Cost of living comparison
Malawi is 15.5% more expensive than South Africa overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 3.1% less in Malawi
- Groceries
-
pay 21.4% more in Malawi
- Transportation
-
pay 36.0% more in Malawi
- Housing
-
pay 46.1% more in Malawi
- Childcare
-
pay 20.1% more in Malawi
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 0.8% less in Malawi
- Clothing
-
pay 10.9% less in Malawi
The cost of housing, transportation, groceries, and childcare in Malawi are more expensive than in South Africa. Expenses including clothing, restaurants, and entertainment and sports are lower in Malawi.
If you lived in Malawi instead of South Africa, you would:
pay 3.1% less for restaurants
|
South Africa
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$8.97
ZAR171.66
|
$4.32
MWK7,494.49
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$4.77
ZAR91.27
|
$9.04
MWK15,683.46
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.95
ZAR18.26
|
$0.87
MWK1,512.00
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.74
ZAR14.18
|
$0.43
MWK750.66
|
|
pay 21.4% more for groceries
|
South Africa
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$0.99
ZAR18.95
|
$1.36
MWK2,366.74
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$3.67
ZAR70.31
|
$4.82
MWK8,355.93
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.20
ZAR80.33
|
$4.51
MWK7,827.17
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.23
ZAR42.61
|
$2.31
MWK3,999.76
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$2.03
ZAR38.80
|
$1.93
MWK3,339.41
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$0.68
ZAR12.95
|
$1.03
MWK1,794.45
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.62
ZAR11.81
|
$0.81
MWK1,404.08
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$0.64
ZAR12.28
|
$1.12
MWK1,940.04
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.70
ZAR13.37
|
$0.53
MWK914.11
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.55
ZAR10.59
|
$0.72
MWK1,248.04
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.61
ZAR11.65
|
$0.59
MWK1,016.70
|
|
pay 36.0% more for transportation
|
South Africa
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.99
ZAR95.45
|
$6.19
MWK10,730.89
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$52.31
ZAR1,000.84
|
$4.32
MWK7,494.23
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$20,607.77
ZAR394,278.10
|
$35,669.17
MWK61,850,147.98
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$8.55
ZAR163.56
|
$20.40
MWK35,377.55
|
|
pay 46.1% more for housing
|
South Africa
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$41.37
ZAR791.50
|
$186.12
MWK322,739.46
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$382.55
ZAR7,319.21
|
$202.19
MWK350,589.35
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$326.35
ZAR6,243.84
|
$98.76
MWK171,254.34
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$80.40
ZAR1,538.22
|
$41.29
MWK71,589.58
|
|
pay 20.1% more for childcare
|
South Africa
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$174.12
ZAR3,331.28
|
$354.75
MWK615,141.38
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$4,033.53
ZAR77,171.46
|
$1,467.81
MWK2,545,174.85
|
|
pay 0.8% less for entertainment and sports
|
South Africa
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$2.11
ZAR40.33
|
$1.12
MWK1,941.09
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$1.88
ZAR36.02
|
$2.91
MWK5,051.00
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$2.90
ZAR55.57
|
$1.59
MWK2,751.05
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$29.50
ZAR564.42
|
$51.33
MWK89,011.38
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$6.62
ZAR126.68
|
$3.95
MWK6,850.25
|
|
pay 10.9% less for clothing
|
South Africa
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$47.72
ZAR912.91
|
$45.22
MWK78,418.19
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$32.06
ZAR613.37
|
$34.94
MWK60,590.97
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$90.39
ZAR1,729.36
|
$59.17
MWK102,603.07
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$81.37
ZAR1,556.75
|
$70.71
MWK122,602.32
|
|
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