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

🙂 Solo nomad: Semey is 13.6% cheaper than Lilongwe without rent, and 16.3% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Semey is 9.4% cheaper than Lilongwe without rent, and 8.4% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.37 ₸2,174

$5.13 MWK 8,920

-14.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.20 ₸13.5K

$32.31 MWK 56.2K

-15.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.84 ₸2,407

$10.34 MWK 18.0K

-53.19%

Cappuccino

$1.52 ₸755

$3.00 MWK 5,211

-49.33%

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

$0.96 ₸479

$0.95 MWK 1,658

1.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.55 ₸275

$0.41 MWK 719

34.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.15 ₸570

$1.77 MWK 3,082

-35.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.83 ₸908

$4.09 MWK 7,123

-55.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.74 ₸366

$1.00 MWK 1,736

-26.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.34 ₸170

$1.19 MWK 2,064

-71.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.66 ₸826

$1.68 MWK 2,926

-1.19%

Eggs

$1.27 ₸634

$2.62 MWK 4,562

-51.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.70 ₸4,323

$15.95 MWK 27.8K

-45.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.49 ₸2,232

$3.09 MWK 5,384

45.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.94 ₸3,449

$3.95 MWK 6,866

75.70%

Apples (1kg)

$1.29 ₸639

$2.59 MWK 4,505

-50.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 ₸952

$0.99 MWK 1,719

93.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.01 ₸998

$1.47 MWK 2,558

36.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.98 ₸984

$1.52 MWK 2,636

30.26%

Potato (1kg)

$0.56 ₸278

$1.35 MWK 2,342

-58.52%

Onion (1kg)

$0.40 ₸201

$1.23 MWK 2,139

-67.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.93 ₸463

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 ₸374

$0.64 MWK 1,114

17.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.55 ₸1,270

$1.56 MWK 2,718

63.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.32 ₸3,140

$14.31 MWK 24.9K

-55.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 ₸483

$1.05 MWK 1,825

-7.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 ₸769

$1.86 MWK 3,242

-16.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 ₸96.2

$0.89 MWK 1,550

-78.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.44 MWK 7,719

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.00 ₸495

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.68 ₸336

$2.54 MWK 4,422

-73.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.80 ₸2,388

$2.13 MWK 3,713

125.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 ₸232

$1.59 MWK 2,762

-70.44%

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

$20.3K ₸10.1M

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

$24.1K ₸12.0M

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

$50.1 ₸24.9K

$45.36 MWK 78.9K

10.36%

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

$8.68 ₸4,315

$11.64 MWK 20.3K

-25.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.87 ₸6,399

$63.3 MWK 110.2K

-79.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.52 ₸16.7K

$37.74 MWK 65.6K

-11.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.82 ₸4,883

Cinema Ticket

$4.39 ₸2,181

$4.03 MWK 7,004

8.93%

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

$213 ₸105.8K

$346 MWK 602.6K

-38.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,959 ₸2.5M

$2,394 MWK 4.2M

107.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.6 ₸28.1K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.67 ₸17.7K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.0 ₸43.8K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.6 ₸39.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$320 ₸159.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$205 ₸101.7K

$66.8 MWK 116.2K

206.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$522 ₸259.6K

$269 MWK 468.6K

93.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$384 ₸191.0K

$561 MWK 976.1K

-31.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$273 MWK 474.9K

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: February 28, 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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