Cost of living comparison
Malawi is 2.4 times more expensive than Russia overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 26.6% more in Malawi
- Groceries
-
pay 85.7% more in Malawi
- Transportation
-
pay 2.4 times more in Malawi
- Housing
-
pay 8.2 times more in Malawi
- Childcare
-
pay 7.8% more in Malawi
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 22.1% more in Malawi
- Clothing
-
pay 9.8% less in Malawi
The cost of housing, transportation, groceries, restaurants, entertainment and sports, and childcare in Malawi are more expensive than in Russia. Notably, housing, transportation, and groceries are significantly more expensive in Malawi.
If you lived in Malawi instead of Russia, you would:
pay 26.6% more for restaurants
|
Russia
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$6.51
RUB538.36
|
$4.32
MWK7,517.36
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$4.14
RUB342.64
|
$9.04
MWK15,731.32
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.80
RUB65.98
|
$0.87
MWK1,516.62
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.38
RUB31.79
|
$0.43
MWK752.95
|
|
pay 85.7% more for groceries
|
Russia
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$0.47
RUB38.75
|
$1.36
MWK2,373.96
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$3.72
RUB307.26
|
$4.82
MWK8,381.43
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.07
RUB254.08
|
$4.51
MWK7,851.06
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$1.21
RUB100.15
|
$2.31
MWK4,011.97
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$1.66
RUB136.96
|
$1.93
MWK3,349.60
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$0.54
RUB44.79
|
$1.03
MWK1,799.92
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.55
RUB45.59
|
$0.81
MWK1,408.36
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$0.71
RUB59.02
|
$1.12
MWK1,945.96
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.89
RUB73.29
|
$0.53
MWK916.90
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.22
RUB17.89
|
$0.72
MWK1,251.84
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.21
RUB17.23
|
$0.59
MWK1,019.80
|
|
pay 2.4 times more for transportation
|
Russia
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$2.12
RUB175.20
|
$6.19
MWK10,763.64
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$17.67
RUB1,460.99
|
$4.32
MWK7,517.10
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$26,642.44
RUB2,203,303.35
|
$35,669.17
MWK62,038,896.33
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$4.15
RUB343.21
|
$20.40
MWK35,485.51
|
|
pay 8.2 times more for housing
|
Russia
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$5.97
RUB494.07
|
$186.12
MWK323,724.36
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$304.49
RUB25,181.31
|
$202.19
MWK351,659.25
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$210.86
RUB17,437.55
|
$98.76
MWK171,776.96
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$64.94
RUB5,370.35
|
$41.29
MWK71,808.05
|
|
pay 7.8% more for childcare
|
Russia
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$190.09
RUB15,720.46
|
$354.75
MWK617,018.61
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$5,074.52
RUB419,657.82
|
$1,467.81
MWK2,552,941.97
|
|
pay 22.1% more for entertainment and sports
|
Russia
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$1.42
RUB117.65
|
$1.12
MWK1,947.01
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$1.67
RUB138.16
|
$2.91
MWK5,066.41
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$2.10
RUB173.48
|
$1.59
MWK2,759.44
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$28.15
RUB2,328.34
|
$51.33
MWK89,283.01
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$3.97
RUB328.59
|
$3.95
MWK6,871.15
|
|
pay 9.8% less for clothing
|
Russia
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$51.85
RUB4,287.82
|
$45.22
MWK78,657.50
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$33.92
RUB2,805.27
|
$34.94
MWK60,775.88
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$76.53
RUB6,328.69
|
$59.17
MWK102,916.18
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$75.61
RUB6,253.00
|
$70.71
MWK122,976.47
|
|
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