Cost of living comparison
Malawi is 42.3% more expensive than Malaysia overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 50.2% more in Malawi
- Groceries
-
pay 8.5% more in Malawi
- Transportation
-
pay 93.8% more in Malawi
- Housing
-
pay 2.4 times more in Malawi
- Childcare
-
pay 19.5% more in Malawi
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 15.1% less in Malawi
- Clothing
-
pay 3.5% more in Malawi
The cost of housing, transportation, restaurants, childcare, groceries, and clothing in Malawi are more expensive than in Malaysia. Notably, housing and transportation are significantly more expensive in Malawi.
If you lived in Malawi instead of Malaysia, you would:
pay 50.2% more for restaurants
|
Malaysia
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$2.98
MYR13.20
|
$4.32
MWK7,494.74
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$4.23
MYR18.75
|
$9.04
MWK15,683.98
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.68
MYR3.01
|
$0.87
MWK1,512.05
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.38
MYR1.69
|
$0.43
MWK750.69
|
|
pay 8.5% more for groceries
|
Malaysia
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$0.91
MYR4.05
|
$1.36
MWK2,366.81
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$7.65
MYR33.92
|
$4.82
MWK8,356.21
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$6.39
MYR28.32
|
$4.51
MWK7,827.43
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$1.97
MYR8.74
|
$2.31
MWK3,999.89
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$1.83
MYR8.12
|
$1.93
MWK3,339.52
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.17
MYR5.20
|
$1.03
MWK1,794.51
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.57
MYR2.53
|
$0.81
MWK1,404.13
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.21
MYR5.38
|
$1.12
MWK1,940.10
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.63
MYR2.80
|
$0.53
MWK914.14
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.43
MYR1.91
|
$0.72
MWK1,248.08
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.51
MYR2.26
|
$0.59
MWK1,016.74
|
|
pay 93.8% more for transportation
|
Malaysia
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$1.77
MYR7.85
|
$6.19
MWK10,731.25
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$15.69
MYR69.55
|
$4.32
MWK7,494.48
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$34,330.57
MYR152,204.60
|
$35,669.17
MWK61,852,226.56
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$6.94
MYR30.76
|
$20.40
MWK35,378.74
|
|
pay 2.4 times more for housing
|
Malaysia
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$26.31
MYR116.67
|
$186.12
MWK322,750.31
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$322.80
MYR1,431.14
|
$202.19
MWK350,601.13
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$212.35
MYR941.45
|
$98.76
MWK171,260.10
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$33.00
MYR146.30
|
$41.29
MWK71,591.98
|
|
pay 19.5% more for childcare
|
Malaysia
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$163.68
MYR725.67
|
$354.75
MWK615,162.05
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$6,626.64
MYR29,379.21
|
$1,467.81
MWK2,545,260.39
|
|
pay 15.1% less for entertainment and sports
|
Malaysia
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$3.66
MYR16.22
|
$1.12
MWK1,941.15
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$2.54
MYR11.26
|
$2.91
MWK5,051.17
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$4.07
MYR18.03
|
$1.59
MWK2,751.14
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$36.32
MYR161.03
|
$51.33
MWK89,014.37
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$4.00
MYR17.72
|
$3.95
MWK6,850.48
|
|
pay 3.5% more for clothing
|
Malaysia
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$53.15
MYR235.64
|
$45.22
MWK78,420.83
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$30.13
MYR133.57
|
$34.94
MWK60,593.01
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$65.18
MYR288.96
|
$59.17
MWK102,606.51
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$57.93
MYR256.85
|
$70.71
MWK122,606.44
|
|
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