CFSC BASIC NEEDS BASKET: BLANTYRE, LILONGWE, MZUZU & ZOMBA
FEBRUARY 2008
(A) COST OF BASIC FOOD ITEMS FOR A FAMILY OF SIX IN BLANTYRE, LILONGWE, ZOMBA & MZUZU
Blantyre
Commodity
Quantity
Kwacha Total
Maize (50 Kg Bag)
2 Bags
2500
5000
Milling (+Grinding)
14 Tins
35
490
Beans
6.4 Kg
220
1408
Usipa
1 Kg
886
886
Dry Utaka
0.8 Kg
800
640
Kapenta
0.8 Kgs
861
689
Beef
4 Kgs
366
1464
Eggs
48
18
864
Rape
22.5 Kgs
84
1890
Tomatoes
15 Kgs
153
2295
Onion
3.5 Kgs
161
564
Fresh Milk 30 days
15x500 ml pkt
77
1155
Kazinga Cooking Oil
3x 1 Liters
440
1320
Bread
20 Loaves
97
1940
Sugar
8 Kgs
123
984
Kitchen Salt
1 Kg
68
68
Tea (Chisangalalo)
20 x 50g
27
540
Sweet Potatoes
16 Kgs
40
640
Sub-total (Food Basket)
MK22, 836
Lilongwe
Kwacha Total
2270
4540
52
728
202
1293
753
753
917
734
832
666
371
1484
18
864
59
1328
126
1890
181
634
71
1065
434
1302
97
1940
121
968
74
74
19
380
48
768
MK21, 411
Mzuzu
Kwacha Total
3000
6000
58
812
223
1427
650
650
900
720
820
656
350
1400
22
1056
70
1575
144
2160
195
683
81
1215
450
1350
100
2000
121
968
88
88
18
360
27
640
MK23, 552
992
1984
86
860
61
488
88
176
108
216
2280
2280
1400
1400
5900
5900
MK13, 304
MK34, 713
840 1680
89
890
71
568
104
208
111
222
2100
2100
1450
1450
5000
5000
MK20, 118
MK35, 670
Zomba
Kwacha Total
1400
2800
44
616
244
1562
940
940
940
752
725
580
363
1452
17
816
68
1530
126
1890
183
641
73
1095
463
1389
100
2000
120
960
70
70
19
380
39
624
MK20, 096
(B) COST OF ESSENTIAL NON-FOOD ITEMS
Charcoal (50 Kgs)
2 Bags
900
1800
Protex
10 Tablets
82
820
Boom
8 Packets
64
512
Clere Body Lotion
2 x 400 Mls
85
170
Vaseline Blue Seal
2 x 100 Mls
109
218
Electricity (Meter)
Average/Month 1600
1600
Water (Meter)
Average/Month 1400
1400
Housing (2 Bed rooms) Rent/Month
4000
4000
Sub-total
MK10, 520
Total for Basic Needs Basket
MK33, 356
Totals from
previous months
Feb 07
Lilongwe
26,650
Mar 07
26,592
Apr 07
May 07
28,612
June 07
26,618
26,558
July 07
27,064
August 07
26,631
Sept. 07
27, 840
Oct. 07
28,915
730
1460
84
840
68
544
95
190
120
240
1550
1550
1275
1275
5800
5800
MK11, 899
MK31, 995
Nov. 07
29,173
Dec. 07
Jan. 08
30, 769
33, 640
(C) SOME OTHER ADDITIONAL COSTS
Blantyre Lilongwe Mzuzu
Education (per year)
Secondary (fees)
5,100
5,180
5, 000
Primary (GPF)
480
750
480
Uniform (Primary)
3, 600
1,800 1, 300
Uniform (Secondary) 4, 500
3,240 2, 742
Other (Stationary)
5, 350
3,120
Zomba
4, 775
650
2, 029
3, 544
3, 666
Fuel (cost at the pump)
Diesel (per litre)
187.60
Petrol (per litre)
200.90
Paraffin (per litre)
132.20
Minibus fare to town and back
LL:180 - 200; BT: 80 - 140; ZA:100 – 120; MZ: 140
(D) SOME COMPARATIVE FIGURES OF WAGES-- (GROSS PAY)
Pay Slip
Teacher (K)
K17, 531K22, 031
Nurse (I)
K37, 275K42, 490
Cleaner (P)
K6, 379K7, 177
Police Constable (K)
K16, 435K20, 905
Clerk (M)
K8, 740K9, 820
Guard (Q)
K7, 205
K7, 555
The CFSC conducted the monthly survey on 21 st and 22nd February 2008. Cost of living continues to be very high in Mzuzu and much
lower in Zomba. The Basic Needs Basket for Blantyre and Lilongwe has gone up by 7.5% (from MK31, 043) and 3.2% (from MK33,
640), respectively. For Mzuzu and Zomba, cost of living has gone down by 0.9% (from MK36, 022) and 0.2% (from MK32, 054),
respectively. The decline in the cost of living in the two cities, however, does not translate into improved welfare because there is still
a huge gap between what people are supposed to spend and what they are actually able to spend.
