Cost of living comparison
Malawi is 87.2% more expensive than Tonga overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 52.9% less in Malawi
- Groceries
-
pay 28.6% less in Malawi
- Transportation
-
pay 89.3% more in Malawi
- Housing
-
pay 11.9% less in Malawi
- Childcare
-
pay 4.0 times more in Malawi
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 36.0% less in Malawi
- Clothing
-
pay 4.5 times more in Malawi
The cost of clothing, childcare, and transportation in Malawi are more expensive than in Tonga. Expenses including restaurants, entertainment and sports, groceries, and housing are lower in Malawi. Notably, clothing, childcare, and transportation are significantly more expensive in Malawi.
If you lived in Malawi instead of Tonga, you would:
pay 52.9% less for restaurants
|
Tonga
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$8.40
TOP20.23
|
$4.32
MWK7,494.74
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$10.50
TOP25.29
|
$9.04
MWK15,683.98
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.66
TOP6.41
|
$0.87
MWK1,512.05
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.38
TOP5.73
|
$0.43
MWK750.69
|
|
pay 28.6% less for groceries
|
Tonga
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$1.05
TOP2.53
|
$1.36
MWK2,366.81
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$4.55
TOP10.96
|
$4.82
MWK8,356.21
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$5.99
TOP14.42
|
$4.51
MWK7,827.43
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$5.15
TOP12.41
|
$2.31
MWK3,999.89
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$2.70
TOP6.50
|
$1.93
MWK3,339.52
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.27
TOP3.06
|
$1.03
MWK1,794.51
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$1.27
TOP3.06
|
$0.81
MWK1,404.13
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.33
TOP3.21
|
$1.12
MWK1,940.10
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.71
TOP4.13
|
$0.53
MWK914.14
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.46
TOP3.52
|
$0.72
MWK1,248.08
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.21
TOP2.91
|
$0.59
MWK1,016.74
|
|
pay 89.3% more for transportation
|
Tonga
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$5.57
TOP13.40
|
$6.19
MWK10,731.25
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$42.01
TOP101.15
|
$4.32
MWK7,494.48
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$5,881.34
TOP14,160.85
|
$35,669.17
MWK61,852,226.56
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$69.32
TOP166.90
|
$20.40
MWK35,378.74
|
|
pay 11.9% less for housing
|
Tonga
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$126.03
TOP303.45
|
$186.12
MWK322,750.31
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area | ?? |
$202.19
MWK350,601.13
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center | ?? |
$98.76
MWK171,260.10
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$144.56
TOP348.07
|
$41.29
MWK71,591.98
|
|
pay 4.0 times more for childcare
|
Tonga
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$159.64
TOP384.37
|
$354.75
MWK615,162.05
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$252.06
TOP606.89
|
$1,467.81
MWK2,545,260.39
|
|
pay 36.0% less for entertainment and sports
|
Tonga
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$3.36
TOP8.09
|
$1.12
MWK1,941.15
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$2.94
TOP7.08
|
$2.91
MWK5,051.17
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$10.29
TOP24.78
|
$1.59
MWK2,751.14
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$31.51
TOP75.86
|
$51.33
MWK89,014.37
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$42.01
TOP101.15
|
$3.95
MWK6,850.48
|
|
pay 4.5 times more for clothing
|
Tonga
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$4.20
TOP10.11
|
$45.22
MWK78,420.83
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$17.85
TOP42.99
|
$34.94
MWK60,593.01
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$21.00
TOP50.57
|
$59.17
MWK102,606.51
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$29.41
TOP70.80
|
$70.71
MWK122,606.44
|
|
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