Cost of Living Comparison Between Weifang and Lilongwe Cost of Living Comparison Between Weifang and Lilongwe

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $570 in Weifang versus $582 in Lilongwe.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $869 in Weifang versus $1,135 in Lilongwe.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,168 in Weifang versus $1,688 in Lilongwe.

Living in Weifang costs roughly 2% less than in Lilongwe, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Weifang 57% lower, Lilongwe 56% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.32 ¥22.46

$5.03 MWK 8,636

-34.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.15 ¥95.8

$32.03 MWK 55.0K

-55.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.47 ¥30.26

$10.27 MWK 17.6K

-56.48%

Cappuccino

$3.13 ¥21.18

$3.11 MWK 5,340

0.64%

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

$0.54 ¥3.63

$0.98 MWK 1,690

-44.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 ¥1.49

$0.38 MWK 656

-42.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.86 ¥5.83

$1.78 MWK 3,058

-51.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 ¥13.75

$4.05 MWK 6,952

-49.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 ¥12.20

$0.96 MWK 1,646

87.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.20 ¥8.15

$1.25 MWK 2,150

-4.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.80 ¥5.44

$1.67 MWK 2,876

-52.10%

Eggs

$1.20 ¥8.10

$2.70 MWK 4,631

-55.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.00 ¥102

$15.86 MWK 27.2K

-5.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.59 ¥17.56

$3.26 MWK 5,596

-20.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.02 ¥54.3

$3.94 MWK 6,772

103.55%

Apples (1kg)

$0.94 ¥6.35

$2.63 MWK 4,512

-64.26%

Banana (1kg)

$0.85 ¥5.76

$1.02 MWK 1,753

-16.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 ¥12.89

$1.53 MWK 2,624

24.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.62 ¥4.19

$1.52 MWK 2,605

-59.21%

Potato (1kg)

$0.45 ¥3.04

$1.40 MWK 2,412

-67.86%

Onion (1kg)

$0.43 ¥2.92

$1.26 MWK 2,168

-65.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.58 ¥3.95

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 ¥3.19

$0.60 MWK 1,038

-21.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.79 ¥25.64

$1.56 MWK 2,686

142.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.94 ¥67.3

$14.62 MWK 25.1K

-32.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 ¥4.03

$1.09 MWK 1,873

-44.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.05 ¥7.09

$1.89 MWK 3,244

-44.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 ¥1.35

$0.96 MWK 1,643

-79.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.94 ¥46.96

$4.43 MWK 7,603

56.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ¥5.87

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.26 ¥1.77

$2.58 MWK 4,423

-89.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.49 ¥50.7

$2.15 MWK 3,687

248.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ¥7.61

$1.63 MWK 2,794

-31.29%

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

$11.7K ¥79.4K

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

$15.3K ¥103.7K

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

$51.7 ¥350

$44.81 MWK 76.9K

15.40%

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

$8.15 ¥55.2

$11.78 MWK 20.2K

-30.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.10 ¥48.07

$61.3 MWK 105.2K

-88.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.30 ¥185

$38.14 MWK 65.5K

-28.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.05 ¥95.1

Cinema Ticket

$4.13 ¥27.95

$3.87 MWK 6,643

6.72%

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

$175 ¥1,186

$354 MWK 608.6K

-50.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.1K ¥115.6K

$2,365 MWK 4.1M

622.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.54 ¥139

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.62 ¥255

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.0 ¥508

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.2 ¥563

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$133 ¥901

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$89.4 ¥605

$66.9 MWK 114.8K

33.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$583 ¥3,948

$270 MWK 463.8K

115.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$142 ¥958

$548 MWK 941.5K

-74.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,456 ¥9,853

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,040 ¥34.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$612 ¥4,143

$271 MWK 464.9K

126.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.81

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

Last update for Weifang: July 13, 2026

Last update for Lilongwe: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Weifang pays 126% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $14.00 in Weifang vs $32.00 in Lilongwe for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $176 vs $201 per month, with Weifang cheaper across the board.

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

Weifang vs Lilongwe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Weifang is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 2% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 126% higher in Weifang, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Supermarket bills run roughly 14% higher in Lilongwe. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Weifang – a meal for two runs $14.00 versus $32.00 in Lilongwe. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Weifang gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Weifang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Lilongwe. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.