Cost of living comparison
Malawi is 64.9% more expensive than Romania overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 31.4% less in Malawi
- Groceries
-
pay 27.4% more in Malawi
- Transportation
-
pay 47.8% more in Malawi
- Housing
-
pay 5.8 times more in Malawi
- Childcare
-
pay 44.5% less in Malawi
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 16.2% less in Malawi
- Clothing
-
pay 12.2% less in Malawi
The cost of housing, transportation, and groceries in Malawi are more expensive than in Romania. Expenses including childcare, restaurants, entertainment and sports, and clothing are lower in Malawi. Notably, housing is significantly more expensive in Malawi.
If you lived in Malawi instead of Romania, you would:
pay 31.4% less for restaurants
|
Romania
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$8.56
RON39.34
|
$4.32
MWK7,494.74
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$6.33
RON29.08
|
$9.04
MWK15,683.98
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$1.72
RON7.89
|
$0.87
MWK1,512.05
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.43
RON6.56
|
$0.43
MWK750.69
|
|
pay 27.4% more for groceries
|
Romania
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$1.08
RON4.95
|
$1.36
MWK2,366.81
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$3.79
RON17.42
|
$4.82
MWK8,356.21
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$5.46
RON25.09
|
$4.51
MWK7,827.43
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.83
RON13.00
|
$2.31
MWK3,999.89
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$2.70
RON12.41
|
$1.93
MWK3,339.52
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$0.47
RON2.17
|
$1.03
MWK1,794.51
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.66
RON3.02
|
$0.81
MWK1,404.13
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$0.65
RON2.97
|
$1.12
MWK1,940.10
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.85
RON3.90
|
$0.53
MWK914.14
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.38
RON1.73
|
$0.72
MWK1,248.08
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.41
RON1.88
|
$0.59
MWK1,016.74
|
|
pay 47.8% more for transportation
|
Romania
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$5.64
RON25.95
|
$6.19
MWK10,731.25
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$20.73
RON95.28
|
$4.32
MWK7,494.48
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$25,159.13
RON115,648.98
|
$35,669.17
MWK61,852,226.56
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$6.39
RON29.40
|
$20.40
MWK35,378.74
|
|
pay 5.8 times more for housing
|
Romania
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$8.45
RON38.83
|
$186.12
MWK322,750.31
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$363.94
RON1,672.92
|
$202.19
MWK350,601.13
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$266.85
RON1,226.64
|
$98.76
MWK171,260.10
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$107.36
RON493.52
|
$41.29
MWK71,591.98
|
|
pay 44.5% less for childcare
|
Romania
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$405.62
RON1,864.50
|
$354.75
MWK615,162.05
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$6,284.14
RON28,886.29
|
$1,467.81
MWK2,545,260.39
|
|
pay 16.2% less for entertainment and sports
|
Romania
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$2.01
RON9.26
|
$1.12
MWK1,941.15
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$2.20
RON10.13
|
$2.91
MWK5,051.17
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$5.30
RON24.36
|
$1.59
MWK2,751.14
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$37.40
RON171.92
|
$51.33
MWK89,014.37
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$6.19
RON28.45
|
$3.95
MWK6,850.48
|
|
pay 12.2% less for clothing
|
Romania
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$57.67
RON265.09
|
$45.22
MWK78,420.83
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$34.90
RON160.42
|
$34.94
MWK60,593.01
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$69.76
RON320.65
|
$59.17
MWK102,606.51
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$80.53
RON370.17
|
$70.71
MWK122,606.44
|
|
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