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

Blantyre travel budget

Blantyre: calculate your travel budget

Sample budgets for a trip to Blantyre

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

* estimated local budget for 2 people for 2 weeks (excluding plane tickets).

Cost of living in Blantyre compared to Malawi in 2020

On average, the cost of living in Blantyre in 2020 is 41% less than the average cost of living in the United States (USA).

See the graphic below for the price variation percentage by type of expense in Blantyre in 2020 compared to average prices in the United States (USA):

Local prices in Blantyre by expense type

Restaurant budget in Blantyre

Lunch

$ 3.6/person
($ 2.9 to $ 14)

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77% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 17

3 course dinner

$ 21/person
($ 20 to $ 26)

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33% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 30

McDonald's meal

$ 3.6/person
($ 3.2 to $ 7.3)

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58% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 8.7

Local beer

$ 1.1 for 500ml
($ 0.7 to $ 2.2)

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79% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.4

Imported beer

$ 1.4 for 330ml
($ 1.4 to $ 3.6)

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54% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.2

Cappuccino

$ 1.6/cup
($ 1.1 to $ 2.9)

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66% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.6

Fizzy drink

$ 0.6/can
($ 0.5 to $ 1.2)

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72% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2

Water bottle

$ 0.4/bottle
($ 0.2 to $ 0.7)

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82% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.7

Hotel and accommodation budget in Blantyre

2-star hotel

$ 33/night
($ 33 to $ 33)

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74% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 126

3-star hotel

$ 97/night
($ 51 to $ 137)

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47% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 185

4-star hotel

$ 217/night
($ 189 to $ 242)

---

17% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 263

Hotel/Youth Hostel

$ 33/month
($ 33 to $ 33)

---

75% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 133

Room with kitchen

$ 168/month
($ 151 to $ 185)

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2% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 173

Hotel with swimming pool

$ 131/month
($ 49 to $ 218)

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22% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 168

Cottage or guest house

$ 75/month
($ 46 to $ 101)

---

66% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 224

Family room

$ 292/month
($ 130 to $ 444)

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65% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 177

Supermarket food budget in Blantyre

Milk

$ 1/litre
($ 0.7 to $ 1.8)

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4% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 0.9

Bread

$ 0.7/500g
($ 0.5 to $ 1.1)

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77% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.9

Rice

$ 1.1/kg
($ 1 to $ 1.4)

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75% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.4

Eggs

$ 1.6/12 eggs
($ 1.4 to $ 3.5)

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37% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.6

Cheese

$ 23/kg
($ 15 to $ 38)

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86% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 12

Chicken

$ 3.9/kg
($ 1.8 to $ 6.6)

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56% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 9.1

Apples

$ 4.3/kg
($ 1.8 to $ 6.6)

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15% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5

Oranges

$ 3.6/kg
($ 2.2 to $ 5.1)

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19% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.5

Tomatoes

$ 1.4/kg
($ 0.7 to $ 2.2)

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68% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.6

Potatoes

$ 0.8/kg
($ 0.8 to $ 1.8)

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70% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3

Salad

$ 0.2/salad
($ 0.2 to $ 0.5)

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83% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.8

Water bottle

$ 0.8
($ 0.7 to $ 1.2)

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57% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2

Joint of beef

$ 5.5/kg
($ 4.4 to $ 6)

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57% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 13

Public and private transport budget in Blantyre

Bus ticket

$ 0.2/ticket
($ 0.2 to $ 0.2)

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90% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.7

Taxi (per km)

$ 1.2/km
($ 0.6 to $ 1.8)

---

42% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2

Petrol

$ 1.3/litre
($ 1.2 to $ 1.6)

---

57% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 0.8

Taxi (initial pick-up charge)

$ 4.4
($ 4.4 to $ 10.2)

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15% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.8

Budget for living and housing in Blantyre

Electricity, water...

$ 59/month
($ 30 to $ 125)

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66% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 174

Mobile phone

$ 0.1/min.
($ 0.1 to $ 0.2)

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25% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 0.1

Broadband internet

$ 131/month
($ 55 to $ 219)

---

81% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 72

Studio flat (city centre)

$ 309/month
($ 217 to $ 541)

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79% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1477

Studio flat (suburbs)

$ 207/month
($ 146 to $ 324)

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82% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1185

Flat (centre)

$ 722/month
($ 433 to $ 1079)

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69% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2402

Flat (suburbs)

$ 451/month
($ 219 to $ 756)

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76% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1884

Gym

$ 61/month
($ 55 to $ 69)

---

46% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 42

Private nursery

$ 290/month
($ 290 to $ 365)

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72% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1038

Private primary school

$ 7488/yr
($ 7423 to $ 21830)

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59% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 18345

Leisure activity budget in Blantyre

Cinema

$ 5.7/ticket
($ 5.4 to $ 6)

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56% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 14

Tennis

$ 3/hr
( $ 3)

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82% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 18

Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes in Blantyre

Cigarettes

$ 5.9/pack
($ 5.9 to $ 5.9)

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33% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 8.7

Levi's jeans

$ 48
($ 23 to $ 109)

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2% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 49

Summer dress

$ 12
($ 12 to $ 12)

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70% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 40

Trainers

$ 73
($ 59 to $ 132)

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12% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 83

Leather shoes

$ 90
($ 66 to $ 176)

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16% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 107

Plane ticket budget

London → Lilongwe

$ 959
(fair price: $ 835)

Manchester → Lilongwe

$ 1041
(fair price: $ 878)

Dublin → Lilongwe

$ 992
(fair price: $ 903)

Edinburgh → Lilongwe

$ 1216
(fair price: $ 1010)

Toronto (Ontario) → Lilongwe

$ 1665
(fair price: $ 1406)

New York City → Lilongwe

$ 1721
(fair price: $ 1525)

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