Cost of living comparison
Malawi is 61.6% more expensive than Benin overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 32.4% more in Malawi
- Groceries
-
pay 10.0% more in Malawi
- Transportation
-
pay 69.2% more in Malawi
- Housing
-
pay 42.1% more in Malawi
- Childcare
-
pay 0.9% less in Malawi
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 18.0% less in Malawi
- Clothing
-
pay 4.0 times more in Malawi
The cost of clothing, transportation, housing, restaurants, and groceries in Malawi are more expensive than in Benin. Expenses including entertainment and sports and childcare are lower in Malawi. Notably, clothing is significantly more expensive in Malawi.
If you lived in Malawi instead of Benin, you would:
pay 32.4% more for restaurants
|
Benin
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$3.27
F CFA1,971
|
$4.32
MWK7,494.74
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$4.90
F CFA2,956
|
$9.04
MWK15,683.98
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.69
F CFA414
|
$0.87
MWK1,512.05
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.51
F CFA306
|
$0.43
MWK750.69
|
|
pay 10.0% more for groceries
|
Benin
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$1.25
F CFA756
|
$1.36
MWK2,366.81
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$4.36
F CFA2,628
|
$4.82
MWK8,356.21
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$7.11
F CFA4,290
|
$4.51
MWK7,827.43
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$1.93
F CFA1,165
|
$2.31
MWK3,999.89
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$2.43
F CFA1,464
|
$1.93
MWK3,339.52
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.17
F CFA708
|
$1.03
MWK1,794.51
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.59
F CFA358
|
$0.81
MWK1,404.13
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$0.49
F CFA298
|
$1.12
MWK1,940.10
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.69
F CFA417
|
$0.53
MWK914.14
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.62
F CFA373
|
$0.72
MWK1,248.08
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.69
F CFA417
|
$0.59
MWK1,016.74
|
|
pay 69.2% more for transportation
|
Benin
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.75
F CFA2,263
|
$6.19
MWK10,731.25
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass | ?? |
$4.32
MWK7,494.48
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) | ?? |
$35,669.17
MWK61,852,226.56
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$11.76
F CFA7,095
|
$20.40
MWK35,378.74
|
|
pay 42.1% more for housing
|
Benin
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$52.08
F CFA31,412
|
$186.12
MWK322,750.31
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$178.09
F CFA107,418
|
$202.19
MWK350,601.13
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$130.71
F CFA78,839
|
$98.76
MWK171,260.10
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$187.42
F CFA113,041
|
$41.29
MWK71,591.98
|
|
pay 0.9% less for childcare
|
Benin
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$204.24
F CFA123,185
|
$354.75
MWK615,162.05
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$5,990.94
F CFA3,613,441
|
$1,467.81
MWK2,545,260.39
|
|
pay 18.0% less for entertainment and sports
|
Benin
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$0.98
F CFA591
|
$1.12
MWK1,941.15
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$4.08
F CFA2,464
|
$2.91
MWK5,051.17
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$2.12
F CFA1,281
|
$1.59
MWK2,751.14
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$55.14
F CFA33,260
|
$51.33
MWK89,014.37
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$6.94
F CFA4,188
|
$3.95
MWK6,850.48
|
|
pay 4.0 times more for clothing
|
Benin
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$16.34
F CFA9,855
|
$45.22
MWK78,420.83
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$8.17
F CFA4,927
|
$34.94
MWK60,593.01
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$8.17
F CFA4,927
|
$59.17
MWK102,606.51
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$44.93
F CFA27,101
|
$70.71
MWK122,606.44
|
|
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