Cost of living comparison
Malawi is 32.9% more expensive than Thailand overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 43.3% more in Malawi
- Groceries
-
pay 5.1% more in Malawi
- Transportation
-
pay 20.1% more in Malawi
- Housing
-
pay 3.1 times more in Malawi
- Childcare
-
pay 41.0% less in Malawi
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 15.3% less in Malawi
- Clothing
-
pay 3.9% more in Malawi
The cost of housing, restaurants, transportation, groceries, and clothing in Malawi are more expensive than in Thailand. Expenses including childcare and entertainment and sports are lower in Malawi. Notably, housing is significantly more expensive in Malawi.
If you lived in Malawi instead of Thailand, you would:
pay 43.3% more for restaurants
Thailand
|
Malawi
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$2.33
THB78.88
|
$4.32
MWK7,504.30
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$6.02
THB203.53
|
$9.04
MWK15,703.99
|
|
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.70
THB23.82
|
$0.87
MWK1,513.98
|
|
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.38
THB12.83
|
$0.43
MWK751.65
|
|
pay 5.1% more for groceries
Thailand
|
Malawi
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$1.40
THB47.30
|
$1.36
MWK2,369.83
|
|
Local cheese (8 oz) |
$8.16
THB275.95
|
$4.82
MWK8,366.87
|
|
Milk (1 gallon) |
$6.68
THB225.99
|
$4.51
MWK7,837.42
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.05
THB69.18
|
$2.31
MWK4,005.00
|
|
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$1.29
THB43.62
|
$1.93
MWK3,343.78
|
|
Apples (1 lb) |
$1.23
THB41.61
|
$1.03
MWK1,796.80
|
|
Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.52
THB17.60
|
$0.81
MWK1,405.92
|
|
Oranges (1 lb) |
$0.82
THB27.56
|
$1.12
MWK1,942.58
|
|
Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.66
THB22.26
|
$0.53
MWK915.30
|
|
Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.69
THB23.40
|
$0.72
MWK1,249.67
|
|
Onions (1 lb) |
$0.54
THB18.11
|
$0.59
MWK1,018.03
|
|
pay 20.1% more for transportation
Thailand
|
Malawi
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.47
THB151.03
|
$6.19
MWK10,744.94
|
|
Monthly public transit pass |
$25.43
THB859.84
|
$4.32
MWK7,504.04
|
|
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$31,362.48
THB1,060,302.17
|
$35,669.17
MWK61,931,141.99
|
|
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$9.67
THB326.78
|
$20.40
MWK35,423.87
|
|
pay 3.1 times more for housing
Thailand
|
Malawi
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$17.13
THB579.28
|
$186.12
MWK323,162.09
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$389.22
THB13,158.74
|
$202.19
MWK351,048.46
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$225.23
THB7,614.72
|
$98.76
MWK171,478.60
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$55.17
THB1,865.32
|
$41.29
MWK71,683.33
|
|
pay 41.0% less for childcare
Thailand
|
Malawi
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$341.66
THB11,550.78
|
$354.75
MWK615,946.92
|
|
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$10,344.18
THB349,715.79
|
$1,467.81
MWK2,548,507.81
|
|
pay 15.3% less for entertainment and sports
Thailand
|
Malawi
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$2.20
THB74.37
|
$1.12
MWK1,943.63
|
|
Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$1.90
THB64.22
|
$2.91
MWK5,057.61
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$3.85
THB130.07
|
$1.59
MWK2,754.65
|
|
Monthly membership at local gym |
$48.79
THB1,649.54
|
$51.33
MWK89,127.94
|
|
Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$5.42
THB183.27
|
$3.95
MWK6,859.22
|
|
pay 3.9% more for clothing
Thailand
|
Malawi
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$38.62
THB1,305.59
|
$45.22
MWK78,520.88
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$29.36
THB992.62
|
$34.94
MWK60,670.32
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$82.78
THB2,798.68
|
$59.17
MWK102,737.43
|
|
Men's business shoes (leather) |
$65.55
THB2,216.27
|
$70.71
MWK122,762.87
|
|
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