Cost of living comparison
Rwanda is 42.2% more expensive than Malawi overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 11.2% less in Rwanda
- Groceries
-
pay 25.6% less in Rwanda
- Transportation
-
pay 90.3% more in Rwanda
- Housing
-
pay 51.1% more in Rwanda
- Childcare
-
pay 3.5 times more in Rwanda
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 4.9% less in Rwanda
- Clothing
-
pay 52.9% less in Rwanda
The cost of childcare, transportation, and housing in Rwanda are more expensive than in Malawi. Expenses including clothing, groceries, restaurants, and entertainment and sports are lower in Rwanda. Notably, childcare and transportation are significantly more expensive in Rwanda.
If you lived in Rwanda instead of Malawi, you would:
pay 11.2% less for restaurants
|
Malawi
|
Rwanda
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$4.32
MWK7,494.74
|
$3.26
RWF4,700
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.04
MWK15,683.98
|
$6.16
RWF8,879
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.87
MWK1,512.05
|
$0.89
RWF1,288
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.43
MWK750.69
|
$0.47
RWF679
|
|
pay 25.6% less for groceries
|
Malawi
|
Rwanda
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$1.36
MWK2,366.81
|
$1.01
RWF1,453
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$4.82
MWK8,356.21
|
$2.26
RWF3,252
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.51
MWK7,827.43
|
$2.66
RWF3,826
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.31
MWK3,999.89
|
$1.67
RWF2,402
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$1.93
MWK3,339.52
|
$2.19
RWF3,159
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.03
MWK1,794.51
|
$1.38
RWF1,984
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.81
MWK1,404.13
|
$0.52
RWF751
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.12
MWK1,940.10
|
$0.86
RWF1,237
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.53
MWK914.14
|
$0.48
RWF696
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.72
MWK1,248.08
|
$0.22
RWF324
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.59
MWK1,016.74
|
$0.33
RWF468
|
|
pay 90.3% more for transportation
|
Malawi
|
Rwanda
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$6.19
MWK10,731.25
|
$4.48
RWF6,452
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$4.32
MWK7,494.48
|
$24.66
RWF35,515
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$35,669.17
MWK61,852,226.56
|
$20,668.41
RWF29,769,562
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$20.40
MWK35,378.74
|
$12.33
RWF17,757
|
|
pay 51.1% more for housing
|
Malawi
|
Rwanda
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$186.12
MWK322,750.31
|
$26.20
RWF37,734
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$202.19
MWK350,601.13
|
$489.52
RWF705,069
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$98.76
MWK171,260.10
|
$271.95
RWF391,705
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$41.29
MWK71,591.98
|
$30.04
RWF43,267
|
|
pay 3.5 times more for childcare
|
Malawi
|
Rwanda
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$354.75
MWK615,162.05
|
$149.39
RWF215,176
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$1,467.81
MWK2,545,260.39
|
$9,609.00
RWF13,840,235
|
|
pay 4.9% less for entertainment and sports
|
Malawi
|
Rwanda
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$1.12
MWK1,941.15
|
$1.09
RWF1,567
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$2.91
MWK5,051.17
|
$2.22
RWF3,192
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$1.59
MWK2,751.14
|
$2.36
RWF3,395
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$51.33
MWK89,014.37
|
$31.83
RWF45,844
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$3.95
MWK6,850.48
|
$3.63
RWF5,223
|
|
pay 52.9% less for clothing
|
Malawi
|
Rwanda
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$45.22
MWK78,420.83
|
$16.68
RWF24,025
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$34.94
MWK60,593.01
|
$21.76
RWF31,336
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$59.17
MWK102,606.51
|
$26.59
RWF38,300
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$70.71
MWK122,606.44
|
$31.43
RWF45,264
|
|
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