By Peter Davie

The Center for Social Concern has raised an alarm over the increasing cost of living in Malawi, which surged from K694,653 in January to K797,908 in February 2025, representing a 14.9% rise.

In its February 2025 Cost of Living Report, the Centre says the price hikes are largely driven by essential commodities such as maize, cooking oil, sugar, and bread.

The report has specifically highlighted the sharp increase in maize prices, which, as the country’s staple food, has seen significant fluctuations across major cities.

In Lilongwe, the price of maize jumped by 23%, rising from K59,375 to K80,000 in February.

Zomba recorded a 19.2% increase, while Blantyre experienced a 30.3% rise in maize prices.