Cost of living comparison
Malawi is 28.4% more expensive than Zambia overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 37.4% more in Malawi
- Groceries
-
pay 9.3% more in Malawi
- Transportation
-
pay 88.9% more in Malawi
- Housing
-
pay 5.7% less in Malawi
- Childcare
-
pay 11.5% more in Malawi
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 11.5% more in Malawi
- Clothing
-
pay 45.6% more in Malawi
The cost of transportation, clothing, restaurants, childcare, entertainment and sports, and groceries in Malawi are more expensive than in Zambia. Notably, transportation is significantly more expensive in Malawi.
If you lived in Malawi instead of Zambia, you would:
pay 37.4% more for restaurants
|
Zambia
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$7.21
ZMW207.16
|
$4.32
MWK7,494.74
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$3.82
ZMW109.78
|
$9.04
MWK15,683.98
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.71
ZMW20.50
|
$0.87
MWK1,512.05
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.33
ZMW9.50
|
$0.43
MWK750.69
|
|
pay 9.3% more for groceries
|
Zambia
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$0.74
ZMW21.25
|
$1.36
MWK2,366.81
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$3.64
ZMW104.44
|
$4.82
MWK8,356.21
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.85
ZMW139.39
|
$4.51
MWK7,827.43
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$1.92
ZMW55.29
|
$2.31
MWK3,999.89
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$1.80
ZMW51.61
|
$1.93
MWK3,339.52
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.20
ZMW34.50
|
$1.03
MWK1,794.51
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.60
ZMW17.34
|
$0.81
MWK1,404.13
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.27
ZMW36.35
|
$1.12
MWK1,940.10
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.56
ZMW16.18
|
$0.53
MWK914.14
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.96
ZMW27.46
|
$0.72
MWK1,248.08
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.67
ZMW19.36
|
$0.59
MWK1,016.74
|
|
pay 88.9% more for transportation
|
Zambia
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.77
ZMW136.90
|
$6.19
MWK10,731.25
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$37.04
ZMW1,063.96
|
$4.32
MWK7,494.48
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$8,004.53
ZMW229,954.14
|
$35,669.17
MWK61,852,226.56
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$12.13
ZMW348.46
|
$20.40
MWK35,378.74
|
|
pay 5.7% less for housing
|
Zambia
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$125.92
ZMW3,617.41
|
$186.12
MWK322,750.31
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$214.42
ZMW6,159.94
|
$202.19
MWK350,601.13
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$114.96
ZMW3,302.53
|
$98.76
MWK171,260.10
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$83.50
ZMW2,398.84
|
$41.29
MWK71,591.98
|
|
pay 11.5% more for childcare
|
Zambia
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$176.79
ZMW5,078.81
|
$354.75
MWK615,162.05
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$6,570.42
ZMW188,755.18
|
$1,467.81
MWK2,545,260.39
|
|
pay 11.5% more for entertainment and sports
|
Zambia
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$0.97
ZMW27.78
|
$1.12
MWK1,941.15
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$2.07
ZMW59.57
|
$2.91
MWK5,051.17
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$2.49
ZMW71.51
|
$1.59
MWK2,751.14
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$41.21
ZMW1,183.94
|
$51.33
MWK89,014.37
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$3.50
ZMW100.53
|
$3.95
MWK6,850.48
|
|
pay 45.6% more for clothing
|
Zambia
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$18.43
ZMW529.60
|
$45.22
MWK78,420.83
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$18.78
ZMW539.63
|
$34.94
MWK60,593.01
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$90.18
ZMW2,590.59
|
$59.17
MWK102,606.51
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$82.76
ZMW2,377.57
|
$70.71
MWK122,606.44
|
|
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