Center for Social Concern, P.O. Box 40049, Lilongwe, Malawi
Tel: 265-1-715-632 Fax: 260-1-716-136 E-mail: cfsc@malawi.net ; Location : Next to St. Francis Catholic Parish, Area 25C, Kanengo
Website: www.cfscmalawi.org
CFSC BASIC NEEDS BASKET: BLANTYRE, LILONGWE, MZUZU & ZOMBA
MARCH 2008
(B) COST OF BASIC FOOD ITEMS FOR A FAMILY OF SIX IN BLANTYRE, LILONGWE, ZOMBA & MZUZU
Blantyre
Commodity
Quantity
Kwacha Total
Maize (50 Kg Bag)
2 Bags
2750
5500
Milling (+Grinding)
14 Tins
35
490
Beans
6.4 Kg
220
1408
Usipa
1 Kg
886
886
Dry Utaka
0.8 Kg
800
640
Kapenta
0.8 Kgs
861
689
Beef
4 Kgs
357
1428
Eggs
48
18
864
Rape
22.5 Kgs
88
1980
Tomatoes
15 Kgs
153
2295
Onion
3.5 Kgs
163
571
Fresh Milk 30 days
15x500 ml pkt
79
1185
Kazinga Cooking Oil
3x 1 Liters
440
1320
Bread
20 Loaves
97
1940
Sugar
8 Kgs
123
984
Kitchen Salt
1 Kg
68
68
Tea (Chisangalalo)
20 x 50g
27
540
Sweet Potatoes
16 Kgs
40
640
Sub-total (Food Basket)
MK23, 428
Lilongwe
Kwacha Total
3142
6284
50
700
202
1312
697
697
1053
842
1001
800
411
1644
19
912
62
1395
89
1335
177
620
73
1095
427
1281
99
1980
121
968
84
84
19
380
44
704
MK23, 033
Mzuzu
Kwacha Total
4333
8666
55
770
200
1280
650
650
920
736
820
656
350
1400
22
1056
70
1575
115
1725
175
613
79
1185
461
1383
98
1960
122
976
81
81
19
380
45
720
MK25, 812
1025
2050
88
880
61
488
89
178
107
214
2280
2280
1400
1400
5900
5900
MK13, 390
MK36, 423
800 1760
92
920
71
568
102
204
111
222
2100
2100
1450
1450
5000
5000
MK12, 224
MK38, 036
Zomba
Kwacha Total
1270
2540
40
560
216
1382
820
820
820
656
784
627
375
1500
18
864
62
1395
110
1650
193
676
75
1125
460
1380
100
2000
120
960
69
69
20
400
23
368
MK18, 972
(B) COST OF ESSENTIAL NON-FOOD ITEMS
Charcoal (50 Kgs)
2 Bags
900
1800
Protex
10 Tablets
83
830
Boom
8 Packets
64
512
Clere Body Lotion
2 x 400 Mls
86
172
Vaseline Blue Seal
2 x 100 Mls
110
220
Electricity (Meter)
Average/Month 1600
1600
Water (Meter)
Average/Month 1400
1400
Housing (2 Bed rooms) Rent/Month
4000
4000
Sub-total
MK10, 534
Total for Basic Needs Basket
MK33, 962
Totals from
previous months
Mar 07
Lilongwe
26,592
Apr 07
28,612
May 07
June 07
26,618
August 07
July 07
26,558
27,064
26,631
Sept. 07
27, 840
Oct. 07
28,915
Nov. 07
730
1460
84
840
66
528
95
190
116
232
1550
1550
1275
1275
5800
5800
MK11, 875
MK30, 847
Dec. 07
29,173
30, 769
Jan. 08
Feb. 08
33, 640
34, 713
(C) SOME OTHER ADDITIONAL COSTS
Blantyre Lilongwe Mzuzu
Education (per year)
Secondary (fees)
5,100
5,180
5, 000
Primary (GPF)
480
750
480
Uniform (Primary)
3, 600
1,800 1, 300
Uniform (Secondary) 4, 500
3,240 2, 742
Other (Stationary)
5, 350
3,120
Zomba
4, 775
650
2, 029
3, 544
3, 666
Fuel (cost at the pump)
Diesel (per litre)
187.60
Petrol (per litre)
200.90
Paraffin (per litre)
132.20
Minibus fare to town and back
LL:180 - 200; BT: 80 - 140; ZA:100 – 120; MZ: 140
BNB is a GUIDE in making economic policies that will allow people to live in a decent, dignified, healthy and sustainable way.
