How much does a trip to Malawi Cost?
The Cost of a Trip to Malawi
Visitors to Malawi usually spend between $17 and $70 per day on average for one person and $33 to $139 for two people. While this is a wide range, the average daily cost averages $37 (MWK63,328) per person. This average includes sightseeing, hotel, food, and local transportation expenses from other travelers. Your individual travel expenses may vary based on travel style and the locations visited, but if you plan wisely while visiting the most popular destinations, such as , then you'll likely spend somewhere in this price range while on your trip. Further down we have a breakdown of expenses by category, as well as a comparison of independent travel versus guided tour prices.
How much money should you budget for your trip to Malawi?
If you're considering an independent trip to Malawi, it's helpful to have an idea of the amount of money you'll need. For budget travelers, planning to spend around $17 (MWK28,511) per day should cover your essential expenses, including affordable accommodations like hostels and budget hotels, cost-effective meal options, local transportation, and affordable activities. For those with a mid-range budget, allocating around $37 (MWK63,328) per day would allow for more comfortable hotels, dining at typical restaurants, and exploring a range of popular attractions. Luxury travelers, on the other hand, should anticipate a daily budget of $70 (MWK120,255), which would encompass higher-end accommodations, dining at nicer restaurants, and indulging in private tour options. It's worth noting that these price ranges are based on extensive travel cost data for Malawi from fellow travelers, as well as insights from travel companies regarding hotel and tour prices. For further details on travel costs, you can refer to our comprehensive travel cost data for Malawi.
| 3 Days | 7 Days | 14 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation1 | $43 | $100 | $200 |
| Intercity Transportation1 | $33 | $78 | $156 |
| Local Transportation1 | $38 | $89 | $177 |
| Food2 | $31 | $73 | $146 |
| Water2 | $2 | $5 | $10 |
| Entertainment1 | $42 | $99 | $198 |
| Souvenirs1 | $48 | $112 | $224 |
| Living Expenses2 | $5 | $13 | $25 |
| Alcohol2 | $17 | $40 | $81 |
| Tips and Handouts1 | $4 | $9 | $17 |
How much does a one week trip to Malawi cost?
Most visitors spend between $116 and $488 for a one week trip to Malawi, with the average being $257. This includes sightseeing, local transportation, food, and hotels. One week is enough time to visit one, two, or maybe three locations in Malawi, depending on how in-depth you want to make your visit. Some of the most popular places to visit are .
Lake Malawi
How much does a two week trip to Malawi cost?
With two weeks, you should budget between $232 and $976 for your trip to Malawi. The average price for a two week trip is $514. Two weeks will allow you enough time to visit between three and five places. If you're on a budget, you might want to consider some of the more affordable places such as smaller towns.
How much does a one month trip to Malawi cost?
With a month-long trip to Malawi, expenses can be anywhere from $496 to $2,092 with the average being $1,102. The cost of travel is dependent on your overall style of travel. If you have a full month, you'll likely want to stay at a vacation rental with a kitchen during at least part of your trip so that you can prepare your own meals. Backpackers often prefer hostels for the same reason. Hostels also offer a more social atmosphere at a very affordable price range.
Hostel Prices in Malawi
With more than 3 hostels in Malawi, the average price is $13 per night for a dorm bed. Hostels are a terrific option for younger independent travelers looking to save money while staying social during their trip. With many types of hostels, it can be overwhelming to sort out the best places, though. Our analysis of the hostels in Malawi not only found the average price, but also uncovered some surprises about the overall quality, amenities, and atmosphere of hostels in the region. You can see more details from our analysis about typical hostel prices in Malawi here.
| Number of Hostels | Average Price | |
|---|---|---|
| Lilongwe | 2 | $15 |
| Zomba | 1 | $10 |
Here are a few sample prices from popular hostels in Malawi.
- $10 for a dorm bed at Blend. Lodge & Kitchen (pakachere) in Zomba
Should you do an organized tour or travel independently in Malawi?
Organized tours are an easy and convenient way to visit Malawi. All of the details are handled by travel experts, and during the trip you'll benefit from the knowledge of an expert guide.
Traveling independently offers freedom and flexibility that is hard to find on an organized tour.
Many travelers appreciate the convenience and ease that an organized tour offers. Many tours provide transportation and expert guides that help you enjoy your trip.
Alternatively, you'll enjoy freedom and flexibility with independent travel that is difficult to find with an organized tour.
Comparing Trip Costs in Malawi
When we compare the prices of organized tours to the average costs of independent travelers, we can see that sometimes the prices are fairly even.
| Organized Package Tours | Independent Travel | |
|---|---|---|
| 3-Day Trip Cost | $0 - $0 | $50 - $209 |
| 7-Day Trip Cost | $0 - $0 | $116 - $488 |
| 10-Day Trip Cost | $3,899 - $3,899 | $165 - $697 |
| 14-Day Trip Cost | $0 - $0 | $232 - $976 |
Tours vs. independent Travel: Pros & Cons
Organized Tours
Pros- An expert guide familiar with the culture
- Convenient transportation
- Fellow travelers to socialize with
- Well researched activities
- Efficient and thought out itinerary
- The security of have a trip leader if something goes wrong
- Limited options
- Usually not customizable
- The fast pace often means you can’t visit one place in depth
- Usually more expensive than independent travel
- There may be limited time to interact with the local culture and community
Independent Travel
Pros- Completely customizable
- Opportunity to visit off-the-beaten-path destinations
- Can fully immerse yourself in the local culture
- Freedom to move at your own pace
- Flexibility to change your itinerary at any time
- More affordable
- Challenging to plan an efficient itinerary
- Transportation may be challenging or inefficient
- Booking and trip planning can be a hassle
- Popular sights may sell out well in advance
- If something goes wrong, you're on your own
Are organized tours more expensive than independent travel in Malawi?
Organized tours average $159 per day in Malawi, and are generally all-inclusive with one large payment. Independent trips usually average $37 (MWK63,328) per day, and include individual payments to hotels, local transportation, food, and sightseeing. When compared, organized tours and independent trips each come with their own set of challenges and benefits. It's important to understand all aspects of both types of trips to make a fair comparison. You can see our thorough analysis of tour prices in Malawi here.
Here are a few sample tours in Malawi:
-
Conservation safaris & Lake Malawi ($3,899)
10 days, 7 destinations
More for Malawi
If you're planning a trip to Malawi, check out these other informative travel guides.
We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.
1 Categories averaged on a per-item basis.
2 Categories averaged on a per-day basis.
For example, the Food2 daily average is for all meals for an entire day, while Entertainment1 is for each individual purchase. Thus, the overall daily average cost is not a summation of the individual categories.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.
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