Cost of living comparison
Lesotho is 15.5% more expensive than Malawi overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 23.8% more in Lesotho
- Groceries
-
pay 2.9% more in Lesotho
- Transportation
-
pay 2.0 times more in Lesotho
- Housing
-
pay 47.6% less in Lesotho
- Childcare
-
pay 57.8% less in Lesotho
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 39.1% more in Lesotho
- Clothing
-
pay 44.6% more in Lesotho
The cost of transportation, clothing, entertainment and sports, restaurants, and groceries in Lesotho are more expensive than in Malawi. Expenses including childcare and housing are lower in Lesotho. Notably, transportation is significantly more expensive in Lesotho.
If you lived in Lesotho instead of Malawi, you would:
pay 23.8% more for restaurants
|
Malawi
|
Lesotho
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$4.32
MWK7,494.49
|
?? | |
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.04
MWK15,683.46
|
$11.58
LSL212.95
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.87
MWK1,512.00
|
$1.03
LSL18.92
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.43
MWK750.66
|
$0.54
LSL9.97
|
|
pay 2.9% more for groceries
|
Malawi
|
Lesotho
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$1.36
MWK2,366.74
|
$0.82
LSL15.09
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$4.82
MWK8,355.93
|
$2.67
LSL49.08
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.51
MWK7,827.17
|
$3.65
LSL67.09
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.31
MWK3,999.76
|
$1.28
LSL23.48
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$1.93
MWK3,339.41
|
$3.09
LSL56.85
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.03
MWK1,794.45
|
$0.88
LSL16.23
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.81
MWK1,404.08
|
$1.00
LSL18.48
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.12
MWK1,940.04
|
$0.99
LSL18.16
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.53
MWK914.11
|
$1.16
LSL21.32
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.72
MWK1,248.04
|
$0.61
LSL11.21
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.59
MWK1,016.70
|
$0.69
LSL12.63
|
|
pay 2.0 times more for transportation
|
Malawi
|
Lesotho
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$6.19
MWK10,730.89
|
$4.64
LSL85.24
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$4.32
MWK7,494.23
|
$28.40
LSL522.20
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$35,669.17
MWK61,850,147.98
|
$19,879.98
LSL365,537.14
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$20.40
MWK35,377.55
|
$5.62
LSL103.39
|
|
pay 47.6% less for housing
|
Malawi
|
Lesotho
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$186.12
MWK322,739.46
|
$22.72
LSL417.76
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$202.19
MWK350,589.35
|
$143.89
LSL2,645.79
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$98.76
MWK171,254.34
|
$72.89
LSL1,340.30
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$41.29
MWK71,589.58
|
?? | |
pay 57.8% less for childcare
|
Malawi
|
Lesotho
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$354.75
MWK615,141.38
|
$29.35
LSL539.60
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$1,467.81
MWK2,545,174.85
|
$1,117.07
LSL20,539.71
|
|
pay 39.1% more for entertainment and sports
|
Malawi
|
Lesotho
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$1.12
MWK1,941.09
|
$1.85
LSL34.10
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$2.91
MWK5,051.00
|
$1.29
LSL23.75
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$1.59
MWK2,751.05
|
$4.83
LSL88.77
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$51.33
MWK89,011.38
|
$21.77
LSL400.35
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$3.95
MWK6,850.25
|
?? | |
pay 44.6% more for clothing
|
Malawi
|
Lesotho
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$45.22
MWK78,418.19
|
$42.60
LSL783.29
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$34.94
MWK60,590.97
|
$39.76
LSL731.07
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$59.17
MWK102,603.07
|
$100.35
LSL1,845.09
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$70.71
MWK122,602.32
|
$142.00
LSL2,610.98
|
|
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