Cost of living in Malawi

The cost of living in Malawi is approximately 579 $ per month for a single person, including rent.

For a family of four, it's around 1462 $, also including rent.

Cost of living in Malawi

Cost of Living, one person, including rent
579 $
Without Rent
363 $
Rent & Utilities
216 $
Food
218 $
Transport
95 $
Monthly Salary, after tax
458 $
GDP per Capita
673 $
Freedom Index
6.83
Lifespan
63 years
Speak English
4%
Population
18.6M

Restaurants

Lunch menu, inexpensive restaurant 3.84 $
Dinner 20.1 $
Fast food, McDonalds or KFC 5.62 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 0.97 $
Capuccino 2.23 $
Coke, 330ml 0.89 $

Markets

Milk, 1 L or 1 qt 1.01 $
Bread, 0.5 kg or 1 lb 0.98 $
Rice, 1 kg or 2 lb 1.28 $
Eggs, 12 pack 1.86 $
Cheese, 1 kg or 2 lb 8.1 $
Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2 lb 4 $
Round Steak, 1 kg or 2 lb 5.79 $
Apples, 1 kg or 2 lb 2.03 $
Banana, 1 kg or 2 lb 1.9 $
Oranges, 1 kg or 2 lb 2.58 $
Tomato, 1 kg or 2 lb 1 $
Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb 1.27 $
Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb 1.32 $
Water, 1 L or 1 qt 0.43 $
Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz 0.92 $
Wine, 750 mL bottle 10.2 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 0.96 $
Cigarette pack 1.21 $

Transportation

One-way Ticket 1.13 $
Monthly Pass 13.5 $
Gas or Petrol, 1l or 0.26 gal 1.32 $
Taxi, 8 km 15 $

Personal Care

Doctor Visit, private clinic 17 $
Cold medicine, for 1 week 1.77 $
Hair Shampoo, 400 ml or 12 oz. 2.53 $
Toilet paper, 4 rolls 0.74 $
Toothpaste, 1 tube 0.69 $

Utilities per Month

1 person, electricity, heating, water & garbage 32 $
Family of 4, electricity, heating, water & garbage 50 $
Internet plan, +60 Mbps 36.1 $

Rent per Month

1 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 40 sq.m 118 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 85 sq.m 248 $
1 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 40 sq.m 265 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 85 sq.m 420 $

Buy Apartment Price

Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment, in city center 10,568 $
Price per Square Meter to Buy House, in suburbs 487 $

Salaries and Financing

Average Monthly Net Salary, after tax 458 $
Mortgage Interest Rate, for 20 years fixed-rate 12.64%

Sports and Leisure

Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult 39 $
Cinema, 1 seat 2.62 $
Haircut 3.24 $

Clothing and Shoes

Brand Sneakers, mid-range, Nike or similar 56 $
Brand Jeans, Levis 501 30 $

Childcare

Preschool, full day, monthly for 1 child 366 $
International Primary School, yearly for 1 child 1,375 $

Cities in Malawi by Cost of Living

City Cost of Living without rent
Blantyre
$410
Mzimba
$336
Lilongwe
$322
Mulanje
$311
Zomba
$306
Ntcheu
$303
Mangochi
$301
Mzuzu
$298
Monkey Bay
$295