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 2023

Cost of living: Malawi VS United States

On average, the cost of living in Malawi in 2023 is 43% 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:

Cost of living in Malawi by city

See the table below for the variation in the cost of living in different cities in Malawi compared to the national average.

Local prices in Malawi by expense type

Malawi: Restaurant budget

Lunch

$ 5.4/person
($ 4.3 to $ 11)

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75% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 23

3 course dinner

$ 23/person
($ 8.1 to $ 38)

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48% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 42

McDonald's meal

$ 9.4/person
($ 8.6 to $ 10.3)

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14% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 12

Local beer

$ 1.1 for 500ml
($ 1.1 to $ 1.7)

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83% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 6.6

Imported beer

$ 2.4 for 330ml
($ 1.9 to $ 3.2)

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36% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.7

Cappuccino

$ 2.9/cup
($ 0.8 to $ 3.8)

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44% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.2

Fizzy drink

$ 1.1/can
($ 0.7 to $ 3.1)

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60% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.6

Water bottle

$ 0.5/bottle
($ 0.5 to $ 2.2)

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74% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2

Malawi: Hotel and accommodation budget

1-star hotel

$ 38/night
($ 38 to $ 38)

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70% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 126

2-star hotel

$ 110/night
($ 88 to $ 136)

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25% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 147

3-star hotel

$ 95/night
($ 70 to $ 121)

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55% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 211

4-star hotel

$ 198/night
($ 158 to $ 236)

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37% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 316

5-star hotel

$ 58/night
($ 57 to $ 57)

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91% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 684

Hostel/Youth Hostel

$ 35/month
($ 35 to $ 35)

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73% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 131

Room with kitchen

$ 140/month
($ 113 to $ 167)

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32% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 208

Hotel with swimming pool

$ 122/month
($ 94 to $ 161)

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36% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 193

Cottage or guest house

$ 67/month
($ 54 to $ 82)

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73% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 257

Family room

$ 210/month
($ 165 to $ 257)

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6% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 199

Malawi: Supermarket food budget

Milk

$ 1.3/litre
($ 0.6 to $ 2.4)

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12% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.1

Bread

$ 1.4/500g
($ 1 to $ 1.7)

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62% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.9

Rice

$ 1.6/kg
($ 1.1 to $ 1.8)

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65% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.6

Eggs

$ 3.3/12 eggs
($ 1.6 to $ 3.9)

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34% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.1

Chicken

$ 4.1/kg
($ 2.3 to $ 7.5)

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69% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 14

Apples

$ 2.6/kg
($ 1.1 to $ 4.1)

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51% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.4

Tomatoes

$ 1.4/kg
($ 0.8 to $ 2.2)

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71% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.1

Potatoes

$ 1.9/kg
($ 0.8 to $ 3.3)

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36% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3

Water bottle

$ 0.5
($ 0.1 to $ 0.8)

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78% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.3

Malawi: Public and private transport budget

Bus ticket

$ 1.1/ticket
($ 1.1 to $ 1.1)

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61% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.8

Taxi (per km)

$ 0.4/km
($ 0.4 to $ 0.5)

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80% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.9

Petrol

$ 2/litre
($ 1.6 to $ 2.4)

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80% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.1

Taxi (initial pick-up charge)

$ 3.9
($ 2.6 to $ 7.4)

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3% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.9

Malawi: Leisure activity budget

Cinema

$ 4.5/ticket
( $ 4.5)

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66% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 14

Tennis

$ 6.9/hr
($ 5.3 to $ 8.5)

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66% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 21

Malawi: Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes

Cigarettes

$ 2.7/pack
( $ 2.7)

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72% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 9.9

Levi's jeans

$ 48
($ 34 to $ 66)

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18% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 58

Summer dress

$ 49
($ 23 to $ 77)

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8% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 46

Plane ticket budget

London → Lilongwe

$ 1045
(fair price: $ 879)

Manchester → Lilongwe

$ 1210
(fair price: $ 978)

Dublin → Lilongwe

$ 1259
(fair price: $ 1028)

Edinburgh → Lilongwe

$ 1275
(fair price: $ 1048)

New York City → Lilongwe

$ 1679
(fair price: $ 1439)

Toronto (Ontario) → Lilongwe

$ 1765
(fair price: $ 1506)