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 53.5% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Nkhotakota is 48.8% cheaper than Lilongwe without rent, and 62.8% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nkhotakota
Lilongwe
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.87 MWK 8,473
$5.13 MWK 8,920
-5.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$32.31 MWK 56.2K
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
-
$10.34 MWK 18.0K
-
Cappuccino
$4.98 MWK 8,660
$3.00 MWK 5,211
66.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52 MWK 910
$0.95 MWK 1,658
-45.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.41 MWK 719
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.52 MWK 2,644
$1.77 MWK 3,082
-14.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.09 MWK 7,123
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nkhotakota
Lilongwe
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.03 MWK 3,524
$1.00 MWK 1,736
103.00%
White Bread (500g)
$0.49 MWK 845
$1.19 MWK 2,064
-58.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.99 MWK 1,718
$1.68 MWK 2,926
-41.07%
Eggs
$1.83 MWK 3,176
$2.62 MWK 4,562
-30.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$2.94 MWK 5,120
$15.95 MWK 27.8K
-81.57%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.07 MWK 5,346
$3.09 MWK 5,384
-0.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$3.92 MWK 6,819
$3.95 MWK 6,866
-0.76%
Apples (1kg)
$5.13 MWK 8,922
$2.59 MWK 4,505
98.07%
Banana (1kg)
$3.04 MWK 5,287
$0.99 MWK 1,719
207.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.99 MWK 3,459
$1.47 MWK 2,558
35.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.01 MWK 1,762
$1.52 MWK 2,636
-33.55%
Potato (1kg)
$0.98 MWK 1,710
$1.35 MWK 2,342
-27.41%
Onion (1kg)
$1.94 MWK 3,376
$1.23 MWK 2,139
57.72%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.96 MWK 3,405
$0.64 MWK 1,114
206.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$1.56 MWK 2,718
-
Wine (Bottle)
-
$14.31 MWK 24.9K
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.01 MWK 1,759
$1.05 MWK 1,825
-3.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.86 MWK 3,242
-
🚌 Getting Around
Nkhotakota
Lilongwe
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.89 MWK 1,550
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$4.44 MWK 7,719
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$2.54 MWK 4,422
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$2.13 MWK 3,713
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
-
$1.59 MWK 2,762
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nkhotakota
Lilongwe
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$45.36 MWK 78.9K
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$11.64 MWK 20.3K
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$63.3 MWK 110.2K
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nkhotakota
Lilongwe
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$37.74 MWK 65.6K
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$4.03 MWK 7,004
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nkhotakota
Lilongwe
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$346 MWK 602.6K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$2,394 MWK 4.2M
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nkhotakota
Lilongwe
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$66.8 MWK 116.2K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$269 MWK 468.6K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$561 MWK 976.1K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nkhotakota
Lilongwe
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$273 MWK 474.9K
-

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

Last update for Nkhotakota: March 2, 2026

Last update for Lilongwe: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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