Cost of living comparison
United States is 4.4 times more expensive than Malawi overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 3.2 times more in United States
- Groceries
-
pay 2.0 times more in United States
- Transportation
-
pay 4.4 times more in United States
- Housing
-
pay 6.6 times more in United States
- Childcare
-
pay 9.5 times more in United States
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 3.5 times more in United States
- Clothing
-
pay 32.3% more in United States
The cost of childcare, housing, transportation, entertainment and sports, restaurants, and groceries in United States are more expensive than in Malawi. Notably, childcare, housing, and transportation are significantly more expensive in United States.
If you lived in United States instead of Malawi, you would:
pay 3.2 times more for restaurants
|
Malawi
|
United States
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$4.32
MWK7,482.20
|
$18.59
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.04
MWK15,657.73
|
$10.47
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.87
MWK1,509.52
|
$2.50
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.43
MWK749.43
|
$1.96
|
|
pay 2.0 times more for groceries
|
Malawi
|
United States
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$1.36
MWK2,362.85
|
$3.49
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$4.82
MWK8,342.22
|
$6.33
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.51
MWK7,814.33
|
$3.91
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.31
MWK3,993.20
|
$3.56
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$1.93
MWK3,333.93
|
$5.16
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.03
MWK1,791.50
|
$2.33
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.81
MWK1,401.78
|
$0.78
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.12
MWK1,936.86
|
$2.00
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.53
MWK912.61
|
$2.16
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.72
MWK1,245.99
|
$1.34
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.59
MWK1,015.03
|
$1.38
|
|
pay 4.4 times more for transportation
|
Malawi
|
United States
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$6.19
MWK10,713.29
|
$3.61
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$4.32
MWK7,481.94
|
$65.15
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$35,669.17
MWK61,748,694.10
|
$31,583.67
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$20.40
MWK35,319.52
|
$17.81
|
|
pay 6.6 times more for housing
|
Malawi
|
United States
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$186.12
MWK322,210.06
|
$67.50
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$202.19
MWK350,014.27
|
$1,655.99
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$98.76
MWK170,973.43
|
$1,423.40
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$41.29
MWK71,472.15
|
$148.34
|
|
pay 9.5 times more for childcare
|
Malawi
|
United States
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$354.75
MWK614,132.35
|
$1,351.84
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$1,467.81
MWK2,540,999.96
|
$22,265.44
|
|
pay 3.5 times more for entertainment and sports
|
Malawi
|
United States
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$1.12
MWK1,937.90
|
$5.78
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$2.91
MWK5,042.71
|
$5.04
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$1.59
MWK2,746.53
|
$9.68
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$51.33
MWK88,865.37
|
$50.84
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$3.95
MWK6,839.01
|
$13.30
|
|
pay 32.3% more for clothing
|
Malawi
|
United States
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$45.22
MWK78,289.56
|
$50.38
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$34.94
MWK60,491.58
|
$40.66
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$59.17
MWK102,434.77
|
$85.52
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$70.71
MWK122,401.22
|
$111.08
|
|
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