(D) SOME COMPARATIVE FIGURES OF WAGES-- (GROSS PAY)
Monthly
Wage
Teacher (K)
Nurse (I)
K17, 531K22, 031
K37, 275K42, 490
Cleaner (P)
K6, 379K7, 177
Police Constable (K)
K16, 435K20, 905
Clerk (M)
K8, 740K9, 820
Guard (Q)
K7, 205
K7, 555
The CFSC conducted the monthly survey from 17 th to 24th March 2008. Cost of living continues to be very high in Mzuzu and
Lilongwe, and much lower in Zomba and Blantyre. The Basic Needs Basket for Blantyre, Lilongwe and Mzuzu has gone up by1.8%
(from MK33, 356), 4.9% (from MK34, 713) and 6.7% (from MK35, 670), respectively. In Zomba, cost of living has gone down by
3.6% (from MK31, 995).
Center for Social Concern, P.O. Box 40049, Lilongwe, Malawi
Tel: 265-1-715-632 Fax: 265-1-716-136 E-mail: cfsc@malawi.net ; Location : Next to St. Francis Catholic Parish, Area 25C, Kanengo
Website: www.cfscmalawi.org
CFSC BASIC NEEDS BASKET: BLANTYRE, LILONGWE, MZUZU & ZOMBA
APRIL 2008
(C) COST OF BASIC FOOD ITEMS FOR A FAMILY OF SIX IN BLANTYRE, LILONGWE, ZOMBA & MZUZU
Blantyre
Commodity
Quantity
Kwacha Total
Maize (50 Kg Bag)
2 Bags
1907
3814
Milling (+Grinding)
14 Tins
35
490
Beans
6.4 Kg
184
1178
Usipa
1 Kg
1126
1126
Dry Utaka
0.8 Kg
1133
906
Kapenta
0.8 Kgs
1104
883
Beef
4 Kgs
389
1556
Eggs
48
19
912
Rape
22.5 Kgs
79
1778
Tomatoes
15 Kgs
132
1980
Onion
3.5 Kgs
209
732
Fresh Milk 30 days
15x500 ml pkt
79
1185
Kazinga Cooking Oil
3x 1 Liters
482
1446
Bread
20 Loaves
101
2020
Sugar
8 Kgs
122
976
Kitchen Salt
1 Kg
76
76
Tea (Chisangalalo)
20 x 50g
26
520
Sweet Potatoes
16 Kgs
33
528
Sub-total (Food Basket)
MK22, 105
Lilongwe
Kwacha Total
2063
4126
53
742
178
1139
1100
1100
1404
1123
984
787
439
1756
22
1056
56
1260
116
1740
151
529
78
1170
480
1440
100
2000
121
968
85
85
20
400
35
560
MK21, 981
Mzuzu
Kwacha Total
2050
4100
60
840
194
1242
908
908
1200
960
893
714
430
1720
23
1104
69
1553
136
2040
148
518
78
1170
463
1389
101
2020
120
960
80
80
20
400
39
624
MK22, 342
1075
2150
94
940
61
488
93
186
114
228
2280
2280
1400
1400
7000
7000
MK14, 672
MK36, 653
1020
2040
93
930
73
584
109
218
113
226
2100
2100
1450
1450
6000
6000
MK13, 548
MK35, 890
Zomba
Kwacha Total
