Travel budget and cost of living in Malawi how much does a trip cost?

Travel budget in Malawi

Malawi: calculate your travel budget

Malawi: sample budgets by traveller type

These example budgets assume a 2-week holiday in Malawi for 2 people.

* Estimated local budget for 2 people for 2 weeks. This represents an average across the country (budget may vary depending on the city or region visited).

Cost of living in Malawi in 2025

Cost of living: Malawi VS United States

On average, the cost of living in Malawi in 2025 is 46% less than in the United States (USA).

The graphic below shows the percentage of variation between prices United States in in the United States (USA) and United States by types of expenses:

Local prices in Malawi by expense type

Malawi: Restaurant budget

Lunch

$ 5/person
($ 3.5 to $ 5)

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76% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 21

3 course dinner

$ 11/person
($ 7.4 to $ 21)

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72% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 40

McDonald's meal

$ 8.6/person
($ 6.4 to $ 9.2)

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26% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 12

Local beer

$ 1.4 for 500ml
($ 1 to $ 2)

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78% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 6.3

Imported beer

$ 2 for 330ml
($ 1 to $ 2.9)

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46% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.7

Cappuccino

$ 2.8/cup
($ 1 to $ 5)

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47% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.4

Fizzy drink

$ 0.9/can
($ 0.6 to $ 1.1)

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68% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.7

Water bottle

$ 0.5/bottle
($ 0.3 to $ 0.5)

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79% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.2

Malawi: Hotel and accommodation budget

1-star hotel

$ 79/night
($ 26 to $ 165)

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53% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 169

2-star hotel

$ 94/night
($ 71 to $ 124)

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41% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 161

3-star hotel

$ 96/night
($ 57 to $ 150)

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59% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 238

4-star hotel

$ 97/night
($ 67 to $ 130)

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71% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 335

5-star hotel

$ 82/night
($ 52 to $ 120)

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85% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 546

Hostel/Youth Hostel

$ 62/month
($ 34 to $ 114)

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63% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 172

Room with kitchen

$ 101/month
($ 56 to $ 159)

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60% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 255

Hotel with swimming pool

$ 109/month
($ 71 to $ 163)

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50% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 217

Cottage or guest house

$ 69/month
($ 41 to $ 110)

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72% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 246

Family room

$ 175/month
($ 130 to $ 283)

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17% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 211

Malawi: Supermarket food budget

Milk

$ 1/litre
($ 0.5 to $ 2)

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7% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.1

Bread

$ 2.6/500g
($ 1.1 to $ 3.2)

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31% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.8

Rice

$ 1.6/kg
($ 1 to $ 2.1)

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67% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.8

Eggs

$ 2.3/12 eggs
($ 1.4 to $ 3.5)

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41% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.9

Chicken

$ 3.4/kg
($ 2 to $ 6.8)

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73% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 13

Apples

$ 2.4/kg
($ 1 to $ 5)

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56% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.5

Tomatoes

$ 1.2/kg
($ 0.8 to $ 1.9)

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76% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.1

Potatoes

$ 1.4/kg
($ 0.8 to $ 2)

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56% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.1

Water bottle

$ 1.1
($ 0.1 to $ 2)

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50% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.3

Malawi: Public and private transport budget

Bus ticket

$ 1/ticket
($ 0.9 to $ 1.2)

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63% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.6

Taxi (per km)

$ 2.5/km
($ 2.5 to $ 2.6)

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35% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.8

Petrol

$ 1.6/litre
($ 1.5 to $ 1.9)

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59% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1

Taxi (initial pick-up charge)

$ 0.6
( $ 0.6)

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84% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.9

Malawi: Leisure activity budget

Cinema

$ 3.9/ticket
( $ 3.9)

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73% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 15

Tennis

$ 15/hr
( $ 15)

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33% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 23

Malawi: Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes

Cigarettes

$ 2.4/pack
($ 0.8 to $ 2.5)

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77% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 11

Levi's jeans

$ 42
($ 9.9 to $ 59)

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24% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 56

Summer dress

$ 35
($ 12 to $ 68)

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23% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 46

Plane ticket budget

London → Lilongwe

$ 1097
(fair price: $ 950)

Manchester → Lilongwe

$ 1197
(fair price: $ 1007)

Dublin → Lilongwe

$ 1308
(fair price: $ 1064)

Edinburgh → Lilongwe

$ 1305
(fair price: $ 1062)

New York City → Lilongwe

$ 1499
(fair price: $ 1297)

Chicago → Lilongwe

$ 1716
(fair price: $ 1572)

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