Cost of living comparison
Malawi is 2.3 times more expensive than Lesotho overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 19.1% less in Malawi
- Groceries
-
pay 15.8% more in Malawi
- Transportation
-
pay 72.7% more in Malawi
- Housing
-
pay 3.7 times more in Malawi
- Childcare
-
pay 6.7 times more in Malawi
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 38.7% more in Malawi
- Clothing
-
pay 24.3% less in Malawi
The cost of childcare, housing, transportation, entertainment and sports, and groceries in Malawi are more expensive than in Lesotho. Expenses including clothing and restaurants are lower in Malawi. Notably, childcare and housing are significantly more expensive in Malawi.
If you lived in Malawi instead of Lesotho, you would:
pay 19.1% less for restaurants
|
Lesotho
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant | ?? |
$4.32
MWK7,494.49
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$11.58
LSL212.95
|
$9.04
MWK15,683.46
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$1.03
LSL18.92
|
$0.87
MWK1,512.00
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.54
LSL9.97
|
$0.43
MWK750.66
|
|
pay 15.8% more for groceries
|
Lesotho
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$0.82
LSL15.09
|
$1.36
MWK2,366.74
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$2.67
LSL49.08
|
$4.82
MWK8,355.93
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.65
LSL67.09
|
$4.51
MWK7,827.17
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$1.28
LSL23.48
|
$2.31
MWK3,999.76
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$3.09
LSL56.85
|
$1.93
MWK3,339.41
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$0.88
LSL16.23
|
$1.03
MWK1,794.45
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$1.00
LSL18.48
|
$0.81
MWK1,404.08
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$0.99
LSL18.16
|
$1.12
MWK1,940.04
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.16
LSL21.32
|
$0.53
MWK914.11
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.61
LSL11.21
|
$0.72
MWK1,248.04
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.69
LSL12.63
|
$0.59
MWK1,016.70
|
|
pay 72.7% more for transportation
|
Lesotho
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.64
LSL85.24
|
$6.19
MWK10,730.89
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$28.40
LSL522.20
|
$4.32
MWK7,494.23
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$19,879.98
LSL365,537.14
|
$35,669.17
MWK61,850,147.98
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$5.62
LSL103.39
|
$20.40
MWK35,377.55
|
|
pay 3.7 times more for housing
|
Lesotho
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$22.72
LSL417.76
|
$186.12
MWK322,739.46
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$143.89
LSL2,645.79
|
$202.19
MWK350,589.35
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$72.89
LSL1,340.30
|
$98.76
MWK171,254.34
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
?? |
$41.29
MWK71,589.58
|
|
pay 6.7 times more for childcare
|
Lesotho
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$29.35
LSL539.60
|
$354.75
MWK615,141.38
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$1,117.07
LSL20,539.71
|
$1,467.81
MWK2,545,174.85
|
|
pay 38.7% more for entertainment and sports
|
Lesotho
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$1.85
LSL34.10
|
$1.12
MWK1,941.09
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$1.29
LSL23.75
|
$2.91
MWK5,051.00
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$4.83
LSL88.77
|
$1.59
MWK2,751.05
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$21.77
LSL400.35
|
$51.33
MWK89,011.38
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema | ?? |
$3.95
MWK6,850.25
|
|
pay 24.3% less for clothing
|
Lesotho
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$42.60
LSL783.29
|
$45.22
MWK78,418.19
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$39.76
LSL731.07
|
$34.94
MWK60,590.97
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$100.35
LSL1,845.09
|
$59.17
MWK102,603.07
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$142.00
LSL2,610.98
|
$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 Lesotho. It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.
