Cost of living comparison
Malawi is 14.8% more expensive than South Africa.
If you lived in Malawi instead of South Africa, you would:
pay 22.4% less for restaurants
South Africa
|
Malawi
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$7.74
R149.39
|
$3.42
MWK5,920.50
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$3.92
R75.70
|
$4.89
MWK8,457.85
|
|
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.87
R16.78
|
$0.76
MWK1,321.54
|
|
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.65
R12.56
|
$0.35
MWK606.15
|
|
pay 26.3% more for groceries
South Africa
|
Malawi
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$0.82
R15.79
|
$0.68
MWK1,184.10
|
|
Local cheese (8 oz) |
$3.09
R59.71
|
$7.09
MWK12,263.89
|
|
Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.51
R67.73
|
$3.28
MWK5,668.50
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$1.71
R33.07
|
$1.44
MWK2,484.35
|
|
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$1.85
R35.66
|
$1.02
MWK1,755.64
|
|
Apples (1 lb) |
$0.61
R11.80
|
$0.95
MWK1,645.10
|
|
Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.57
R10.98
|
$0.50
MWK868.23
|
|
Oranges (1 lb) |
$0.59
R11.41
|
$1.08
MWK1,867.06
|
|
Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.59
R11.30
|
$0.64
MWK1,105.49
|
|
Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.47
R9.00
|
$0.73
MWK1,270.37
|
|
Onions (1 lb) |
$0.47
R8.97
|
$0.70
MWK1,217.38
|
|
pay 10.8% more for transportation
South Africa
|
Malawi
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.65
R89.70
|
$4.57
MWK7,909.13
|
|
Monthly public transit pass |
$40.67
R784.74
|
$44.84
MWK77,558.50
|
|
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$18,011.69
R347,532.29
|
$26,894.87
MWK46,518,187.13
|
|
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$7.53
R145.35
|
$6.41
MWK11,079.79
|
|
pay 14.3% more for housing
South Africa
|
Malawi
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$48.06
R927.24
|
$136.92
MWK236,819.86
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$341.02
R6,579.99
|
$291.36
MWK503,947.03
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$317.79
R6,131.72
|
$135.70
MWK234,705.40
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$80.15
R1,546.48
|
$35.40
MWK61,228.22
|
|
pay 87.6% more for childcare
South Africa
|
Malawi
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$157.19
R3,032.90
|
$268.95
MWK465,181.87
|
|
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$3,082.89
R59,483.77
|
$6,291.77
MWK10,882,436.50
|
|
pay 8.6% less for entertainment and sports
South Africa
|
Malawi
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$1.70
R32.72
|
$0.78
MWK1,353.26
|
|
Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$1.67
R32.30
|
$2.46
MWK4,251.48
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$2.56
R49.46
|
$2.93
MWK5,074.71
|
|
Monthly membership at local gym |
$30.74
R593.07
|
$22.98
MWK39,751.91
|
|
Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$5.40
R104.14
|
$4.04
MWK6,980.22
|
|
pay 4.2% less for clothing
South Africa
|
Malawi
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$43.19
R833.28
|
$42.71
MWK73,865.24
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$26.96
R520.13
|
$25.43
MWK43,980.83
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$80.72
R1,557.41
|
$62.59
MWK108,260.51
|
|
Men's business shoes (leather) |
$71.81
R1,385.56
|
$80.68
MWK139,554.56
|
|
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