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 47.9% cheaper than United States without rent, and 76.1% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Malawi is 49.1% cheaper than United States without rent, and 70.5% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.91 MWK 8,439

$20.33 $20.33

-75.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.68 MWK 37.2K

$74.4 $74.4

-70.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.75 MWK 15K

$11.49 $11.49

-23.85%

Cappuccino

$2.81 MWK 4,828

$5.09 $5.09

-44.79%

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

$0.86 MWK 1,480

$2.54 $2.54

-66.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.43 MWK 734

$2.11 $2.11

-79.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.32 MWK 2,266

$6.09 $6.09

-78.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 MWK 5,109

$7.1 $7.1

-58.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 MWK 1,736

$1.08 $1.08

-6.48%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 MWK 2,182

$3.7 $3.7

-65.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 MWK 2,649

$4.65 $4.65

-66.88%

Eggs

$2.26 MWK 3,888

$4.21 $4.21

-46.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.4 MWK 12.7K

$12.75 $12.75

-41.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.35 MWK 5,748

$12.24 $12.24

-72.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.52 MWK 9,471

$16.08 $16.08

-65.67%

Apples (1kg)

$2.45 MWK 4,207

$5.41 $5.41

-54.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 MWK 2,986

$1.73 $1.73

0.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.26 MWK 3,884

$4.37 $4.37

-48.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.24 MWK 2,122

$4.94 $4.94

-74.90%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 MWK 2,379

$2.88 $2.88

-51.74%

Onion (1kg)

$1.39 MWK 2,378

$3.07 $3.07

-54.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.34 MWK 577

$2.25 $2.25

-84.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 MWK 1,932

$2.21 $2.21

-48.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.42 MWK 4,158

$10.09 $10.09

-76.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.42 MWK 21.3K

$14.73 $14.73

-15.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 MWK 1,612

$1.91 $1.91

-50.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 MWK 3,347

$3.54 $3.54

-44.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.02 MWK 1,744

$2.56 $2.56

-60.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$2.13 MWK 3,661

$63.9 $63.9

-96.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.57 MWK 977

$3.81 $3.81

-85.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.47 MWK 4,234

$1.77 $1.77

39.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.94 MWK 10.2K

$30.4 $30.4

-80.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.63 MWK 2,806

$0.94 $0.94

73.40%

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

$35.2K MWK 60.5M

$30K $30K

17.61%

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

$38.4K MWK 66M

$25.8K $25.8K

49.03%

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

$47.9 MWK 82.2K

$209 $209

-77.04%

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

$10.39 MWK 17.8K

$57.9 $57.9

-82.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.4 MWK 122.6K

$71.1 $71.1

0.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.82 MWK 77K

$45.88 $45.88

-2.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.77 MWK 25.4K

$22.25 $22.25

-33.62%

Cinema Ticket

$3.99 MWK 6,859

$14.14 $14.14

-71.78%

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

$380 MWK 652.9K

$1,373 $1,373

-72.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,471 MWK 2.5M

$22.4K $22.4K

-93.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.07 MWK 72.2K

$51.5 $51.5

-18.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.19 MWK 58.7K

$41.96 $41.96

-18.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.5 MWK 102.2K

$88.3 $88.3

-32.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.3 MWK 120.7K

$112 $112

-37.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$205 MWK 352.1K

$1,731 $1,731

-88.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$81.6 MWK 140.1K

$1,446 $1,446

-94.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$440 MWK 755.3K

$2,846 $2,846

-84.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$356 MWK 610.9K

$2,366 $2,366

-84.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$16.1K MWK 27.6M

$3,245 $3,245

395.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$397 MWK 681.1K

$2,667 $2,667

-85.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$311 MWK 533.4K

$4,312 $4,312

-92.80%

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: October 27, 2025

Last update for United States: October 27, 2025

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