Cost of living comparison
Lilongwe is 3.1 times more expensive than Ashgabat.
- Restaurants
-
pay 76.4% less in Lilongwe
- Groceries
-
pay 56.1% less in Lilongwe
- Transportation
-
pay 2.3 times more in Lilongwe
- Housing
-
pay 71.0% less in Lilongwe
- Childcare
-
pay 15.4 times more in Lilongwe
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 73.9% less in Lilongwe
The cost of childcare and transportation in Lilongwe are more expensive than in Ashgabat. Expenses including restaurants, entertainment and sports, housing, and groceries are lower in Lilongwe. Notably, childcare and transportation are significantly more expensive in Lilongwe.
If you lived in Lilongwe instead of Ashgabat, you would:
pay 76.4% less for restaurants
|
Ashgabat
|
Lilongwe
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$34.54
TMT120.90
|
$3.46
MWK6,025.48
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$12.82
TMT44.87
|
?? | |
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$3.24
TMT11.34
|
$0.91
MWK1,593.57
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.04
TMT3.66
|
$0.34
MWK592.06
|
|
pay 56.1% less for groceries
|
Ashgabat
|
Lilongwe
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.39
TMT8.35
|
$1.41
MWK2,461.29
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$17.90
TMT62.65
|
$7.88
MWK13,722.98
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$16.12
TMT56.43
|
$5.24
MWK9,118.28
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$6.84
TMT23.93
|
$3.06
MWK5,320.84
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$5.38
TMT18.85
|
$1.30
MWK2,255.42
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.71
TMT9.50
|
$1.07
MWK1,855.10
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$4.01
TMT14.02
|
$0.59
MWK1,031.79
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$3.65
TMT12.78
|
?? | |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.71
TMT5.99
|
$0.56
MWK981.86
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.03
TMT3.62
|
$0.84
MWK1,456.97
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.84
TMT2.94
|
$0.56
MWK981.72
|
|
pay 2.3 times more for transportation
|
Ashgabat
|
Lilongwe
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$1.56
TMT5.47
|
$6.43
MWK11,193.70
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$8.55
TMT29.91
|
$4.32
MWK7,527.24
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$43,803.42
TMT153,311.97
|
?? | |
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$9.69
TMT33.90
|
?? | |
pay 71.0% less for housing
|
Ashgabat
|
Lilongwe
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$94.97
TMT332.38
|
$62.37
MWK108,621.51
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,125.36
TMT3,938.75
|
?? | |
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$747.86
TMT2,617.52
|
$67.61
MWK117,754.36
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$435.73
TMT1,525.05
|
$53.53
MWK93,228.57
|
|
pay 15.4 times more for childcare
|
Ashgabat
|
Lilongwe
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$22.79
TMT79.77
|
$350.00
MWK609,571.42
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters | ?? |
$2,349.49
MWK4,091,941.58
|
|
pay 73.9% less for entertainment and sports
|
Ashgabat
|
Lilongwe
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$5.06
TMT17.70
|
$1.08
MWK1,881.28
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$6.98
TMT24.43
|
$3.21
MWK5,588.97
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$28.49
TMT99.72
|
$1.59
MWK2,763.16
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$147.20
TMT515.19
|
$44.05
MWK76,723.90
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$14.25
TMT49.86
|
$3.95
MWK6,880.42
|
|
pay (unknown) more for clothing
|
Ashgabat
|
Lilongwe
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$85.47
TMT299.15
|
?? | |
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$121.08
TMT423.79
|
?? | |
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$163.82
TMT573.36
|
?? | |
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$170.94
TMT598.29
|
?? |
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