Cost of living comparison
Zambia is 43.3% more expensive than Malawi.
If you lived in Zambia instead of Malawi, you would:
pay 7.1% less for restaurants
Malawi
|
Zambia
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$4.34
MWK7,517.60
|
$5.15
ZMW140.97
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.11
MWK15,774.24
|
$3.43
ZMW93.92
|
|
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.87
MWK1,515.39
|
$0.98
ZMW26.72
|
|
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.43
MWK753.02
|
$0.45
ZMW12.27
|
|
pay 0.7% less for groceries
Malawi
|
Zambia
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$1.37
MWK2,372.15
|
$0.80
ZMW21.93
|
|
Local cheese (8 oz) |
$4.82
MWK8,358.12
|
$3.95
ZMW107.94
|
|
Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.53
MWK7,841.80
|
$4.90
ZMW133.97
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.31
MWK4,005.01
|
$2.42
ZMW66.06
|
|
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$1.93
MWK3,351.15
|
$1.79
ZMW48.85
|
|
Apples (1 lb) |
$1.04
MWK1,798.59
|
$1.13
ZMW30.90
|
|
Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.81
MWK1,408.74
|
$0.71
ZMW19.43
|
|
Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.13
MWK1,951.27
|
$1.21
ZMW33.02
|
|
Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.53
MWK916.09
|
$0.62
ZMW17.00
|
|
Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.72
MWK1,250.36
|
$0.73
ZMW20.04
|
|
Onions (1 lb) |
$0.59
MWK1,019.28
|
$0.73
ZMW20.07
|
|
pay 2.5 times more for transportation
Malawi
|
Zambia
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$6.21
MWK10,755.34
|
$5.05
ZMW138.14
|
|
Monthly public transit pass |
$4.32
MWK7,486.95
|
$37.04
ZMW1,012.91
|
|
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$35,910.51
MWK62,208,173.61
|
$8,004.53
ZMW218,919.81
|
|
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$20.54
MWK35,582.33
|
$12.13
ZMW331.74
|
|
pay 42.2% more for housing
Malawi
|
Zambia
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$187.17
MWK324,242.16
|
$144.44
ZMW3,950.34
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$203.55
MWK352,618.77
|
$262.56
ZMW7,180.97
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$99.20
MWK171,849.43
|
$159.59
ZMW4,364.66
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$41.38
MWK71,690.27
|
$83.50
ZMW2,283.73
|
|
pay 2.2 times more for childcare
Malawi
|
Zambia
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$361.94
MWK626,993.11
|
$111.30
ZMW3,044.12
|
|
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$1,469.79
MWK2,546,138.55
|
$5,884.51
ZMW160,938.36
|
|
pay 2.7% less for entertainment and sports
Malawi
|
Zambia
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$1.12
MWK1,945.99
|
$1.02
ZMW28.01
|
|
Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$2.92
MWK5,061.43
|
$2.19
ZMW60.02
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$1.59
MWK2,748.38
|
$2.57
ZMW70.37
|
|
Monthly membership at local gym |
$51.53
MWK89,268.45
|
$40.66
ZMW1,111.91
|
|
Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$3.95
MWK6,843.60
|
$3.12
ZMW85.22
|
|
pay 0.8% more for clothing
Malawi
|
Zambia
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$45.53
MWK78,872.12
|
$24.53
ZMW670.86
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$35.18
MWK60,941.71
|
$26.26
ZMW718.15
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$59.57
MWK103,196.99
|
$90.18
ZMW2,466.28
|
|
Men's business shoes (leather) |
$71.18
MWK123,312.02
|
$87.89
ZMW2,403.82
|
|
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