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: $837 in Odesa versus $586 in Lilongwe.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,336 in Odesa versus $1,131 in Lilongwe.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,835 in Odesa versus $1,675 in Lilongwe.

Living in Odesa is roughly 43% more expensive than in Lilongwe, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Odesa 39% lower, Lilongwe 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.82 ₴350

$5.01 MWK 8,607

56.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.28 ₴1,578

$32.21 MWK 55.3K

9.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.63 ₴252

$10.37 MWK 17.8K

-45.71%

Cappuccino

$1.55 ₴69.1

$3.05 MWK 5,239

-49.18%

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

$0.86 ₴38.37

$1.48 MWK 2,545

-41.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₴37.00

$0.35 MWK 599

137.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.76 ₴78.8

$1.97 MWK 3,385

-10.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 ₴93.6

$3.98 MWK 6,837

-47.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 ₴61.6

$0.94 MWK 1,609

46.81%

White Bread (500g)

$0.73 ₴32.70

$1.37 MWK 2,351

-46.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.79 ₴80.2

$1.70 MWK 2,915

5.29%

Eggs

$2.11 ₴94.3

$2.98 MWK 5,124

-29.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.95 ₴445

$15.46 MWK 26.6K

-35.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.36 ₴240

$3.17 MWK 5,447

69.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.77 ₴303

$4.05 MWK 6,958

67.16%

Apples (1kg)

$1.19 ₴53.0

$2.55 MWK 4,376

-53.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 ₴69.0

$1.23 MWK 2,109

25.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.00 ₴89.6

$1.52 MWK 2,607

31.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.17 ₴142

$1.75 MWK 3,007

81.14%

Potato (1kg)

$0.81 ₴36.04

$1.83 MWK 3,136

-55.74%

Onion (1kg)

$0.49 ₴21.80

$1.40 MWK 2,409

-65.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.62 ₴72.3

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₴23.53

$0.54 MWK 925

-1.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.10 ₴139

$1.57 MWK 2,699

97.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.45 ₴244

$14.43 MWK 24.8K

-62.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 ₴39.29

$1.05 MWK 1,800

-16.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 ₴67.9

$1.92 MWK 3,299

-20.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.46 ₴20.71

$0.95 MWK 1,636

-51.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.43 ₴914

$4.22 MWK 7,238

384.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.85 ₴82.9

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 ₴14.56

$2.66 MWK 4,563

-87.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.62 ₴207

$2.10 MWK 3,611

120.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.61 ₴72.2

$1.59 MWK 2,724

1.26%

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

$30.2K ₴1.3M

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

$24.7K ₴1.1M

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

$114 ₴5,091

$45.50 MWK 78.1K

150.15%

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

$7.20 ₴322

$11.78 MWK 20.2K

-38.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$6.70 ₴300

$61.7 MWK 105.9K

-89.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.22 ₴994

$36.75 MWK 63.1K

-39.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.67 ₴567

Cinema Ticket

$5.66 ₴253

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

$260 ₴11.6K

$349 MWK 600.0K

-25.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,734 ₴167.0K

$2,334 MWK 4.0M

60.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.4 ₴3,013

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.96 ₴2,011

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.2 ₴4,035

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 ₴4,661

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$343 ₴15.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$194 ₴8,687

$67.7 MWK 116.1K

187.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$584 ₴26.1K

$268 MWK 459.8K

118.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$372 ₴16.6K

$561 MWK 963.0K

-33.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,609 ₴72.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$893 ₴39.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$483 ₴21.6K

$280 MWK 480.4K

72.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

21.17

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

Last update for Odesa: August 29, 2026

Last update for Lilongwe: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Odesa pays 73% 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: $35.00 in Odesa vs $32.00 in Lilongwe. Groceries flip the comparison at $187 vs $204, with Odesa cheaper for home cooking.

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, Getting Around. The 43% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 73% 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 9% 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 $35.00 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 43% less than in Odesa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.