Cost of living comparison
Malawi is 15.7% more expensive than Taiwan overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 13.6% more in Malawi
- Groceries
-
pay 30.9% less in Malawi
- Transportation
-
pay 27.1% more in Malawi
- Housing
-
pay 2.9 times more in Malawi
- Childcare
-
pay 57.4% less in Malawi
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 19.0% less in Malawi
- Clothing
-
pay 12.6% less in Malawi
The cost of housing, transportation, and restaurants in Malawi are more expensive than in Taiwan. Expenses including childcare, groceries, entertainment and sports, and clothing are lower in Malawi. Notably, housing is significantly more expensive in Malawi.
If you lived in Malawi instead of Taiwan, you would:
pay 13.6% more for restaurants
|
Taiwan
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$4.21
NT$139.58
|
$4.32
MWK7,494.49
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$4.80
NT$159.33
|
$9.04
MWK15,683.46
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.95
NT$31.46
|
$0.87
MWK1,512.00
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.61
NT$20.25
|
$0.43
MWK750.66
|
|
pay 30.9% less for groceries
|
Taiwan
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$1.76
NT$58.46
|
$1.36
MWK2,366.74
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$7.11
NT$236.03
|
$4.82
MWK8,355.93
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$11.33
NT$375.97
|
$4.51
MWK7,827.17
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.53
NT$84.06
|
$2.31
MWK3,999.76
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$3.21
NT$106.51
|
$1.93
MWK3,339.41
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.77
NT$58.80
|
$1.03
MWK1,794.45
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.80
NT$26.51
|
$0.81
MWK1,404.08
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.10
NT$36.38
|
$1.12
MWK1,940.04
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.27
NT$42.04
|
$0.53
MWK914.11
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.21
NT$40.09
|
$0.72
MWK1,248.04
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.96
NT$31.75
|
$0.59
MWK1,016.70
|
|
pay 27.1% more for transportation
|
Taiwan
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.59
NT$119.13
|
$6.19
MWK10,730.89
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$37.87
NT$1,256.84
|
$4.32
MWK7,494.23
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$33,524.98
NT$1,112,620.34
|
$35,669.17
MWK61,850,147.98
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$9.35
NT$310.19
|
$20.40
MWK35,377.55
|
|
pay 2.9 times more for housing
|
Taiwan
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$18.76
NT$622.66
|
$186.12
MWK322,739.46
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$386.89
NT$12,840.14
|
$202.19
MWK350,589.35
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$269.95
NT$8,959.01
|
$98.76
MWK171,254.34
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$54.00
NT$1,792.19
|
$41.29
MWK71,589.58
|
|
pay 57.4% less for childcare
|
Taiwan
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$472.11
NT$15,668.25
|
$354.75
MWK615,141.38
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$14,471.45
NT$480,275.54
|
$1,467.81
MWK2,545,174.85
|
|
pay 19.0% less for entertainment and sports
|
Taiwan
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$1.82
NT$60.43
|
$1.12
MWK1,941.09
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$2.59
NT$85.97
|
$2.91
MWK5,051.00
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$4.00
NT$132.66
|
$1.59
MWK2,751.05
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$34.52
NT$1,145.63
|
$51.33
MWK89,011.38
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$9.29
NT$308.19
|
$3.95
MWK6,850.25
|
|
pay 12.6% less for clothing
|
Taiwan
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$63.92
NT$2,121.48
|
$45.22
MWK78,418.19
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$28.11
NT$932.96
|
$34.94
MWK60,590.97
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$76.13
NT$2,526.55
|
$59.17
MWK102,603.07
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$91.74
NT$3,044.55
|
$70.71
MWK122,602.32
|
|
Change currency:
Help us improve these prices
ASK THE ELSEWHERE COMMUNITY
Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about Malawi or Taiwan. It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.