Cost of living comparison
Malawi is 3.1 times more expensive than India overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 2.2 times more in Malawi
- Groceries
-
pay 2.4 times more in Malawi
- Transportation
-
pay 2.8 times more in Malawi
- Housing
-
pay 7.3 times more in Malawi
- Childcare
-
pay 3.7 times more in Malawi
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 48.3% more in Malawi
- Clothing
-
pay 73.9% more in Malawi
The cost of housing, childcare, transportation, groceries, restaurants, and clothing in Malawi are more expensive than in India. Notably, housing, childcare, and transportation are significantly more expensive in Malawi.
If you lived in Malawi instead of India, you would:
pay 2.2 times more for restaurants
|
India
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$2.40
₹206.01
|
$4.32
MWK7,492.67
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$3.90
₹334.97
|
$9.04
MWK15,679.65
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.40
₹34.00
|
$0.87
MWK1,511.64
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.17
₹14.26
|
$0.43
MWK750.48
|
|
pay 2.4 times more for groceries
|
India
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$0.46
₹39.53
|
$1.36
MWK2,366.16
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$2.54
₹217.89
|
$4.82
MWK8,353.90
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$2.56
₹219.69
|
$4.51
MWK7,825.27
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$0.94
₹80.62
|
$2.31
MWK3,998.79
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$1.37
₹117.24
|
$1.93
MWK3,338.60
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$0.88
₹75.83
|
$1.03
MWK1,794.01
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.32
₹27.84
|
$0.81
MWK1,403.74
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$0.48
₹40.87
|
$1.12
MWK1,939.57
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.24
₹20.71
|
$0.53
MWK913.88
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.16
₹14.03
|
$0.72
MWK1,247.73
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.19
₹16.11
|
$0.59
MWK1,016.45
|
|
pay 2.8 times more for transportation
|
India
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.62
₹396.25
|
$6.19
MWK10,728.28
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$10.12
₹868.94
|
$4.32
MWK7,492.41
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$13,525.56
₹1,160,924.36
|
$35,669.17
MWK61,835,128.62
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$2.94
₹252.24
|
$20.40
MWK35,368.96
|
|
pay 7.3 times more for housing
|
India
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$7.39
₹633.88
|
$186.12
MWK322,661.09
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$138.05
₹11,849.38
|
$202.19
MWK350,504.22
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$90.33
₹7,753.38
|
$98.76
MWK171,212.76
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$29.97
₹2,572.28
|
$41.29
MWK71,572.19
|
|
pay 3.7 times more for childcare
|
India
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$55.73
₹4,783.30
|
$354.75
MWK614,992.00
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$1,565.54
₹134,373.21
|
$1,467.81
MWK2,544,556.79
|
|
pay 48.3% more for entertainment and sports
|
India
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$1.84
₹157.59
|
$1.12
MWK1,940.61
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$1.59
₹136.17
|
$2.91
MWK5,049.77
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$3.59
₹308.17
|
$1.59
MWK2,750.38
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$15.33
₹1,315.85
|
$51.33
MWK88,989.76
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$3.35
₹287.74
|
$3.95
MWK6,848.59
|
|
pay 73.9% more for clothing
|
India
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$24.02
₹2,061.94
|
$45.22
MWK78,399.15
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$25.36
₹2,176.91
|
$34.94
MWK60,576.26
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$41.62
₹3,572.07
|
$59.17
MWK102,578.15
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$31.12
₹2,670.79
|
$70.71
MWK122,572.55
|
|
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