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

😐 Solo nomad: Semey is 2.7% more expensive than Lilongwe without rent, and 20.9% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Semey is 16.3% cheaper than Lilongwe without rent, and 11.2% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.34 ₸2,040

$4.94 MWK 8,619

-12.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.83 ₸13.1K

$31.85 MWK 55.5K

-12.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.85 ₸2,284

$10.19 MWK 17.8K

-52.40%

Cappuccino

$1.52 ₸713

$3.09 MWK 5,384

-50.81%

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

$0.92 ₸434

$0.96 MWK 1,681

-4.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 ₸242

$0.42 MWK 730

21.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.15 ₸539

$1.69 MWK 2,952

-31.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 ₸887

$3.94 MWK 6,861

-52.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.70 ₸329

$0.94 MWK 1,635

-25.53%

White Bread (500g)

$0.34 ₸161

$1.20 MWK 2,096

-71.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 ₸768

$1.76 MWK 3,077

-7.39%

Eggs

$1.27 ₸600

$2.61 MWK 4,553

-51.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.05 ₸4,257

$15.81 MWK 27.6K

-42.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.62 ₸2,174

$3.21 MWK 5,591

43.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.24 ₸3,404

$4.00 MWK 6,969

81.00%

Apples (1kg)

$1.33 ₸626

$2.56 MWK 4,458

-48.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.89 ₸888

$0.97 MWK 1,700

94.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.98 ₸934

$1.47 MWK 2,559

34.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.97 ₸925

$1.58 MWK 2,751

24.68%

Potato (1kg)

$0.54 ₸255

$1.33 MWK 2,321

-59.40%

Onion (1kg)

$0.40 ₸189

$1.20 MWK 2,098

-66.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.94 ₸444

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 ₸360

$0.60 MWK 1,048

28.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.55 ₸1,202

$1.58 MWK 2,752

61.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.83 ₸3,212

$14.62 MWK 25.5K

-53.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 ₸474

$1.09 MWK 1,892

-7.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.53 ₸722

$1.86 MWK 3,236

-17.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 ₸92.4

$0.96 MWK 1,680

-79.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.42 MWK 7,705

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.95 ₸447

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.62 ₸293

$2.52 MWK 4,396

-75.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.70 ₸2,213

$2.12 MWK 3,702

121.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 ₸234

$1.65 MWK 2,868

-69.70%

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

$20.4K ₸9.6M

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

$24.6K ₸11.6M

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

$50.3 ₸23.7K

$44.93 MWK 78.3K

11.93%

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

$8.61 ₸4,051

$11.92 MWK 20.8K

-27.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.82 ₸6,033

$61.4 MWK 107.1K

-79.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.18 ₸15.6K

$36.73 MWK 64.0K

-9.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.86 ₸4,641

Cinema Ticket

$4.42 ₸2,079

$3.83 MWK 6,684

15.40%

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

$214 ₸100.7K

$351 MWK 612.7K

-39.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,969 ₸2.3M

$2,347 MWK 4.1M

111.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 ₸26.7K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.30 ₸16.6K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.8 ₸41.3K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.0 ₸36.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$309 ₸145.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$206 ₸97.1K

$68.3 MWK 119.1K

202.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$530 ₸249.5K

$266 MWK 463.2K

99.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$396 ₸186.5K

$562 MWK 979.8K

-29.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$276 MWK 481.6K

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: April 11, 2026

Last update for Lilongwe: April 11, 2026

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

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