Cost of Living Comparison Between Odesa and Lilongwe Cost of Living Comparison Between Odesa and Lilongwe

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $725 in Odesa versus $582 in Lilongwe.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,149 in Odesa versus $1,135 in Lilongwe.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,572 in Odesa versus $1,688 in Lilongwe.

Living in Odesa is roughly 25% more expensive than in Lilongwe, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Odesa 46% lower, Lilongwe 56% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.39 ₴330

$5.03 MWK 8,636

46.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.69 ₴1,281

$32.03 MWK 55.0K

-10.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.31 ₴282

$10.27 MWK 17.6K

-38.56%

Cappuccino

$1.43 ₴64.1

$3.11 MWK 5,340

-54.02%

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

$0.72 ₴32.27

$0.98 MWK 1,690

-26.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₴20.09

$0.38 MWK 656

18.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.00 ₴44.62

$1.78 MWK 3,058

-43.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 ₴77.1

$4.05 MWK 6,952

-57.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 ₴49.17

$0.96 MWK 1,646

14.58%

White Bread (500g)

$0.67 ₴29.81

$1.25 MWK 2,150

-46.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.41 ₴62.8

$1.67 MWK 2,876

-15.57%

Eggs

$1.54 ₴68.7

$2.70 MWK 4,631

-42.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.10 ₴362

$15.86 MWK 27.2K

-48.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.22 ₴188

$3.26 MWK 5,596

29.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.32 ₴282

$3.94 MWK 6,772

60.41%

Apples (1kg)

$0.71 ₴31.56

$2.63 MWK 4,512

-73.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 ₴71.2

$1.02 MWK 1,753

55.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.73 ₴77.3

$1.53 MWK 2,624

13.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.37 ₴106

$1.52 MWK 2,605

55.92%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 ₴29.15

$1.40 MWK 2,412

-53.57%

Onion (1kg)

$0.55 ₴24.49

$1.26 MWK 2,168

-56.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.48 ₴66.1

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₴24.80

$0.60 MWK 1,038

-6.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.78 ₴124

$1.56 MWK 2,686

78.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.71 ₴255

$14.62 MWK 25.1K

-60.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 ₴35.33

$1.09 MWK 1,873

-27.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 ₴65.0

$1.89 MWK 3,244

-23.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 ₴16.86

$0.96 MWK 1,643

-60.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.91 ₴621

$4.43 MWK 7,603

214.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.88 ₴83.8

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.34 ₴15.22

$2.58 MWK 4,423

-86.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.93 ₴131

$2.15 MWK 3,687

36.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ₴60.1

$1.63 MWK 2,794

-17.79%

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

$31.4K ₴1.4M

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

$27.8K ₴1.2M

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

$90.8 ₴4,056

$44.81 MWK 76.9K

102.63%

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

$5.45 ₴243

$11.78 MWK 20.2K

-53.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$6.72 ₴300

$61.3 MWK 105.2K

-89.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.13 ₴1,167

$38.14 MWK 65.5K

-31.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.92 ₴577

Cinema Ticket

$6.05 ₴270

$3.87 MWK 6,643

56.33%

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

$256 ₴11.4K

$354 MWK 608.6K

-27.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,125 ₴94.9K

$2,365 MWK 4.1M

-10.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.1 ₴2,864

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.16 ₴1,794

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.6 ₴3,869

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 ₴4,642

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$271 ₴12.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$178 ₴7,939

$66.9 MWK 114.8K

165.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$514 ₴22.9K

$270 MWK 463.8K

90.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$306 ₴13.7K

$548 MWK 941.5K

-44.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,619 ₴72.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$890 ₴39.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$479 ₴21.4K

$271 MWK 464.9K

76.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Odesa: July 13, 2026

Last update for Lilongwe: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Odesa pays 77% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $29.00 in Odesa vs $32.00 in Lilongwe for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $160 vs $201 per month, with Odesa cheaper across the board.

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

Odesa vs Lilongwe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lilongwe is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear. The 25% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 77% higher in Odesa, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Shoppers in Odesa pay roughly 26% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Lilongwe – a meal for two runs $32.00 versus $29.00 in Odesa. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Lilongwe gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Lilongwe gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Odesa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.