Cash per day in Malawi?

My average daily budget in Malawi hovered close to $75, considering food from street vendors, taxis within Lilongwe, and minor tipping for guides and servers. The local currency, Malawian kwacha, was easily accessed via Ecobank ATMs. I recommend planning with cash, as even small towns stay largely cash-based.

In Malawi, especially around Zomba, daily costs for meals, transport, and small tips added up to about $70. Staying in guesthouses nearby helped, and taxis to tourist areas averaged 4,000 MWK. I found it convenient to carry around that budget in cash since many rural areas preferred cash payments.

I budgeted roughly $65 per day in Malawi for simple meals and taxis around Blantyre. Food markets offered cheap, tasty options, while local minibusses (buses) provided affordable transport, costing about 1,000 MWK per ride. Tips aren’t mandatory but appreciated if service is great. I withdrew cash from Standard Bank Malawi ATMs regularly, as card payments weren’t widespread outside hotels and larger shops.

While traveling in Lilongwe, I found it comfortable to carry about 70,000 to 90,000 MWK ($60-$75 USD) daily for meals, transport, and tipping. Local meals at spots near the Old Town Market cost around 1,500 MWK, and taxis inside the city typically charged between 3,000 to 5,000 MWK. Staying at the Latitude 13 Hotel meant food and transport were accessible. Having cash is important as many places don’t take cards, and ATM availability can be patchy outside urban areas.