Cost of living comparison

 Saudi Arabia
compared to
 Malawi
Malawi vs. Saudi Arabia Cost of Living Summary

Malawi is 7.1% cheaper than Saudi Arabia overall.

Restaurants
pay 19.6% more in Malawi
Groceries
pay 2.0% more in Malawi
Transportation
pay 32.7% more in Malawi
Housing
pay 3.4% less in Malawi
Childcare
pay 29.3% less in Malawi
Entertainment and Sports
pay 50.9% less in Malawi
Clothing
pay 20.1% less in Malawi

The cost of transportation, restaurants, and groceries in Malawi are more expensive than in Saudi Arabia. Expenses including entertainment and sports, childcare, clothing, and housing are lower in Malawi.

Malawi vs. Saudi Arabia Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Malawi instead of Saudi Arabia, you would:

pay 19.6% more for restaurants

 
Saudi Arabia
Malawi
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $6.73
SAR25.24
$4.32
MWK7,476.01
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$7.54
SAR28.28
$9.04
MWK15,644.79
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $0.74
SAR2.76
$0.87
MWK1,508.28

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pay 2.0% more for groceries

 
Saudi Arabia
Malawi
Bread
1 loaf
$0.94
SAR3.54
$1.36
MWK2,360.90
Local cheese (8 oz) $3.87
SAR14.52
$4.82
MWK8,335.33
Milk (1 gallon) $6.76
SAR25.38
$4.51
MWK7,807.87

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pay 32.7% more for transportation

 
Saudi Arabia
Malawi
Gasoline (1 gallon) $2.30
SAR8.63
$6.19
MWK10,704.43
Monthly public transit pass $44.62
SAR167.39
$4.32
MWK7,475.76
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $25,543.44
SAR95,819.36
$35,669.17
MWK61,697,668.50

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pay 3.4% less for housing

 
Saudi Arabia
Malawi
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$74.43
SAR279.20
$186.12
MWK321,943.81
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $384.32
SAR1,441.68
$202.19
MWK349,725.04
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $279.56
SAR1,048.71
$98.76
MWK170,832.15

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pay 29.3% less for childcare

 
Saudi Arabia
Malawi
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $303.07
SAR1,136.89
$354.75
MWK613,624.87
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $6,063.63
SAR22,746.08
$1,467.81
MWK2,538,900.22

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pay 50.9% less for entertainment and sports

 
Saudi Arabia
Malawi
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $1.70
SAR6.39
$1.12
MWK1,936.30
Cappuccino in mid-range area $3.57
SAR13.37
$2.91
MWK5,038.54
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$7.18
SAR26.94
$1.59
MWK2,744.26

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pay 20.1% less for clothing

 
Saudi Arabia
Malawi
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$42.91
SAR160.96
$45.22
MWK78,224.87
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$58.28
SAR218.61
$34.94
MWK60,441.60
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$91.66
SAR343.83
$59.17
MWK102,350.12

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The statistics used to build this comparison are calculated using data from users just like you. We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Learn more about our data sources. Page last updated: March 2025
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