Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and Malawi Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and Malawi

Name: Malawi
Address: MW

😐 Solo nomad: United States is 97.8% more expensive than Malawi without rent, and 308.9% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: United States is 102% more expensive than Malawi without rent, and 235.7% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.22 $20.22

$4.87 MWK 8,508

315.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.7 $75.7

$21.27 MWK 37.1K

255.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.47 $11.47

$8.45 MWK 14.8K

35.74%

Cappuccino

$5.13 $5.13

$2.81 MWK 4,907

82.56%

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

$2.61 $2.61

$0.81 MWK 1,420

222.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$0.47 MWK 819

355.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.17 $6.17

$1.33 MWK 2,313

363.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.07 $7.07

$2.87 MWK 5,003

146.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.05 MWK 1,831

2.86%

White Bread (500g)

$3.74 $3.74

$1.30 MWK 2,273

187.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.57 $4.57

$1.55 MWK 2,699

194.84%

Eggs

$4.20 $4.20

$2.37 MWK 4,145

77.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.02 $13.02

$7.43 MWK 13.0K

75.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.18 $12.18

$3.41 MWK 5,945

257.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.14 $16.14

$5.47 MWK 9,552

195.06%

Apples (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$2.36 MWK 4,119

125.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.69 MWK 2,950

1.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$2.24 MWK 3,913

104.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$1.24 MWK 2,160

300.00%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$1.37 MWK 2,395

118.98%

Onion (1kg)

$3.04 $3.04

$1.31 MWK 2,289

132.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.18 $2.18

$0.33 MWK 577

560.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$1.16 MWK 2,032

88.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.16 $10.16

$2.40 MWK 4,198

323.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.16 $15.16

$12.58 MWK 22.0K

20.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 $1.99

$0.97 MWK 1,696

105.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 $3.71

$1.93 MWK 3,370

92.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$0.94 MWK 1,640

163.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$63.9 $63.9

$2.21 MWK 3,863

2789.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.69 $3.69

$0.61 MWK 1,064

504.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.76 $1.76

$2.46 MWK 4,299

-28.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.06 $30.06

$6.19 MWK 10.8K

385.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$1.63 MWK 2,848

-41.10%

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

$30.2K $30.2K

$35.3K MWK 61.7M

-14.47%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$39.3K MWK 68.6M

-33.05%

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

$207 $207

$47.92 MWK 83.6K

332.60%

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

$57.0 $57.0

$10.30 MWK 18.0K

453.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.5 $71.5

$70.4 MWK 122.9K

1.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.91 $45.91

$45.04 MWK 78.6K

1.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.25 $22.25

$15.07 MWK 26.3K

47.64%

Cinema Ticket

$14.13 $14.13

$3.99 MWK 6,957

254.14%

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

$1,385 $1,385

$376 MWK 657.2K

267.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$1,454 MWK 2.5M

1427.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.1 $52.1

$40.95 MWK 71.5K

27.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.53 $42.53

$35.04 MWK 61.2K

21.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.9 $89.9

$58.6 MWK 102.3K

53.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$70.6 MWK 123.3K

62.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,743 $1,743

$205 MWK 358.1K

749.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,422 $1,422

$81.9 MWK 142.9K

1636.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,821 $2,821

$447 MWK 779.5K

531.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,370 $2,370

$349 MWK 609.6K

578.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,338 $3,338

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,615 $2,615

$393 MWK 686.0K

565.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,230 $4,230

$314 MWK 548.8K

1245.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

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

Last update for United States: January 13, 2026

Last update for Malawi: January 13, 2026

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and Malawi Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and Malawi

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