1270
2540
44
616
232
1485
920
920
920
736
754
603
383
1532
18
864
44
990
96
1440
147
515
75
1125
463
1389
100
2000
117
936
69
69
20
400
23
368
MK18, 528
(B) COST OF ESSENTIAL NON-FOOD ITEMS
Charcoal (50 Kgs)
2 Bags
943
1886
Protex
10 Tablets
84
840
Boom
8 Packets
65
520
Clere Body Lotion
2 x 400 Mls
90
180
Vaseline Blue Seal
2 x 100 Mls
114
228
Electricity (Meter)
Average/Month 1800
1800
Water (Meter)
Average/Month 1600
1600
Housing (2 Bed rooms) Rent/Month
6000
6000
Sub-total
MK13, 054
Total for Basic Needs Basket
MK35, 159
Totals from
previous months
Apr 07
Lilongwe
28,612
May 07
26,618
June 07
July 07
26,558
August 07
27,064
26,631
Sept. 07
27, 840
Oct. 07
28,915
Nov. 07
29,173
Dec. 07
760
1520
94
940
66
528
97
194
118
236
1700
1700
1450
1450
6700
6700
MK13, 268
MK31, 796
Jan. 08
30, 769
33, 640
Feb. 08
Mar. 08
34, 713
36, 423
(C) SOME OTHER ADDITIONAL COSTS
Blantyre Lilongwe Mzuzu
Education (per year)
Secondary (fees)
5,100
5,180
5, 000
Primary (GPF)
480
750
480
Uniform (Primary)
3, 600
1,800 1, 300
Uniform (Secondary) 4, 500
3,240 2, 742
Other (Stationary)
5, 350
3,120
Zomba
4, 775
650
2, 029
3, 544
3, 666
Fuel (cost at the pump)
Diesel (per litre)
187.60
Petrol (per litre)
200.90
Paraffin (per litre)
132.20
Minibus fare to town and back
LL:180 - 200; BT: 80 - 140; ZA:100 – 120; MZ: 140
The CFSC BNB: a focal point for discussing working conditions with employees and government.
(D) SOME COMPARATIVE FIGURES OF WAGES-- (GROSS PAY)
Monthly
Wage
Teacher (K)
Nurse (I)
K17, 531K22, 031
K37, 275K42, 490
Cleaner (P)
K6, 379K7, 177
Police Constable (K)
K16, 435K20, 905
Clerk (M)
K8, 740K9, 820
Guard (Q)
K7, 205
K7, 555
The CFSC conducted this survey from 21st to 26th April 2008. The minimum cost of essential food items has declined in all the cities
because of falling maize prices. Minimum total cost of living, however, continues to rise in all the cities, reflecting an increase in non
food items as well as prices of other food items such as fish. The cost of living for April is approximately US$251, US$262, US$256
and US$227 for Blantyre, Lilongwe, Mzuzu and Zomba, respectively.
