Cost of living comparison
United States is 2.9 times more expensive than Malawi.
If you lived in United States instead of Malawi, you would:
pay 3.8 times more for restaurants
|
Malawi
|
United States
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$3.42
MWK3,501.71
|
$18.15
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$4.89
MWK5,002.44
|
$9.28
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.76
MWK781.63
|
$2.24
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.35
MWK358.51
|
$1.77
|
|
pay 2.5 times more for groceries
|
Malawi
|
United States
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$0.68
MWK700.34
|
$3.17
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$7.09
MWK7,253.55
|
$5.93
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.28
MWK3,352.67
|
$3.83
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$1.44
MWK1,469.38
|
$4.01
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$1.02
MWK1,038.38
|
$5.32
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$0.95
MWK973.01
|
$2.19
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.50
MWK513.52
|
$0.76
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.08
MWK1,104.28
|
$1.93
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.64
MWK653.85
|
$2.05
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.73
MWK751.37
|
$1.29
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.70
MWK720.03
|
$1.27
|
|
pay 43.8% more for transportation
|
Malawi
|
United States
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.57
MWK4,677.90
|
$3.72
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$44.84
MWK45,872.42
|
$63.08
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$26,894.87
MWK27,513,447.43
|
$25,096.27
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$6.41
MWK6,553.20
|
$16.64
|
|
pay 4.8 times more for housing
|
Malawi
|
United States
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$136.92
MWK140,068.46
|
$70.73
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$291.36
MWK298,062.35
|
$1,528.07
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$135.70
MWK138,817.85
|
$1,282.97
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$35.40
MWK36,213.78
|
$138.81
|
|
pay 3.4 times more for childcare
|
Malawi
|
United States
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$268.95
MWK275,134.47
|
$1,137.97
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$6,291.77
MWK6,436,479.22
|
$15,943.15
|
|
pay 3.2 times more for entertainment and sports
|
Malawi
|
United States
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$0.78
MWK800.39
|
$5.19
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$2.46
MWK2,514.56
|
$4.51
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$2.93
MWK3,001.47
|
$8.57
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$22.98
MWK23,511.49
|
$42.79
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$4.04
MWK4,128.49
|
$12.04
|
|
pay 28.4% more for clothing
|
Malawi
|
United States
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$42.71
MWK43,688.02
|
$45.40
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$25.43
MWK26,012.71
|
$36.73
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$62.59
MWK64,031.30
|
$79.51
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$80.68
MWK82,540.34
|
$109.59
|
|
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