Cost of Living Comparison Between Semey and Lilongwe Cost of Living Comparison Between Semey and Lilongwe

😐 Solo nomad: Semey is 3.6% more expensive than Lilongwe without rent, and 21.3% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Semey is 12% cheaper than Lilongwe without rent, and 9.5% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.51 ₸2,304

$4.95 MWK 8,493

-8.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.24 ₸13.9K

$32.35 MWK 55.5K

-15.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.9 ₸2,504

$10.11 MWK 17.4K

-51.53%

Cappuccino

$1.58 ₸810

$3 MWK 5,151

-47.33%

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

$0.9 ₸462

$0.9 MWK 1,542

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 ₸263

$0.38 MWK 659

34.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.19 ₸606

$1.72 MWK 2,947

-30.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.83 ₸936

$3.92 MWK 6,727

-53.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.73 ₸373

$1 MWK 1,719

-27.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.34 ₸174

$1.26 MWK 2,157

-73.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.6 ₸819

$1.71 MWK 2,929

-6.43%

Eggs

$1.27 ₸650

$2.64 MWK 4,531

-51.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.58 ₸4,385

$15.92 MWK 27.3K

-46.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.64 ₸2,374

$3.28 MWK 5,638

41.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.98 ₸3,570

$4 MWK 6,864

74.50%

Apples (1kg)

$1.35 ₸689

$2.64 MWK 4,532

-48.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 ₸1,007

$1.03 MWK 1,765

91.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.93 ₸988

$1.51 MWK 2,598

27.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.89 ₸966

$1.5 MWK 2,582

26.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.59 ₸304

$1.4 MWK 2,411

-57.86%

Onion (1kg)

$0.41 ₸208

$1.28 MWK 2,191

-67.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 ₸520

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 ₸394

$0.65 MWK 1,117

18.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.69 ₸1,377

$1.62 MWK 2,778

66.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.02 ₸3,079

$14.81 MWK 25.4K

-59.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₸507

$1.03 MWK 1,775

-3.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 ₸815

$1.88 MWK 3,225

-15.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.2 ₸100

$0.94 MWK 1,606

-78.72%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.24 MWK 7,280

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.03 ₸524

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.63 ₸323

$2.57 MWK 4,414

-75.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.65 ₸2,377

$2.21 MWK 3,797

110.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 ₸236

$1.59 MWK 2,738

-71.07%

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

$19.8K ₸10.1M

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

$24.4K ₸12.5M

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

$49.23 ₸25.2K

$44.67 MWK 76.7K

10.21%

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

$8.59 ₸4,392

$11.59 MWK 19.9K

-25.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.7 ₸6,495

$63.5 MWK 109K

-79.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.93 ₸16.8K

$38.07 MWK 65.4K

-13.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.87 ₸5,048

Cinema Ticket

$4.32 ₸2,209

$3.88 MWK 6,662

11.34%

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

$209 ₸106.9K

$343 MWK 589.7K

-39.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,944 ₸2.5M

$2,351 MWK 4M

110.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.1 ₸29.2K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.03 ₸17.9K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.5 ₸44.8K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.7 ₸40.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$309 ₸158.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$205 ₸104.6K

$68.3 MWK 117.2K

199.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$522 ₸266.7K

$267 MWK 457.9K

95.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$391 ₸200K

$563 MWK 966.9K

-30.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$815 ₸416.6K

$16.1K MWK 27.6M

-94.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$737 ₸376.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$280 MWK 480.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.39

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

Last update for Semey: October 28, 2025

Last update for Lilongwe: October 28, 2025

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