Center for Social Concern, P.O. Box 40049, Lilongwe, Malawi
Tel: 265-1-715-632 Fax: 265-1-716-136 E-mail: cfsc@malawi.net ; Location : Next to St. Francis Catholic Parish, Area 25C, Kanengo
Website: www.cfscmalawi.org
CFSC BASIC NEEDS BASKET: BLANTYRE, LILONGWE, MZUZU & ZOMBA
MAY 2008
(D) COST OF BASIC FOOD ITEMS FOR A FAMILY OF SIX IN BLANTYRE, LILONGWE, ZOMBA & MZUZU
Blantyre
Commodity
Quantity
Kwacha Total
Maize (50 Kg Bag)
2 Bags
1825
3650
Milling (+Grinding)
14 Tins
43
602
Beans
6.4 Kg
193
1235
Usipa
1 Kg
1386
1386
Dry Utaka
0.8 Kg
1095
876
Kapenta
0.8 Kgs
1274
1019
Beef
4 Kgs
404
1616
Eggs
48
23
1104
Rape
22.5 Kgs
63
1418
Tomatoes
15 Kgs
172
2580
Onion
3.5 Kgs
162
567
Fresh Milk 30 days
15x500 ml pkt
79
1185
Kazinga Cooking Oil
3x 1 Liters
520
1560
Bread
20 Loaves
112
2240
Sugar
8 Kgs
120
960
Kitchen Salt
1 Kg
73
73
Tea (Chisangalalo)
20 x 50g
21
420
Sweet Potatoes
16 Kgs
38
608
Sub-total (Food Basket)
MK23, 099
Lilongwe
Kwacha Total
2020
4040
53
742
207
1325
894
894
1197
958
1130
904
456
1824
25
1200
71
1598
175
2625
191
669
80
1200
508
1524
108
2160
119
952
85
85
19
380
30
480
MK23, 546
Mzuzu
Kwacha Total
2450
4900
53
742
206
1318
850
850
840
672
943
754
400
1600
24
1104
76
1710
181
2715
203
711
84
1260
545
1635
107
2140
122
976
95
95
19
380
35
560
MK24, 170
1283
2566
96
960
62
496
91
182
117
234
2280
2280
1400
1400
7000
7000
MK15, 018
MK38, 564
1410
2820
96
960
70
560
117
234
123
246
2100
2100
1450
1450
6000
6000
MK14, 370
MK38, 540
Zomba
Kwacha Total
1700
3400
40
560
250
1600
1080
1080
920
736
748
598
425
1700
23
1104
65
1463
122
1830
148
518
77
1155
525
1575
110
2200
118
944
70
70
20
400
35
560
MK21, 943
(B) COST OF ESSENTIAL NON-FOOD ITEMS
Charcoal (50 Kgs)
2 Bags
Protex
10 Tablets
Boom
8 Packets
Clere Body Lotion
2 x 400 Mls
Vaseline Blue Seal
2 x 100 Mls
Electricity (Meter)
Average/Month
Water (Meter)
Average/Month
Housing (2 Bed rooms) Rent/Month
Sub-total
Total for Basic Needs Basket
Totals from
previous months
May 07
Lilongwe
26,618
June 07
26,558
July 07
1367
2734
88
880
69
552
93
186
113
226
1900 1900
1600
1600
6000
6000
MK14, 078
MK37, 177
August 07
27,064
Sept. 07
26,631
27, 840
Oct. 07
28,915
Nov. 07
29,173
Dec. 07
30, 769
Jan. 08
1175
2320
96
960
69
552
97
194
119
238
1700
1700
1500
1500
6700
6700
MK14, 194
MK36, 197
Feb. 08
33, 640
34, 713
Mar. 08
Apr. 08
36, 423
36, 553
(C) SOME OTHER ADDITIONAL COSTS
Blantyre Lilongwe Mzuzu
Education (per year)
Secondary (fees)
5,100
5,180
5, 000
Primary (GPF)
480
750
480
Uniform (Primary)
3, 600
1,800 1, 300
Uniform (Secondary) 4, 500
3,240 2, 742
Other (Stationary)
5, 350
3,120
Zomba
4, 775
650
2, 029
3, 544
3, 666
Fuel (cost at the pump)
Diesel (per litre)
187.60
Petrol (per litre)
200.90
Paraffin (per litre)
132.20
Minibus fare to town and back
LL:180 - 200; BT: 80 - 140; ZA:100 – 120; MZ: 140
The CFSC Basic Needs Basket - A starting point for critically analyzing the National Budget.
(D) SOME COMPARATIVE FIGURES OF WAGES-- (GROSS PAY)
Monthly
Wage
Teacher (K)
Nurse (I)
K17, 531K22, 031
K37, 275K42, 490
Cleaner (P)
K6, 379K7, 177
Police Constable (K)
K16, 435K20, 905
Clerk (M)
K8, 740K9, 820
Guard (Q)
K7, 205
K7, 555
The CFSC conducted this survey from 19th to 28th May 2008. Cost of living has gone up in all the four cities over the month of May,
widening further the gap between average levels of income and cost of basic needs for ordinary Malawian families.
Center for Social Concern, P.O. Box 40049, Lilongwe, Malawi
Tel: 265-1-715-632 Fax: 265-1-716-136 E-mail: cfsc@malawi.net ; Location : Next to St. Francis Catholic Parish, Area 25C, Kanengo
Website: www.cfscmalawi.org