Cost of living comparison
Malawi is 72.2% more expensive than Kenya.
If you lived in Malawi instead of Kenya, you would:
pay 18.1% more for restaurants
Kenya
|
Malawi
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$3.01
KES398.86
|
$3.42
MWK5,934.51
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$3.91
KES517.85
|
$4.89
MWK8,477.87
|
|
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.49
KES64.99
|
$0.76
MWK1,324.67
|
|
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.45
KES59.60
|
$0.35
MWK607.58
|
|
pay 60.0% more for groceries
Kenya
|
Malawi
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$0.43
KES57.22
|
$0.68
MWK1,186.90
|
|
Local cheese (8 oz) |
$3.28
KES434.96
|
$7.09
MWK12,292.91
|
|
Milk (1 gallon) |
$2.60
KES344.97
|
$3.28
MWK5,681.92
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$1.43
KES189.06
|
$1.44
MWK2,490.23
|
|
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$2.25
KES298.48
|
$1.02
MWK1,759.79
|
|
Apples (1 lb) |
$0.58
KES76.53
|
$0.95
MWK1,649.00
|
|
Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.44
KES58.66
|
$0.50
MWK870.28
|
|
Oranges (1 lb) |
$0.65
KES85.61
|
$1.08
MWK1,871.48
|
|
Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.37
KES48.88
|
$0.64
MWK1,108.10
|
|
Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.26
KES34.70
|
$0.73
MWK1,273.38
|
|
Onions (1 lb) |
$0.33
KES43.43
|
$0.70
MWK1,220.26
|
|
pay 50.5% more for transportation
Kenya
|
Malawi
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.88
KES514.50
|
$4.57
MWK7,927.85
|
|
Monthly public transit pass |
$32.60
KES4,319.92
|
$44.84
MWK77,742.05
|
|
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$9,571.02
KES1,268,460.29
|
$26,894.87
MWK46,628,271.77
|
|
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$9.76
KES1,294.06
|
$6.41
MWK11,106.01
|
|
pay 2.4 times more for housing
Kenya
|
Malawi
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$31.67
KES4,197.16
|
$136.92
MWK237,380.29
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$146.91
KES19,469.60
|
$291.36
MWK505,139.61
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$108.62
KES14,394.90
|
$135.70
MWK235,260.83
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$16.25
KES2,153.49
|
$35.40
MWK61,373.11
|
|
pay 66.1% more for childcare
Kenya
|
Malawi
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$127.01
KES16,832.79
|
$268.95
MWK466,282.72
|
|
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$5,225.46
KES692,537.03
|
$6,291.77
MWK10,908,189.64
|
|
pay 9.5% more for entertainment and sports
Kenya
|
Malawi
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$1.77
KES234.69
|
$0.78
MWK1,356.46
|
|
Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$1.34
KES178.07
|
$2.46
MWK4,261.54
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$1.76
KES233.65
|
$2.93
MWK5,086.72
|
|
Monthly membership at local gym |
$32.78
KES4,343.88
|
$22.98
MWK39,845.98
|
|
Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$4.82
KES638.36
|
$4.04
MWK6,996.74
|
|
pay 2.6 times more for clothing
Kenya
|
Malawi
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$11.94
KES1,582.10
|
$42.71
MWK74,040.04
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$19.76
KES2,618.85
|
$25.43
MWK44,084.91
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$25.82
KES3,422.20
|
$62.59
MWK108,516.71
|
|
Men's business shoes (leather) |
$26.69
KES3,537.65
|
$80.68
MWK139,884.82
|
|
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