Cost of living comparison
Malawi is 33.4% more expensive than Sao Tome and Principe overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 47.0% less in Malawi
- Groceries
-
pay 23.0% less in Malawi
- Transportation
-
pay 7.8% more in Malawi
- Housing
-
pay 45.5% less in Malawi
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 5.7% more in Malawi
- Clothing
-
pay 4.0 times more in Malawi
The cost of clothing, transportation, and entertainment and sports in Malawi are more expensive than in Sao Tome and Principe. Expenses including restaurants, housing, and groceries are lower in Malawi. Notably, clothing is significantly more expensive in Malawi.
If you lived in Malawi instead of Sao Tome and Principe, you would:
pay 47.0% less for restaurants
|
Sao Tome and Principe
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$18.76
STD417,914
|
$4.32
MWK7,472.10
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.11
STD202,987
|
$9.04
MWK15,636.60
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$1.76
STD39,244
|
$0.87
MWK1,507.49
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.07
STD23,881
|
$0.43
MWK748.42
|
|
pay 23.0% less for groceries
|
Sao Tome and Principe
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$0.95
STD21,104
|
$1.36
MWK2,359.67
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$9.38
STD208,957
|
$4.82
MWK8,330.97
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.73
STD105,465
|
$4.51
MWK7,803.79
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.92
STD87,436
|
$2.31
MWK3,987.81
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$8.51
STD189,563
|
$1.93
MWK3,329.43
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.46
STD32,496
|
$1.03
MWK1,789.08
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.49
STD10,832
|
$0.81
MWK1,399.88
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.70
STD37,913
|
$1.12
MWK1,934.24
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.46
STD32,496
|
$0.53
MWK911.37
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.09
STD24,372
|
$0.72
MWK1,244.31
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.85
STD18,956
|
$0.59
MWK1,013.66
|
|
pay 7.8% more for transportation
|
Sao Tome and Principe
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$5.74
STD127,914
|
$6.19
MWK10,698.83
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass | ?? |
$4.32
MWK7,471.84
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) | ?? |
$35,669.17
MWK61,665,381.09
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) | ?? |
$20.40
MWK35,271.86
|
|
pay 45.5% less for housing
|
Sao Tome and Principe
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
?? |
$186.12
MWK321,775.33
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$321.53
STD7,164,243
|
$202.19
MWK349,542.03
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$214.35
STD4,776,162
|
$98.76
MWK170,742.75
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
?? |
$41.29
MWK71,375.72
|
|
pay (unknown) more for childcare
|
Sao Tome and Principe
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly | ?? |
$354.75
MWK613,303.75
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters | ?? |
$1,467.81
MWK2,537,571.57
|
pay 5.7% more for entertainment and sports
|
Sao Tome and Principe
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$1.09
STD24,239
|
$1.12
MWK1,935.29
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$1.61
STD35,821
|
$2.91
MWK5,035.91
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$2.14
STD47,762
|
$1.59
MWK2,742.83
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$34.30
STD764,186
|
$51.33
MWK88,745.47
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$19.29
STD429,855
|
$3.95
MWK6,829.78
|
|
pay 4.0 times more for clothing
|
Sao Tome and Principe
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
?? |
$45.22
MWK78,183.93
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
?? |
$34.94
MWK60,409.97
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
?? |
$59.17
MWK102,296.56
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$17.58
STD391,645
|
$70.71
MWK122,236.07
|
|
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