Cost of living comparison
Malawi is 38.8% cheaper than Australia overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 56.8% less in Malawi
- Groceries
-
pay 34.4% less in Malawi
- Transportation
-
pay 5.5% less in Malawi
- Housing
-
pay 2.0% less in Malawi
- Childcare
-
pay 83.0% less in Malawi
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 53.6% less in Malawi
- Clothing
-
pay 36.3% less in Malawi
Expenses including childcare, restaurants, entertainment and sports, clothing, groceries, and transportation are lower in Malawi.
If you lived in Malawi instead of Australia, you would:
pay 56.8% less for restaurants
|
Australia
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$16.76
A$25.99
|
$4.32
MWK7,517.36
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.73
A$15.10
|
$9.04
MWK15,731.32
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.56
A$3.98
|
$0.87
MWK1,516.62
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.16
A$3.36
|
$0.43
MWK752.95
|
|
pay 34.4% less for groceries
|
Australia
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.37
A$3.68
|
$1.36
MWK2,373.96
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$4.36
A$6.77
|
$4.82
MWK8,381.43
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$5.80
A$9.00
|
$4.51
MWK7,851.06
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$4.07
A$6.32
|
$2.31
MWK4,011.97
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$3.94
A$6.11
|
$1.93
MWK3,349.60
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.45
A$2.25
|
$1.03
MWK1,799.92
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$1.26
A$1.95
|
$0.81
MWK1,408.36
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.35
A$2.10
|
$1.12
MWK1,945.96
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.01
A$3.13
|
$0.53
MWK916.90
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.12
A$1.73
|
$0.72
MWK1,251.84
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.96
A$1.49
|
$0.59
MWK1,019.80
|
|
pay 5.5% less for transportation
|
Australia
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.65
A$7.22
|
$6.19
MWK10,763.64
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$83.03
A$128.81
|
$4.32
MWK7,517.10
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$27,742.09
A$43,037.69
|
$35,669.17
MWK62,038,896.33
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$18.38
A$28.51
|
$20.40
MWK35,485.51
|
|
pay 2.0% less for housing
|
Australia
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$55.59
A$86.25
|
$186.12
MWK323,724.36
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,182.30
A$1,834.17
|
$202.19
MWK351,659.25
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$957.92
A$1,486.07
|
$98.76
MWK171,776.96
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$138.16
A$214.34
|
$41.29
MWK71,808.05
|
|
pay 83.0% less for childcare
|
Australia
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,485.91
A$2,305.17
|
$354.75
MWK617,018.61
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$14,667.78
A$22,754.87
|
$1,467.81
MWK2,552,941.97
|
|
pay 53.6% less for entertainment and sports
|
Australia
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$6.64
A$10.31
|
$1.12
MWK1,947.01
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.55
A$5.50
|
$2.91
MWK5,066.41
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$28.07
A$43.55
|
$1.59
MWK2,759.44
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$52.89
A$82.05
|
$51.33
MWK89,283.01
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$13.13
A$20.37
|
$3.95
MWK6,871.15
|
|
pay 36.3% less for clothing
|
Australia
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$71.78
A$111.35
|
$45.22
MWK78,657.50
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$50.24
A$77.94
|
$34.94
MWK60,775.88
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$100.30
A$155.59
|
$59.17
MWK102,916.18
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$111.73
A$173.33
|
$70.71
MWK122,976.47
|
|
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