Cost Of Living For a Student in Malawi 2025
Average Monthly Expenditure
Currency: MWK
Average monthly spending for students in Malawi
How much money does a student need in a month to survive in Malawi?
Students in Malawi spend around 86,000 MWK per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a student can survive with a monthly budget as low as 13,000 MWK or as high as 580,000 MWK. Location is a very important factor and has a huge influence on expenditure and budget.
Prices and cost of goods and services in Malawi
Dining, food, and beverages costs
Fast food combo meal
Restaurant meal for one
| 550 MWK | 830 MWK | 1,700 MWK |
Fine dining meal for one
| 1,100 MWK | 1,700 MWK | 6,600 MWK |
Cappuccino or latte
Grocery and market costs
Milk large bottle
12 eggs
Fresh whole chicken
Pack of beef
Medium bag of rice
Bag of tomatos
Bag of apples
Commute, travel, and transportation costs
20 minutes taxi ride
Average car full tank
| 830 MWK | 1,100 MWK | 2,200 MWK |
Average car 1-day rental
| 830 MWK | 1,100 MWK | 1,700 MWK |
Average car price
| 410,000 MWK | 830,000 MWK | 1.1M MWK |
Bus ticket one way
Car Service
| 1,100 MWK | 1,700 MWK | 3,300 MWK |
Utility cost (monthly)
Utility Bill - Student
| 520 MWK | 3,500 MWK | 23,000 MWK |
Internet and cable
| 830 MWK | 1,700 MWK | 2,200 MWK |
Mobile phone charges
| 660 MWK | 1,100 MWK | 3,300 MWK |
Leisure and activities costs
Movie ticket
One month gym membership
| 1,300 MWK | 1,700 MWK | 3,300 MWK |
Cloths and accessories costs
Pair of jeans or pants
| 970 MWK | 1,400 MWK | 2,100 MWK |
Woman dress
| 920 MWK | 1,300 MWK | 4,100 MWK |
Woman shoes
| 870 MWK | 1,200 MWK | 2,800 MWK |
Men's shoes
| 750 MWK | 920 MWK | 1,800 MWK |
Men suit
| 830 MWK | 1,000 MWK | 5,500 MWK |
Regular t-shirt
| 410 MWK | 550 MWK | 1,700 MWK |
Housing costs / monthly rent
Studio apartment
| 14,000 MWK | 21,000 MWK | 55,000 MWK |
1-bedroom apartment
| 21,000 MWK | 33,000 MWK | 83,000 MWK |
2-bedroom apartment
| 28,000 MWK | 41,000 MWK | 110,000 MWK |
Housing costs / Buying
Studio apartment
| 2.8M MWK | 4.1M MWK | 8.3M MWK |
1-bedroom apartment
| 3.3M MWK | 5.5M MWK | 21M MWK |
2-bedroom apartment
Furniture Costs
King Size Bed
| 17,000 MWK | 21,000 MWK | 28,000 MWK |
Double Bed
| 11,000 MWK | 17,000 MWK | 21,000 MWK |
Single Bed
| 9,700 MWK | 13,000 MWK | 17,000 MWK |
Living Room
| 18,000 MWK | 24,000 MWK | 83,000 MWK |
Dining Table
| 8,300 MWK | 11,000 MWK | 21,000 MWK |
Sofa or Couch
| 11,000 MWK | 15,000 MWK | 33,000 MWK |
Electronics and House Appliance Costs
TV Set
| 11,000 MWK | 17,000 MWK | 33,000 MWK |
Fridge or Freezer
| 9,700 MWK | 15,000 MWK | 21,000 MWK |
Washing Machine
| 13,000 MWK | 18,000 MWK | 33,000 MWK |
Stove or Cooker
| 12,000 MWK | 15,000 MWK | 21,000 MWK |
Mobile Phone
| 14,000 MWK | 17,000 MWK | 24,000 MWK |
Laptop or Computer
| 15,000 MWK | 18,000 MWK | 33,000 MWK |
How do students spend their money in Malawi?
We asked thousands of students about their spending habits and expenditure break down.
Housing and accomodation expenditure for students
Accomodation Cost17%
17% of total expenses on average (12% to 23%)
| LOW | $1.8 3,100 MWK |
| AVERAGE | $12 21,000 MWK |
| HIGH | $82 140,000 MWK |
| Per Month |
Students in Malawi typically spend from 12% to 23% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 17% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 21,000 MWK with expenditure ranging from 3,100 MWK to 140,000 MWK. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses.
Electricity, utilities, energy, water, internet, and mobile expenditure for students
Cost of utilities7%
7% of total expenses on average (5% to 11%)
| LOW | $0.31 520 MWK |
| AVERAGE | $2.1 3,500 MWK |
| HIGH | $14 23,000 MWK |
| Per Month |
Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Malawi ranges from 5% to 11% of total expenses with 7% being the average for most students. The average monthly cost of utilities is 3,500 MWK with 520 MWK and 23,000 MWK being the upper and lower limits for a student of four.
Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for students
Cost of transport and fuel4%
4% of total expenses on average (4% to 10%)
| LOW | $0.54 900 MWK |
| AVERAGE | $3.6 6,100 MWK |
| HIGH | $24 40,000 MWK |
| Per Month |
Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether a student resides near school and work, but roughly speaking a student would expect to spend from 900 MWK to 40,000 MWK in a month on commuting with 6,100 MWK being the norm for most students. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 4% of total spending on average but can go as low as 4% or as high as 10%.
Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for students
Food and Groceries Cost23%
23% of total expenses on average (17% to 27%)
| LOW | $1.5 2,600 MWK |
| AVERAGE | $10 17,000 MWK |
| HIGH | $69 120,000 MWK |
| Per Month |
The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical student in a month in Malawi is 17,000 MWK. The cost of groceries can range between 2,600 MWK to 120,000 MWK. Students spend on average about 23% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 17% and 27% respectively.
Healthcare and medical services expenditure for students
Cost of healthcare9%
9% of total expenses on average (6% to 12%)
| LOW | $0.46 770 MWK |
| AVERAGE | $3.1 5,200 MWK |
| HIGH | $21 35,000 MWK |
| Per Month |
Students in Malawi allocate 6% to 12% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending on medical services and clinic visits is around 9%. The range of medical expenses range from 770 MWK to 35,000 MWK with 5,200 MWK being the norm for most students.
Leisure and shopping expenditure for students
Cost of leisure and shopping2%
2% of total expenses on average (2% to 6%)
| LOW | $0.38 650 MWK |
| AVERAGE | $2.6 4,300 MWK |
| HIGH | $17 29,000 MWK |
| Per Month |
This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 650 MWK to 29,000 MWK with 4,300 MWK being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 2% to 6% of total expenses with an average of 2% for most students.
Education and schooling expenditure for students
Cost of education and schooling18%
18% of total expenses on average (11% to 23%)
| LOW | $1.5 2,500 MWK |
| AVERAGE | $9.8 16,000 MWK |
| HIGH | $65 110,000 MWK |
| Per Month |
Spending on education can vary drastically between different students. On average, education constitutes 18% of the monthly expenditure of students with 11% and 23% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 16,000 MWK per month with 2,500 MWK being the minimum spent amount and 110,000 MWK being the maximum.
Other Expenses19%
19% of total expenses on average (13% to 25%)
| LOW | $1.2 1,900 MWK |
| AVERAGE | $7.7 13,000 MWK |
| HIGH | $51 86,000 MWK |
| Per Month |
A typical and healthy budgeting structure
The 50/30/20 rule
Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle,
location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule,
which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.
50% for needs and financial obligations
This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.
30% for wants and discretionary spending
This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.
20% for savings and emergency fund
This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.
About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting
The 50/30/20 rule is used as a general guideline but may not be the best choice for all people. There are in fact many budgeting plans out there like the 70/20/10 and the 60/20/20 rules, all claiming to be the best. More important than all of this is to establish financial discipline by creating a budget tailored to your specific financial goals and situation. It is very important that your financial outflow be less than your income to maintain a healthy cash flow.
Affordable living in Malawi
Income and cost of living compatibility
We asked students one simple question and recorded their answers.
Is it affordable or economical to live in Malawi?
Around 42% of surveyed students think that living in Malawi is affordable with proper budgeting while 58% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.
Low-cost alternatives in Malawi
People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked students how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:
Plenty of low-cost options53%
Few low-cost options47%
Based on the survey, 53% of the students living in Malawi have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 47% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.
Emergency Funds For Students
An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked students of Malawi whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.
Yes40%
No60%
Based on the survey, 60% of the students living in Malawi said that they don't have an emergency fund while 40% said that they do.
Financial Literacy in Malawi
Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.
Financial Leteracy37%
We asked student guardians and parents in Malawi whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 63% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 37% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.
Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning
We wanted to understand whether students of Malawi have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 59% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 41% said that they have everything under control.
Struggles with finance59%
Easily manages finances41%
Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Malawi
Rental costs and house/apartment prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Rent Cost in Malawi
Monthly Rent Prices
Studio apartment monthly rent cost
| 14,000 MWK | 21,000 MWK | 55,000 MWK |
1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 21,000 MWK | 33,000 MWK | 83,000 MWK |
2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 28,000 MWK | 41,000 MWK | 110,000 MWK |
3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 33,000 MWK | 55,000 MWK | 150,000 MWK |
Furnished apartment monthly rent cost
| 66,000 MWK | 170,000 MWK | 330,000 MWK |
Townhouse monthly rent cost
| 55,000 MWK | 83,000 MWK | 240,000 MWK |
House monthly rent cost
| 66,000 MWK | 170,000 MWK | 330,000 MWK |
Villa monthly rent cost
| 83,000 MWK | 210,000 MWK | 330,000 MWK |
The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Malawi ranges between 14,000 MWK and 55,000 MWK, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 21,000 MWK to 83,000 MWK. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 28,000 MWK and 110,000 MWK per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 33,000 MWK to 150,000 MWK. The average rent of a townhouse in Malawi is around 83,000 MWK while house rental costs can be as high as 170,000 MWK per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 83,000 MWK to 330,000 MWK per month.
