Cost of living comparison
Malawi is 5.7% cheaper than Jamaica overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 26.9% less in Malawi
- Groceries
-
pay 38.7% less in Malawi
- Transportation
-
pay 20.6% less in Malawi
- Housing
-
pay 21.7% more in Malawi
- Childcare
-
pay 26.6% more in Malawi
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 37.0% less in Malawi
- Clothing
-
pay 35.3% more in Malawi
The cost of clothing, childcare, and housing in Malawi are more expensive than in Jamaica. Expenses including groceries, entertainment and sports, restaurants, and transportation are lower in Malawi.
If you lived in Malawi instead of Jamaica, you would:
pay 26.9% less for restaurants
|
Jamaica
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$7.25
JMD1,141.46
|
$4.32
MWK7,494.49
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$7.80
JMD1,228.76
|
$9.04
MWK15,683.46
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$1.33
JMD209.54
|
$0.87
MWK1,512.00
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.85
JMD133.24
|
$0.43
MWK750.66
|
|
pay 38.7% less for groceries
|
Jamaica
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.62
JMD413.02
|
$1.36
MWK2,366.74
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$5.91
JMD931.65
|
$4.82
MWK8,355.93
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$13.43
JMD2,114.76
|
$4.51
MWK7,827.17
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.35
JMD527.29
|
$2.31
MWK3,999.76
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$2.97
JMD467.53
|
$1.93
MWK3,339.41
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.46
JMD387.81
|
$1.03
MWK1,794.45
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$1.21
JMD189.83
|
$0.81
MWK1,404.08
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.71
JMD269.23
|
$1.12
MWK1,940.04
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.22
JMD191.80
|
$0.53
MWK914.11
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.92
JMD144.70
|
$0.72
MWK1,248.04
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.77
JMD120.62
|
$0.59
MWK1,016.70
|
|
pay 20.6% less for transportation
|
Jamaica
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.83
JMD761.41
|
$6.19
MWK10,730.89
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$37.59
JMD5,921.76
|
$4.32
MWK7,494.23
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$40,601.97
JMD6,395,495.92
|
$35,669.17
MWK61,850,147.98
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$22.62
JMD3,562.92
|
$20.40
MWK35,377.55
|
|
pay 21.7% more for housing
|
Jamaica
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$48.42
JMD7,627.48
|
$186.12
MWK322,739.46
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$594.87
JMD93,701.32
|
$202.19
MWK350,589.35
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$355.79
JMD56,042.61
|
$98.76
MWK171,254.34
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$101.67
JMD16,014.20
|
$41.29
MWK71,589.58
|
|
pay 26.6% more for childcare
|
Jamaica
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$194.86
JMD30,694.43
|
$354.75
MWK615,141.38
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$2,060.17
JMD324,512.20
|
$1,467.81
MWK2,545,174.85
|
|
pay 37.0% less for entertainment and sports
|
Jamaica
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$2.65
JMD416.88
|
$1.12
MWK1,941.09
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.05
JMD480.29
|
$2.91
MWK5,051.00
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$8.65
JMD1,362.00
|
$1.59
MWK2,751.05
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$41.08
JMD6,470.07
|
$51.33
MWK89,011.38
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$11.65
JMD1,835.74
|
$3.95
MWK6,850.25
|
|
pay 35.3% more for clothing
|
Jamaica
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$24.19
JMD3,809.66
|
$45.22
MWK78,418.19
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$21.83
JMD3,437.91
|
$34.94
MWK60,590.97
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$66.00
JMD10,395.97
|
$59.17
MWK102,603.07
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$67.67
JMD10,659.16
|
$70.71
MWK122,602.32
|
|
Change currency:
Help us improve these prices
ASK THE ELSEWHERE COMMUNITY
Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about Malawi or Jamaica. It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.