Cost of living comparison
Lilongwe is 23.1% more expensive than Bandar Seri Begawan.
- Restaurants
-
pay 8.7% less in Lilongwe
- Groceries
-
pay 21.3% more in Lilongwe
- Transportation
-
pay 2.2 times more in Lilongwe
- Housing
-
pay 14.2% less in Lilongwe
- Childcare
-
pay 45.4% more in Lilongwe
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 27.2% less in Lilongwe
The cost of transportation, childcare, and groceries in Lilongwe are more expensive than in Bandar Seri Begawan. Expenses including entertainment and sports, housing, and restaurants are lower in Lilongwe. Notably, transportation is significantly more expensive in Lilongwe.
If you lived in Lilongwe instead of Bandar Seri Begawan, you would:
pay 8.7% less for restaurants
|
Bandar Seri Begawan
|
Lilongwe
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$3.22
BND4.14
|
$3.46
MWK6,002.48
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$5.27
BND6.77
|
?? | |
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.83
BND1.07
|
$0.91
MWK1,587.49
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.60
BND0.78
|
$0.34
MWK589.80
|
|
pay 21.3% more for groceries
|
Bandar Seri Begawan
|
Lilongwe
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$1.92
BND2.46
|
$1.41
MWK2,451.89
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$1.50
BND1.93
|
$7.88
MWK13,670.60
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$6.51
BND8.37
|
$5.24
MWK9,083.47
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.32
BND2.98
|
$3.06
MWK5,300.53
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$2.63
BND3.39
|
$1.30
MWK2,246.81
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.49
BND1.92
|
$1.07
MWK1,848.02
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$1.02
BND1.32
|
$0.59
MWK1,027.85
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.71
BND2.19
|
?? | |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.67
BND2.15
|
$0.56
MWK978.11
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.71
BND0.91
|
$0.84
MWK1,451.41
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.77
BND0.99
|
$0.56
MWK977.98
|
|
pay 2.2 times more for transportation
|
Bandar Seri Begawan
|
Lilongwe
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$1.51
BND1.95
|
$6.43
MWK11,150.97
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$22.57
BND29.02
|
$4.32
MWK7,498.51
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$25,582.11
BND32,884.29
|
?? | |
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$25.65
BND32.97
|
?? | |
pay 14.2% less for housing
|
Bandar Seri Begawan
|
Lilongwe
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$51.92
BND66.74
|
$62.37
MWK108,206.92
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$605.59
BND778.45
|
?? | |
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$529.98
BND681.26
|
$67.61
MWK117,304.91
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$42.96
BND55.22
|
$53.53
MWK92,872.74
|
|
pay 45.4% more for childcare
|
Bandar Seri Begawan
|
Lilongwe
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$127.91
BND164.42
|
$350.00
MWK607,244.81
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$13,586.95
BND17,465.22
|
$2,349.49
MWK4,076,323.44
|
|
pay 27.2% less for entertainment and sports
|
Bandar Seri Begawan
|
Lilongwe
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$1.88
BND2.42
|
$1.08
MWK1,874.10
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.12
BND4.01
|
$3.21
MWK5,567.64
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$15.05
BND19.34
|
$1.59
MWK2,752.62
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$41.49
BND53.34
|
$44.05
MWK76,431.06
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$4.55
BND5.85
|
$3.95
MWK6,854.16
|
|
pay (unknown) more for clothing
|
Bandar Seri Begawan
|
Lilongwe
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$22.90
BND29.44
|
?? | |
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$30.54
BND39.25
|
?? | |
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$88.33
BND113.54
|
?? | |
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$88.15
BND113.31
|
?? |
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