWK 55.8K

$32.73 Rp 590.3K

-0.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.27 MWK 17.6K

$4.95 Rp 89.2K

107.47%

Cappuccino

$3.12 MWK 5,349

$2.71 Rp 48.9K

15.13%

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

$0.90 MWK 1,540

$1.34 Rp 24.2K

-32.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 MWK 656

$0.70 Rp 12.6K

-45.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 MWK 2,897

$2.92 Rp 52.7K

-42.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 MWK 6,723

$3.96 Rp 71.4K

-1.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.93 MWK 1,599

$1.81 Rp 32.6K

-48.62%

White Bread (500g)

$1.20 MWK 2,057

$2.52 Rp 45.4K

-52.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.69 MWK 2,910

$1.16 Rp 20.9K

45.69%

Eggs

$2.69 MWK 4,627

$2.46 Rp 44.4K

9.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.01 MWK 27.5K

$14.71 Rp 265.3K

8.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 MWK 5,446

$4.32 Rp 77.9K

-26.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.00 MWK 6,874

$12.14 Rp 218.9K

-67.05%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 MWK 4,483

$3.84 Rp 69.3K

-32.03%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 MWK 1,667

$1.56 Rp 28.1K

-37.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.54 MWK 2,644

$2.83 Rp 51.1K

-45.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 MWK 2,680

$2.33 Rp 41.9K

-33.05%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 MWK 2,285

$1.91 Rp 34.5K

-30.37%

Onion (1kg)

$1.26 MWK 2,163

$2.20 Rp 39.7K

-42.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 18.3K

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 MWK 1,117

$0.78 Rp 14.0K

-16.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.62 MWK 2,789

$3.32 Rp 59.8K

-51.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.37 MWK 24.7K

$23.74 Rp 428.0K

-39.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 MWK 1,796

$2.79 Rp 50.3K

-62.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 MWK 3,240

$2.86 Rp 51.6K

-33.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.96 MWK 1,651

$0.27 Rp 4,848

255.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.26 MWK 7,322

$8.03 Rp 144.8K

-46.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,230

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.53 MWK 4,341

$0.45 Rp 8,116

462.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.19 MWK 3,767

$6.10 Rp 109.9K

-64.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.65 MWK 2,830

$0.79 Rp 14.3K

108.86%

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

$26.1K Rp 471.6M

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

$32.1K Rp 579.2M

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

$44.67 MWK 76.7K

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

-44.12%

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

$11.56 MWK 19.9K

$4.06 Rp 73.3K

184.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.5 MWK 107.4K

$23.52 Rp 424.1K

165.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.37 MWK 64.2K

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

-62.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.63 Rp 119.6K

Cinema Ticket

$4.05 MWK 6,949

$4.15 Rp 74.8K

-2.41%

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

$350 MWK 601.1K

$304 Rp 5.5M

15.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,340 MWK 4.0M

$6,613 Rp 119.3M

-64.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 Rp 1.0M

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 Rp 690.9K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 Rp 18.1M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$68.2 MWK 117.0K

$675 Rp 12.2M

-89.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$272 MWK 467.6K

$3,442 Rp 62.1M

-92.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$554 MWK 952.0K

$2,039 Rp 36.8M

-72.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,841 Rp 51.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,264 Rp 40.8M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$279 MWK 479.5K

$165 Rp 3.0M

69.01%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Lilongwe pays 69% 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $200 vs $302 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 144% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Lilongwe pays 69% more on average, 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 51% 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $581 in Lilongwe versus $1,419 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 144% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.