🇮🇩 Indonesia
31
Cost of Living Index in Indonesia
Learn more Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Malawi and Chiang Mai
For one person, living is cheaper in Malawi: $666 a month against $906 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $2,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
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🙂 Solo nomad: Malawi is 5.6% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 26.5% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Malawi is 12.3% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 12.9% cheaper with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
Malawi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.09 MWK 8,739
$2.13 ฿71.4
138.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.28 MWK 45.1K
$19.40 ฿649
35.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.55 MWK 11.2K
$5.47 ฿183
19.74%
Cappuccino
$3.22 MWK 5,531
$1.68 ฿56.4
91.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 MWK 1,490
$0.66 ฿22.10
31.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 MWK 792
$0.34 ฿11.52
35.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.46 MWK 2,506
$2.42 ฿81.0
-39.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 MWK 5,017
$3.73 ฿125
-21.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Malawi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 MWK 1,961
$2.06 ฿68.9
-44.66%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 MWK 2,253
$1.46 ฿48.78
-10.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.72 MWK 2,951
$1.35 ฿45.09
27.41%
Eggs
$2.15 MWK 3,693
$2.27 ฿76.0
-5.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.61 MWK 13.1K
$16.31 ฿546
-53.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.75 MWK 6,446
$2.70 ฿90.3
38.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.71 MWK 9,806
$9.20 ฿308
-37.93%
Apples (1kg)
$2.49 MWK 4,280
$2.39 ฿80.1
4.18%
Banana (1kg)
$1.79 MWK 3,074
$1.04 ฿34.66
72.12%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.26 MWK 3,875
$1.60 ฿53.7
41.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.11 MWK 1,913
$1.44 ฿48.37
-22.92%
Potato (1kg)
$1.35 MWK 2,321
$1.30 ฿43.59
3.85%
Onion (1kg)
$1.46 MWK 2,506
$1.11 ฿37.29
31.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.31 MWK 527
$0.70 ฿23.55
-55.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.29 MWK 2,214
$0.51 ฿16.99
152.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34 MWK 4,023
$4.13 ฿138
-43.34%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.48 MWK 24.9K
$17.78 ฿595
-18.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MWK 1,865
$1.63 ฿54.7
-33.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10 MWK 3,614
$2.87 ฿96.0
-26.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Malawi
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 MWK 1,432
$0.86 ฿28.76
-3.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$2.17 MWK 3,734
$53.2 ฿1,780
-95.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.61 MWK 1,055
$1.22 ฿40.81
-50.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.42 MWK 4,153
$0.56 ฿18.81
332.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.14 MWK 3,675
$2.31 ฿77.5
-7.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 MWK 2,605
$1.50 ฿50.2
1.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.5K MWK 60.9M
$20.9K ฿698.3K
70.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.7K MWK 68.2M
$26.7K ฿895.0K
48.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Malawi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$38.60 MWK 66.3K
$61.3 ฿2,051
-36.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.11 MWK 17.4K
$12.50 ฿419
-19.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$76.9 MWK 132.0K
$20.36 ฿682
277.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Malawi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.17 MWK 62.1K
$37.94 ฿1,270
-4.67%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.02 MWK 25.8K
$3.77 ฿126
298.41%
Cinema Ticket
-
$6.60 ฿221
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Malawi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$378 MWK 648.6K
$774 ฿25.9K
-51.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$594 MWK 1.0M
$14.4K ฿483.2K
-95.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Malawi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.70 MWK 75.0K
$54.8 ฿1,835
-20.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.41 MWK 67.7K
$25.26 ฿846
56.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$48.86 MWK 83.9K
$90.6 ฿3,032
-46.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.1 MWK 118.6K
$73.3 ฿2,453
-5.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Malawi
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$230 MWK 394.6K
$459 ฿15.4K
-49.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$79.0 MWK 135.7K
$294 ฿9,835
-73.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$557 MWK 955.6K
$919 ฿30.8K
-39.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$380 MWK 652.1K
$552 ฿18.5K
-31.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,917 ฿64.2K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$390 MWK 670.2K
$1,445 ฿48.4K
-72.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Malawi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$282 MWK 484.0K
$592 ฿19.8K
-52.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
5.57
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CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Malawi: October 5, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: October 5, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Malawi $199 29.9%
Chiang Mai $236 25.6% 18.7% $37
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Malawi $126 18.9%
Chiang Mai $94 10.2% 25.1% $31
Eating Out
Malawi $117 17.7%
Chiang Mai $77 8.4% 34.2% $40
Clothing & Footwear
Malawi $90 13.6%
Chiang Mai $110 11.9% 21.3% $19
Accommodation & Living
Malawi $79 11.9%
Chiang Mai $294 31.8% 272% $215
Sport & Entertainment
Malawi $36 * 5.4%
Chiang Mai $51 5.5% 41.4% $15
Getting Around
Malawi $18 2.7%
Chiang Mai $61 6.6% 233% $42
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Groceries & Markets
Malawi $445 26.9%
Chiang Mai $529 27.8% 18.9% $84
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Malawi $136 8.2%
Chiang Mai $107 5.6% 21.4% $29
Eating Out
Malawi $364 22.1%
Chiang Mai $243 12.8% 33.2% $121
Clothing & Footwear
Malawi $201 12.2%
Chiang Mai $244 12.8% 21.3% $43
Accommodation & Living
Malawi $380 23%
Chiang Mai $552 29% 45.3% $172
Sport & Entertainment
Malawi $87 * 5.3%
Chiang Mai $106 5.6% 21.4% $19
Getting Around
Malawi $38 2.3%
Chiang Mai $123 6.5% 223% $85
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Good to know
🇲🇼 Malawi
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
Weather
Population
18,622,104
127,240
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- Malawi Chiang Mai 8,020 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
- Malawi
- Chiang Mai
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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
Malawi vs other spots: cost of living compared
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