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

🙂 Solo nomad: Semey is 3.8% cheaper than Lilongwe without rent, and 15% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Semey is 11.2% more expensive than Lilongwe without rent, and 11.2% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.49 ₸2,295

$4.94 MWK 8,620

-9.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.99 ₸13.8K

$32.06 MWK 56.0K

-15.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.86 ₸2,484

$10.19 MWK 17.8K

-52.31%

Cappuccino

$1.51 ₸771

$2.95 MWK 5,149

-48.81%

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

$0.92 ₸469

$0.92 MWK 1,601

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₸288

$0.42 MWK 732

33.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.16 ₸591

$1.77 MWK 3,088

-34.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 ₸972

$3.95 MWK 6,888

-51.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.69 ₸351

$1.01 MWK 1,766

-31.68%

White Bread (500g)

$0.32 ₸162

$1.23 MWK 2,149

-73.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.67 ₸850

$1.69 MWK 2,944

-1.18%

Eggs

$1.33 ₸678

$2.64 MWK 4,602

-49.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.90 ₸4,543

$15.54 MWK 27.1K

-42.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.52 ₸2,309

$3.23 MWK 5,644

39.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.94 ₸3,541

$4.06 MWK 7,082

70.94%

Apples (1kg)

$1.30 ₸661

$2.61 MWK 4,552

-50.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.89 ₸964

$0.97 MWK 1,694

94.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 ₸968

$1.46 MWK 2,556

30.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.94 ₸992

$1.57 MWK 2,736

23.57%

Potato (1kg)

$0.56 ₸284

$1.36 MWK 2,374

-58.82%

Onion (1kg)

$0.40 ₸204

$1.21 MWK 2,114

-66.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.00 ₸512

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 ₸371

$0.65 MWK 1,136

12.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.69 ₸1,376

$1.61 MWK 2,813

67.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.10 ₸3,116

$14.66 MWK 25.6K

-58.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 ₸512

$1.08 MWK 1,891

-7.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.54 ₸784

$1.85 MWK 3,235

-16.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 ₸87.4

$0.88 MWK 1,541

-80.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.28 MWK 7,467

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.00 ₸513

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.67 ₸345

$2.52 MWK 4,398

-73.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.80 ₸2,452

$2.14 MWK 3,742

124.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 ₸253

$1.60 MWK 2,788

-68.75%

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)

$24.7K ₸12.6M

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

$50.9 ₸26.0K

$45.13 MWK 78.8K

12.72%

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

$8.54 ₸4,359

$11.87 MWK 20.7K

-28.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.64 ₸6,453

$63.6 MWK 111.0K

-80.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.61 ₸16.7K

$37.00 MWK 64.6K

-11.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.52 ₸4,863

Cinema Ticket

$4.42 ₸2,255

$3.91 MWK 6,828

13.04%

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

$209 ₸106.9K

$351 MWK 613.1K

-40.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,783 ₸2.4M

$2,375 MWK 4.1M

101.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.2 ₸29.2K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.41 ₸18.1K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.0 ₸45.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.3 ₸39.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$315 ₸160.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$204 ₸104.4K

$68.1 MWK 118.8K

200.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$515 ₸262.7K

$266 MWK 463.9K

93.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$386 ₸197.3K

$554 MWK 967.2K

-30.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$16.2K MWK 28.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$279 MWK 487.7K

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: January 13, 2026

Last update for Lilongwe: January 11, 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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