Cost of Living Comparison Between Malawi and United States Cost of Living Comparison Between Malawi and United States

Name: United States
Address: US

🙂 Solo nomad: Malawi is 49.4% cheaper than United States without rent, and 75.5% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Malawi is 50.5% cheaper than United States without rent, and 70.2% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.87 MWK 8,508

$20.22 $20.22

-75.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.27 MWK 37.1K

$75.7 $75.7

-71.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.45 MWK 14.8K

$11.47 $11.47

-26.33%

Cappuccino

$2.81 MWK 4,907

$5.13 $5.13

-45.22%

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

$0.81 MWK 1,420

$2.61 $2.61

-68.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 MWK 819

$2.14 $2.14

-78.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.33 MWK 2,313

$6.17 $6.17

-78.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 MWK 5,003

$7.07 $7.07

-59.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 MWK 1,831

$1.08 $1.08

-2.78%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 MWK 2,273

$3.74 $3.74

-65.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 MWK 2,699

$4.57 $4.57

-66.08%

Eggs

$2.37 MWK 4,145

$4.20 $4.20

-43.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.43 MWK 13.0K

$13.02 $13.02

-42.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.41 MWK 5,945

$12.18 $12.18

-72.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.47 MWK 9,552

$16.14 $16.14

-66.11%

Apples (1kg)

$2.36 MWK 4,119

$5.31 $5.31

-55.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 MWK 2,950

$1.72 $1.72

-1.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.24 MWK 3,913

$4.59 $4.59

-51.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.24 MWK 2,160

$4.96 $4.96

-75.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.37 MWK 2,395

$3.00 $3.00

-54.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.31 MWK 2,289

$3.04 $3.04

-56.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 MWK 577

$2.18 $2.18

-84.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 MWK 2,032

$2.19 $2.19

-47.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.40 MWK 4,198

$10.16 $10.16

-76.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.58 MWK 22.0K

$15.16 $15.16

-17.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 MWK 1,696

$1.99 $1.99

-51.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 MWK 3,370

$3.71 $3.71

-47.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 MWK 1,640

$2.48 $2.48

-62.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$2.21 MWK 3,863

$63.9 $63.9

-96.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 MWK 1,064

$3.69 $3.69

-83.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.46 MWK 4,299

$1.76 $1.76

39.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.19 MWK 10.8K

$30.06 $30.06

-79.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.63 MWK 2,848

$0.96 $0.96

69.79%

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

$35.3K MWK 61.7M

$30.2K $30.2K

16.92%

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

$39.3K MWK 68.6M

$26.3K $26.3K

49.37%

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

$47.92 MWK 83.6K

$207 $207

-76.88%

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

$10.30 MWK 18.0K

$57.0 $57.0

-81.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.4 MWK 122.9K

$71.5 $71.5

-1.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.04 MWK 78.6K

$45.91 $45.91

-1.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.07 MWK 26.3K

$22.25 $22.25

-32.27%

Cinema Ticket

$3.99 MWK 6,957

$14.13 $14.13

-71.76%

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

$376 MWK 657.2K

$1,385 $1,385

-72.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,454 MWK 2.5M

$22.2K $22.2K

-93.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.95 MWK 71.5K

$52.1 $52.1

-21.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.04 MWK 61.2K

$42.53 $42.53

-17.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$58.6 MWK 102.3K

$89.9 $89.9

-34.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 MWK 123.3K

$114 $114

-38.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$205 MWK 358.1K

$1,743 $1,743

-88.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$81.9 MWK 142.9K

$1,422 $1,422

-94.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$447 MWK 779.5K

$2,821 $2,821

-84.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$349 MWK 609.6K

$2,370 $2,370

-85.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,338 $3,338

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$393 MWK 686.0K

$2,615 $2,615

-84.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$314 MWK 548.8K

$4,230 $4,230

-92.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

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

Last update for Malawi: January 13, 2026

Last update for United States: January 13, 2026

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Cost of Living Comparison Between Malawi and United States Cost of Living Comparison Between Malawi and United States

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