Cost of living comparison
Kenya is 24.5% more expensive than Malawi overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 23.6% less in Kenya
- Groceries
-
pay 31.7% less in Kenya
- Transportation
-
pay 2.4 times more in Kenya
- Housing
-
pay 32.9% less in Kenya
- Childcare
-
pay 2.4 times more in Kenya
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 30.7% more in Kenya
- Clothing
-
pay 51.9% less in Kenya
The cost of childcare, transportation, and entertainment and sports in Kenya are more expensive than in Malawi. Expenses including clothing, housing, groceries, and restaurants are lower in Kenya. Notably, childcare and transportation are significantly more expensive in Kenya.
If you lived in Kenya instead of Malawi, you would:
pay 23.6% less for restaurants
Malawi
|
Kenya
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$4.32
MWK7,492.67
|
$3.25
KES420.59
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.04
MWK15,679.65
|
$5.64
KES730.69
|
|
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.87
MWK1,511.64
|
$0.55
KES71.21
|
|
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.43
MWK750.48
|
$0.45
KES58.91
|
|
pay 31.7% less for groceries
Malawi
|
Kenya
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$1.36
MWK2,366.16
|
$0.50
KES64.97
|
|
Local cheese (8 oz) |
$4.82
MWK8,353.90
|
$3.85
KES499.12
|
|
Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.51
MWK7,825.27
|
$2.73
KES353.44
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.31
MWK3,998.79
|
$1.59
KES205.74
|
|
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$1.93
MWK3,338.60
|
$2.20
KES284.83
|
|
Apples (1 lb) |
$1.03
MWK1,794.01
|
$1.10
KES142.83
|
|
Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.81
MWK1,403.74
|
$0.44
KES56.94
|
|
Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.12
MWK1,939.57
|
$0.66
KES85.14
|
|
Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.53
MWK913.88
|
$0.33
KES42.11
|
|
Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.72
MWK1,247.73
|
$0.30
KES39.00
|
|
Onions (1 lb) |
$0.59
MWK1,016.45
|
$0.40
KES51.20
|
|
pay 2.4 times more for transportation
Malawi
|
Kenya
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$6.19
MWK10,728.28
|
$5.65
KES732.18
|
|
Monthly public transit pass |
$4.32
MWK7,492.41
|
$32.71
KES4,236.16
|
|
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$35,669.17
MWK61,835,128.62
|
$16,627.25
KES2,153,228.74
|
|
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$20.40
MWK35,368.96
|
$10.53
KES1,363.96
|
|
pay 32.9% less for housing
Malawi
|
Kenya
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$186.12
MWK322,661.09
|
$38.26
KES4,954.18
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$202.19
MWK350,504.22
|
$175.35
KES22,707.97
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$98.76
MWK171,212.76
|
$99.93
KES12,940.45
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$41.29
MWK71,572.19
|
$24.70
KES3,199.00
|
|
pay 2.4 times more for childcare
Malawi
|
Kenya
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$354.75
MWK614,992.00
|
$135.79
KES17,585.42
|
|
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$1,467.81
MWK2,544,556.79
|
$6,611.54
KES856,194.26
|
|
pay 30.7% more for entertainment and sports
Malawi
|
Kenya
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$1.12
MWK1,940.61
|
$1.99
KES258.06
|
|
Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$2.91
MWK5,049.77
|
$2.16
KES279.99
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$1.59
MWK2,750.38
|
$2.93
KES379.25
|
|
Monthly membership at local gym |
$51.33
MWK88,989.76
|
$28.98
KES3,753.20
|
|
Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$3.95
MWK6,848.59
|
$6.33
KES819.80
|
|
pay 51.9% less for clothing
Malawi
|
Kenya
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$45.22
MWK78,399.15
|
$12.19
KES1,578.43
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$34.94
MWK60,576.26
|
$19.75
KES2,557.62
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$59.17
MWK102,578.15
|
$35.28
KES4,569.17
|
|
Men's business shoes (leather) |
$70.71
MWK122,572.55
|
$34.91
KES4,520.78
|
|
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