Cost of living comparison
Malawi is 2.1 times more expensive than Somalia overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 37.4% more in Malawi
- Groceries
-
pay 9.2% more in Malawi
- Transportation
-
pay 2.7 times more in Malawi
- Housing
-
pay 2.2 times more in Malawi
- Childcare
-
pay 4.2 times more in Malawi
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 24.0% more in Malawi
- Clothing
-
pay 94.3% more in Malawi
The cost of childcare, transportation, housing, clothing, restaurants, and entertainment and sports in Malawi are more expensive than in Somalia. Notably, childcare, transportation, and housing are significantly more expensive in Malawi.
If you lived in Malawi instead of Somalia, you would:
pay 37.4% more for restaurants
|
Somalia
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$2.65
SOS1,514
|
$4.32
MWK7,494.49
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$4.67
SOS2,667
|
$9.04
MWK15,683.46
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.81
SOS462
|
$0.87
MWK1,512.00
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.51
SOS292
|
$0.43
MWK750.66
|
|
pay 9.2% more for groceries
|
Somalia
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$0.97
SOS556
|
$1.36
MWK2,366.74
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$1.96
SOS1,119
|
$4.82
MWK8,355.93
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$5.93
SOS3,389
|
$4.51
MWK7,827.17
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.21
SOS1,262
|
$2.31
MWK3,999.76
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$2.67
SOS1,526
|
$1.93
MWK3,339.41
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.73
SOS987
|
$1.03
MWK1,794.45
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.88
SOS505
|
$0.81
MWK1,404.08
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.32
SOS752
|
$1.12
MWK1,940.04
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.54
SOS311
|
$0.53
MWK914.11
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.60
SOS343
|
$0.72
MWK1,248.04
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.54
SOS310
|
$0.59
MWK1,016.70
|
|
pay 2.7 times more for transportation
|
Somalia
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.12
SOS2,355
|
$6.19
MWK10,730.89
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$25.00
SOS14,285
|
$4.32
MWK7,494.23
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$5,750.00
SOS3,285,536
|
$35,669.17
MWK61,850,147.98
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$7.43
SOS4,247
|
$20.40
MWK35,377.55
|
|
pay 2.2 times more for housing
|
Somalia
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$30.62
SOS17,499
|
$186.12
MWK322,739.46
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$160.00
SOS91,424
|
$202.19
MWK350,589.35
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$93.33
SOS53,330
|
$98.76
MWK171,254.34
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$94.31
SOS53,891
|
$41.29
MWK71,589.58
|
|
pay 4.2 times more for childcare
|
Somalia
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$55.21
SOS31,546
|
$354.75
MWK615,141.38
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$742.50
SOS424,263
|
$1,467.81
MWK2,545,174.85
|
|
pay 24.0% more for entertainment and sports
|
Somalia
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$7.00
SOS4,000
|
$1.12
MWK1,941.09
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$1.24
SOS706
|
$2.91
MWK5,051.00
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$1.34
SOS769
|
$1.59
MWK2,751.05
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$30.00
SOS17,142
|
$51.33
MWK89,011.38
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$5.00
SOS2,857
|
$3.95
MWK6,850.25
|
|
pay 94.3% more for clothing
|
Somalia
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$18.61
SOS10,634
|
$45.22
MWK78,418.19
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$23.11
SOS13,206
|
$34.94
MWK60,590.97
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$25.89
SOS14,793
|
$59.17
MWK102,603.07
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$45.78
SOS26,157
|
$70.71
MWK122,602.32
|
|
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