Cost of Living Comparison Between Nkhotakota and Lilongwe Cost of Living Comparison Between Nkhotakota and Lilongwe

🙂 Solo nomad: Nkhotakota is 34.8% cheaper than Lilongwe without rent, and 53.1% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Nkhotakota is 48.5% cheaper than Lilongwe without rent, and 62.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nkhotakota
Lilongwe
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.08 MWK 8,723
$4.95 MWK 8,493
2.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$32.35 MWK 55.5K
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
-
$10.11 MWK 17.4K
-
Cappuccino
$4.87 MWK 8,369
$3 MWK 5,151
62.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 MWK 841
$0.9 MWK 1,542
-45.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.38 MWK 659
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.51 MWK 2,597
$1.72 MWK 2,947
-12.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.92 MWK 6,727
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nkhotakota
Lilongwe
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.98 MWK 3,404
$1 MWK 1,719
98.00%
White Bread (500g)
$0.52 MWK 893
$1.26 MWK 2,157
-58.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.98 MWK 1,680
$1.71 MWK 2,929
-42.69%
Eggs
$1.79 MWK 3,070
$2.64 MWK 4,531
-32.20%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.06 MWK 5,261
$15.92 MWK 27.3K
-80.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.94 MWK 5,044
$3.28 MWK 5,638
-10.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.02 MWK 6,894
$4 MWK 6,864
0.50%
Apples (1kg)
$4.97 MWK 8,538
$2.64 MWK 4,532
88.26%
Banana (1kg)
$2.99 MWK 5,128
$1.03 MWK 1,765
190.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.97 MWK 3,376
$1.51 MWK 2,598
30.46%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.03 MWK 1,766
$1.5 MWK 2,582
-31.33%
Potato (1kg)
$0.97 MWK 1,671
$1.4 MWK 2,411
-30.71%
Onion (1kg)
$1.95 MWK 3,353
$1.28 MWK 2,191
52.34%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.98 MWK 3,404
$0.65 MWK 1,117
204.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$1.62 MWK 2,778
-
Wine (Bottle)
-
$14.81 MWK 25.4K
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.97 MWK 1,669
$1.03 MWK 1,775
-5.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.88 MWK 3,225
-
🚌 Getting Around
Nkhotakota
Lilongwe
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.94 MWK 1,606
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$4.24 MWK 7,280
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$2.57 MWK 4,414
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$2.21 MWK 3,797
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
-
$1.59 MWK 2,738
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nkhotakota
Lilongwe
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$44.67 MWK 76.7K
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$11.59 MWK 19.9K
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$63.5 MWK 109K
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nkhotakota
Lilongwe
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$38.07 MWK 65.4K
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$3.88 MWK 6,662
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nkhotakota
Lilongwe
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$343 MWK 589.7K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$2,351 MWK 4M
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nkhotakota
Lilongwe
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$68.3 MWK 117.2K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$267 MWK 457.9K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$563 MWK 966.9K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$16.1K MWK 27.6M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nkhotakota
Lilongwe
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$280 MWK 480.6K
-

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

Last update for Nkhotakota: October 28, 2025

Last update for Lilongwe: October 28, 2025

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