Cost of living comparison
United States is 4.4 times more expensive than Malawi.
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 |
$4.34
MWK7,484.79
|
$18.02
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.11
MWK15,705.41
|
$10.37
|
|
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.87
MWK1,508.78
|
$2.44
|
|
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.43
MWK749.73
|
$1.98
|
|
pay 2.0 times more for groceries
Malawi
|
United States
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$1.37
MWK2,361.80
|
$3.43
|
|
Local cheese (8 oz) |
$4.82
MWK8,321.65
|
$6.30
|
|
Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.53
MWK7,807.58
|
$3.93
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.31
MWK3,987.53
|
$3.52
|
|
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$1.93
MWK3,336.52
|
$5.12
|
|
Apples (1 lb) |
$1.04
MWK1,790.74
|
$2.31
|
|
Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.81
MWK1,402.59
|
$0.76
|
|
Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.13
MWK1,942.75
|
$2.03
|
|
Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.53
MWK912.10
|
$2.13
|
|
Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.72
MWK1,244.90
|
$1.32
|
|
Onions (1 lb) |
$0.59
MWK1,014.84
|
$1.38
|
|
pay 4.4 times more for transportation
Malawi
|
United States
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$6.21
MWK10,708.41
|
$3.61
|
|
Monthly public transit pass |
$4.32
MWK7,454.28
|
$65.73
|
|
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$35,910.51
MWK61,936,725.77
|
$31,580.82
|
|
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$20.54
MWK35,427.07
|
$17.71
|
|
pay 6.5 times more for housing
Malawi
|
United States
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$187.17
MWK322,827.32
|
$67.34
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$203.55
MWK351,080.11
|
$1,635.84
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$99.20
MWK171,099.55
|
$1,397.18
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$41.38
MWK71,377.45
|
$148.42
|
|
pay 9.7 times more for childcare
Malawi
|
United States
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$361.94
MWK624,257.20
|
$1,344.29
|
|
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$1,469.79
MWK2,535,028.38
|
$23,001.10
|
|
pay 3.4 times more for entertainment and sports
Malawi
|
United States
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$1.12
MWK1,937.50
|
$5.73
|
|
Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$2.92
MWK5,039.34
|
$4.97
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$1.59
MWK2,736.38
|
$9.54
|
|
Monthly membership at local gym |
$51.53
MWK88,878.93
|
$51.32
|
|
Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$3.95
MWK6,813.73
|
$13.21
|
|
pay 32.2% more for clothing
Malawi
|
United States
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$45.53
MWK78,527.96
|
$50.12
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$35.18
MWK60,675.79
|
$40.92
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$59.57
MWK102,746.69
|
$85.55
|
|
Men's business shoes (leather) |
$71.18
MWK122,773.94
|
$113.11
|
|
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