Cost of living comparison
Lilongwe is 2.2 times more expensive than Asmara.
- Restaurants
-
pay 68.5% less in Lilongwe
- Groceries
-
pay 41.6% more in Lilongwe
- Transportation
-
pay 36.6% less in Lilongwe
- Housing
-
pay 0.9% more in Lilongwe
- Childcare
-
pay 7.7 times more in Lilongwe
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 2.2 times more in Lilongwe
The cost of childcare, entertainment and sports, groceries, and housing in Lilongwe are more expensive than in Asmara. Expenses including restaurants and transportation are lower in Lilongwe. Notably, childcare and entertainment and sports are significantly more expensive in Lilongwe.
If you lived in Lilongwe instead of Asmara, you would:
pay 68.5% less for restaurants
|
Asmara
|
Lilongwe
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$18.14
ERN272.04
|
$3.46
MWK6,001.10
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$5.99
ERN89.85
|
?? | |
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$1.83
ERN27.50
|
$0.91
MWK1,587.12
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.33
ERN20.00
|
$0.34
MWK589.66
|
|
pay 41.6% more for groceries
|
Asmara
|
Lilongwe
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$0.50
ERN7.50
|
$1.41
MWK2,451.33
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$1.50
ERN22.50
|
$7.88
MWK13,667.44
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$6.14
ERN92.11
|
$5.24
MWK9,081.37
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$4.52
ERN67.80
|
$3.06
MWK5,299.30
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$12.17
ERN182.57
|
$1.30
MWK2,246.29
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$5.54
ERN83.16
|
$1.07
MWK1,847.59
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.58
ERN8.69
|
$0.59
MWK1,027.61
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$0.86
ERN12.85
|
?? | |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.55
ERN8.32
|
$0.56
MWK977.88
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.80
ERN11.94
|
$0.84
MWK1,451.08
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.48
ERN7.26
|
$0.56
MWK977.75
|
|
pay 36.6% less for transportation
|
Asmara
|
Lilongwe
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$8.83
ERN132.49
|
$6.43
MWK11,148.40
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$8.00
ERN120.00
|
$4.32
MWK7,496.78
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$66,666.00
ERN999,990.00
|
?? | |
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$5.73
ERN85.99
|
?? | |
pay 0.9% more for housing
|
Asmara
|
Lilongwe
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$200.00
ERN3,000.00
|
$62.37
MWK108,181.90
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$475.00
ERN7,125.00
|
?? | |
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$400.00
ERN6,000.00
|
$67.61
MWK117,277.79
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$21.03
ERN315.44
|
$53.53
MWK92,851.26
|
|
pay 7.7 times more for childcare
|
Asmara
|
Lilongwe
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$25.00
ERN375.00
|
$350.00
MWK607,104.39
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$1,675.00
ERN25,125.00
|
$2,349.49
MWK4,075,380.83
|
|
pay 2.2 times more for entertainment and sports
|
Asmara
|
Lilongwe
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$1.00
ERN15.00
|
$1.08
MWK1,873.67
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$0.77
ERN11.58
|
$3.21
MWK5,566.35
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$2.00
ERN30.00
|
$1.59
MWK2,751.98
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$27.00
ERN405.00
|
$44.05
MWK76,413.39
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$1.10
ERN16.50
|
$3.95
MWK6,852.58
|
|
pay (unknown) more for clothing
|
Asmara
|
Lilongwe
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$82.50
ERN1,237.50
|
?? | |
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$75.00
ERN1,125.00
|
?? | |
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$200.00
ERN3,000.00
|
?? | |
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$95.00
ERN1,425.00
|
?? |
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