Apartment and house prices in Malawi
Cost of buying a property
Studio apartment price
| 2.8M MWK | 4.1M MWK | 8.3M MWK |
1-bedroom apartment price
| 3.3M MWK | 5.5M MWK | 21M MWK |
2-bedroom apartment price
3-bedroom apartment price
Townhouse price
House price
| 28M MWK | 170M MWK | 240M MWK |
Villa price
| 33M MWK | 180M MWK | 280M MWK |
| $20,000 | $110,000 | $160,000 |
The average price of a studio apartment in Malawi can range from 2.8M MWK to 8.3M MWK depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 3.3M MWK to 21M MWK. A villa can cost you 180M MWK on average with prices ranging from 33M MWK to 280M MWK.
If you're leasing or purchasing, housing costs in Malawi will probably constitute your biggest expenditure, yet it's an area where you wield considerable influence. This is due to the substantial variance in housing prices across communities. Keep in mind the location of your workplace and the accessibility of essential amenities to prevent negating the savings from lower rental rates with increased transportation expenses.
House / apartment prices to income ratio
Property price to income ratio
( average property price / average monthly income ) x 100
| 30 | x84 monthly income | 191 |
Property prices in Malawi can be x84 to x191 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x84 multiples of the average monthly salary in Malawi.
Rent to income ratio
Rent to income ratio
( monthly rental / monthly income ) x 100
The average rent-to-income ratio in Malawi is around 28%. This means that people pay 28% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 18% to 38% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.
The housing-to-income ratio is a very important metric to evaluate and measure how affordable living is in a particular area, city, or country since housing comprises the biggest chunk of expenditure. A higher housing to income ratio means that the place is relatively expensive. The figure by itself does tell much. It only starts to make sense when comparing the housing to income ratio across different locations.
Housing affordability index
The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.
Housing Affordability Index
26% Property Taxes
Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.
Home Maintenance Costs
Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.
| 260 MWK | 3,400 MWK | 34,000 MWK |
Urban vs. rural living costs
Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.
Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Malawi
Utilities expenditure can vary slightly between different areas and locations.
Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Malawi
Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Student
| 520 MWK | 3,500 MWK | 23,000 MWK |
Internet and cable cost
| 830 MWK | 1,700 MWK | 2,200 MWK |
Mobile phone bill and charges
| 660 MWK | 1,100 MWK | 3,300 MWK |
Because most utility bills club electricity, water, and gas costs in one bill, we can't provide a breakup for each type of utility and will display electricity, gas, and water as single cost.
The average monthly energy and water consumption of students is around 3,500 MWK. The cost of internet and WiFi ranges from 830 MWK to 2,200 MWK with 1,700 MWK being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 1,100 MWK but can range between 660 MWK and 3,300 MWK depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.
Energy / Utility expense to income ratio
( monthly utility expenses / monthly income ) x 100
The average utility-to-income ratio in Malawi is around 7%. This means that people pay 7% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 4% to 11% depending on salary and location.
Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Malawi
Grocery / Food expenditure and prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Prices and cost of goods and services in Malawi
Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.
Fast food combo meal price
The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Malawi is approximatly 330 MWK with meal cost ranging from 170 MWK to 550 MWK. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.
Restaurant meal for one price
| 550 MWK | 830 MWK | 1,700 MWK |
If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 550 MWK and 1,700 MWK with 830 MWK being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Malawi.
Fine dining meal for one price
| 1,100 MWK | 1,700 MWK | 6,600 MWK |
The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 1,100 MWK to 6,600 MWK with the average cost being 1,700 MWK for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Malawi.
Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..
The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Malawi is around 220 MWK. Price ranges between 140 MWK and 330 MWK depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.
Grocery and market costs
Large bottle of milk price
The average price of a large bottle of milk in Malawi is 130 MWK. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 170 MWK and the minimum being 110 MWK depending on the brand of milk and other properties.
12 eggs price
A dozen eggs costs around 110 MWK on average with 83 MWK and 170 MWK being the lower and upper limits respectively.
Fresh whole chicken price
The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Malawi is between 190 MWK and 340 MWK depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 240 MWK.
Pack of beef price
The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 330 MWK. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.
Medium bag of rice price
A bag of rice in Malawi costs around 120 MWK on average with prices rangeing between 89 MWK and 170 MWK depending on the brand and quality.
Bag of tomatos price
A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 33 MWK to 83 MWK. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.
Bag of apples price
A bag of apples costs 77 MWK on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.
Grocery and food expenditure to income ratio
( monthly grocery expenses / monthly income ) x 100
The average grocery-to-income ratio in Malawi is around 27%. This means that students spend 27% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 19% to 33% depending on salary and location.
Expenditure on food and grocery for students
Students' spending on grocery ranges from 2,600 MWK to 120,000 MWK with the location, income, and size of the student being the most determinite factors.
