Cost of Living Comparison Between Monkey Bay and Lilongwe Cost of Living Comparison Between Monkey Bay and Lilongwe

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.07 MWK 8,703

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.96 MWK 54.9K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.40 MWK 17.9K

Cappuccino

$3.08 MWK 5,294

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

$1.41 MWK 2,426

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 MWK 641

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.02 MWK 3,470

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.95 MWK 6,779

Milk (1 liter)

$1.00 MWK 1,716

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 MWK 2,363

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.68 MWK 2,884

Eggs

$3.03 MWK 5,204

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.87 MWK 27.2K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.27 MWK 5,608

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.08 MWK 7,005

Apples (1kg)

$2.53 MWK 4,337

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 MWK 2,072

Oranges (1kg)

$1.54 MWK 2,648

Tomato (1kg)

$1.75 MWK 3,013

Potato (1kg)

$1.90 MWK 3,254

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 MWK 2,436

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 MWK 978

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.62 MWK 2,781

Wine (Bottle)

$14.51 MWK 24.9K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 MWK 1,787

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 MWK 3,348

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 MWK 1,538

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.42 MWK 7,584

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.52 MWK 4,322

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.14 MWK 3,667

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.63 MWK 2,797

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

$46.17 MWK 79.3K

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

$11.93 MWK 20.5K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.2 MWK 108.5K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.64 MWK 64.6K

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

$354 MWK 607.7K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,315 MWK 4.0M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$66.5 MWK 114.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$265 MWK 455.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$548 MWK 940.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$277 MWK 475.8K

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

Last update for Monkey Bay: October 4, 2026

Last update for Lilongwe: October 5, 2026

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

Monkey Bay vs Lilongwe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

It comes down to priorities – Monkey Bay wins on affordability, Lilongwe on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.