Cost of Living in Malawi for Students 2026

What it costs to live and study in Malawi, measured against comparable destinations, with the figures that decide a student budget.

Student life → Working & jobs →

Price level, against the United States

37%

A basket of goods costing $100 in the United States costs about $37 in Malawi, at market exchange rates. This is a whole-economy average from the World Bank (2023), not a student budget — rent near a university and a student's own habits move it a long way in both directions.

Universities in Malawi

Malawi

Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences

Public University — The Malawi University of Business and Applied Science (MUBAS) is a public university based in the city of Blantyre, Malawi. In 2025, 320 students graduated.

—Tuition (indicative)

2019Founded

9,756Students

—International

Admissions open

Not yet ranked No QS position or research record found

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#3 in Malawi Malawi

Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Public University — The Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) is a university outside Lilongwe, Malawi. It was formed in 2011 by a merger between Bunda College of Agriculture of the...

—Tuition (indicative)

—Founded

—Students

—International

Admissions open

#3 in Malawi · by research impact

54,972 citations · h-index 92

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#7 in Malawi Malawi

Catholic University of Malawi

Public University — The Catholic University of Malawi is a fast-growing institution of higher learning accredited by the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) to offer Degrees, Diplomas, and Certificates...

—Tuition (indicative)

—Founded

—Students

—International

Admissions open

#7 in Malawi · by research impact

1,047 citations · h-index 14

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#4 in Malawi Malawi

Mzuzu University

Public University — Mzuzu University is a higher education institution in Malawi. It presents undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes and describes itself as focused on service, perfection, and self-re...

—Tuition (indicative)

—Founded

—Students

—International

Admissions open

#4 in Malawi · by research impact

30,662 citations · h-index 75

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#6 in Malawi Malawi

University of Livingstonia

Public University — The University of Livingstonia (UNILIA) is a university located in Livingstonia, Malawi. It was founded in 2003 and has grown to over 2,000 students located in three campuses. It offers unde...

—Tuition (indicative)

—Founded

—Students

—International

Admissions open

#6 in Malawi · by research impact

1,833 citations · h-index 21

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#1 in Malawi Malawi

University of Malawi

Public University — The University of Malawi is a public university established in 1965 and until 4 May 2021, when the university underwent a delinking, was composed of four constituent colleges located in Zomb...

—Tuition (indicative)

—Founded

6,500Students

—International

Admissions open

#1 in Malawi · by research impact

526,555 citations · h-index 243

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