Cost of living comparison
Botswana is 34.5% more expensive than Malawi overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 12.0% more in Botswana
- Groceries
-
pay 10.2% less in Botswana
- Transportation
-
pay 2.2 times more in Botswana
- Housing
-
pay 11.4% more in Botswana
- Childcare
-
pay 52.8% more in Botswana
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 50.4% more in Botswana
- Clothing
-
pay 5.4% more in Botswana
The cost of transportation, childcare, entertainment and sports, restaurants, housing, and clothing in Botswana are more expensive than in Malawi. Notably, transportation is significantly more expensive in Botswana.
If you lived in Botswana instead of Malawi, you would:
pay 12.0% more for restaurants
|
Malawi
|
Botswana
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$4.32
MWK7,494.74
|
$7.50
BWP102.39
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.04
MWK15,683.98
|
$6.00
BWP81.91
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.87
MWK1,512.05
|
$0.83
BWP11.37
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.43
MWK750.69
|
$0.49
BWP6.67
|
|
pay 10.2% less for groceries
|
Malawi
|
Botswana
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$1.36
MWK2,366.81
|
$0.81
BWP11.10
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$4.82
MWK8,356.21
|
$3.37
BWP46.01
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.51
MWK7,827.43
|
$5.06
BWP69.13
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.31
MWK3,999.89
|
$2.29
BWP31.29
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$1.93
MWK3,339.52
|
$2.27
BWP31.06
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.03
MWK1,794.51
|
$0.77
BWP10.57
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.81
MWK1,404.13
|
$0.62
BWP8.46
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.12
MWK1,940.10
|
$0.88
BWP12.07
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.53
MWK914.14
|
$0.65
BWP8.82
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.72
MWK1,248.08
|
$0.60
BWP8.16
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.59
MWK1,016.74
|
$0.55
BWP7.48
|
|
pay 2.2 times more for transportation
|
Malawi
|
Botswana
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$6.19
MWK10,731.25
|
$4.27
BWP58.37
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$4.32
MWK7,494.48
|
$28.18
BWP385.00
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$35,669.17
MWK61,852,226.56
|
$22,486.26
BWP307,179.73
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$20.40
MWK35,378.74
|
$19.49
BWP266.22
|
|
pay 11.4% more for housing
|
Malawi
|
Botswana
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$186.12
MWK322,750.31
|
$90.60
BWP1,237.68
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$202.19
MWK350,601.13
|
$254.84
BWP3,481.37
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$98.76
MWK171,260.10
|
$149.91
BWP2,047.86
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$41.29
MWK71,591.98
|
$49.21
BWP672.27
|
|
pay 52.8% more for childcare
|
Malawi
|
Botswana
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$354.75
MWK615,162.05
|
$180.24
BWP2,462.24
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$1,467.81
MWK2,545,260.39
|
$3,740.68
BWP51,100.63
|
|
pay 50.4% more for entertainment and sports
|
Malawi
|
Botswana
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$1.12
MWK1,941.15
|
$2.25
BWP30.72
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$2.91
MWK5,051.17
|
$2.37
BWP32.37
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$1.59
MWK2,751.14
|
$3.75
BWP51.20
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$51.33
MWK89,014.37
|
$32.19
BWP439.72
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$3.95
MWK6,850.48
|
$6.75
BWP92.15
|
|
pay 5.4% more for clothing
|
Malawi
|
Botswana
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$45.22
MWK78,420.83
|
$44.14
BWP602.98
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$34.94
MWK60,593.01
|
$22.17
BWP302.79
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$59.17
MWK102,606.51
|
$76.20
BWP1,041.00
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$70.71
MWK122,606.44
|
$93.16
BWP1,272.60
|
|
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