Cost of living comparison
Malawi is 57.0% more expensive than Iraq overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 57.8% more in Malawi
- Groceries
-
pay 76.6% more in Malawi
- Transportation
-
pay 69.7% more in Malawi
- Housing
-
pay 81.5% more in Malawi
- Childcare
-
pay 62.9% more in Malawi
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 10.4% less in Malawi
- Clothing
-
pay 60.9% more in Malawi
The cost of housing, groceries, transportation, childcare, clothing, and restaurants in Malawi are more expensive than in Iraq. Notably, housing and groceries are significantly more expensive in Malawi.
If you lived in Malawi instead of Iraq, you would:
pay 57.8% more for restaurants
|
Iraq
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$4.64
IQD6,071
|
$4.32
MWK7,478.87
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$6.72
IQD8,787
|
$9.04
MWK15,650.77
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.42
IQD544
|
$0.87
MWK1,508.85
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.22
IQD292
|
$0.43
MWK749.10
|
|
pay 76.6% more for groceries
|
Iraq
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$0.82
IQD1,066
|
$1.36
MWK2,361.80
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$2.51
IQD3,285
|
$4.82
MWK8,338.52
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.56
IQD5,962
|
$4.51
MWK7,810.86
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$1.76
IQD2,306
|
$2.31
MWK3,991.42
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$2.21
IQD2,886
|
$1.93
MWK3,332.45
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$0.48
IQD629
|
$1.03
MWK1,790.71
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.52
IQD675
|
$0.81
MWK1,401.15
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$0.44
IQD580
|
$1.12
MWK1,935.99
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.30
IQD398
|
$0.53
MWK912.20
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.28
IQD362
|
$0.72
MWK1,245.43
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.28
IQD367
|
$0.59
MWK1,014.58
|
|
pay 69.7% more for transportation
|
Iraq
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$1.93
IQD2,517
|
$6.19
MWK10,708.52
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$39.46
IQD51,590
|
$4.32
MWK7,478.61
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$16,587.19
IQD21,683,548
|
$35,669.17
MWK61,721,248.60
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$15.54
IQD20,310
|
$20.40
MWK35,303.82
|
|
pay 81.5% more for housing
|
Iraq
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$34.52
IQD45,133
|
$186.12
MWK322,066.85
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$280.02
IQD366,049
|
$202.19
MWK349,858.70
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$188.34
IQD246,204
|
$98.76
MWK170,897.44
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$66.51
IQD86,942
|
$41.29
MWK71,440.38
|
|
pay 62.9% more for childcare
|
Iraq
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$139.67
IQD182,580
|
$354.75
MWK613,859.39
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$2,045.09
IQD2,673,435
|
$1,467.81
MWK2,539,870.55
|
|
pay 10.4% less for entertainment and sports
|
Iraq
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$2.57
IQD3,362
|
$1.12
MWK1,937.04
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$2.36
IQD3,086
|
$2.91
MWK5,040.47
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$2.06
IQD2,688
|
$1.59
MWK2,745.31
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$32.77
IQD42,842
|
$51.33
MWK88,825.87
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$8.37
IQD10,948
|
$3.95
MWK6,835.97
|
|
pay 60.9% more for clothing
|
Iraq
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$23.65
IQD30,913
|
$45.22
MWK78,254.76
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$25.45
IQD33,276
|
$34.94
MWK60,464.70
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$48.29
IQD63,125
|
$59.17
MWK102,389.24
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$36.75
IQD48,038
|
$70.71
MWK122,346.81
|
|
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