Cost of living comparison
Lilongwe is 3.8% cheaper than Bissau.
- Restaurants
-
pay 46.2% less in Lilongwe
- Groceries
-
pay 62.1% more in Lilongwe
- Transportation
-
pay 20.4% less in Lilongwe
- Housing
-
pay 20.5% less in Lilongwe
- Childcare
-
pay 26.2% less in Lilongwe
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 28.5% more in Lilongwe
The cost of groceries and entertainment and sports in Lilongwe are more expensive than in Bissau. Expenses including restaurants, childcare, housing, and transportation are lower in Lilongwe.
If you lived in Lilongwe instead of Bissau, you would:
pay 46.2% less for restaurants
|
Bissau
|
Lilongwe
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$4.90
F CFA2,833
|
$3.46
MWK5,995.72
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.43
F CFA5,450
|
?? | |
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$1.31
F CFA756
|
$0.91
MWK1,585.70
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.63
F CFA944
|
$0.34
MWK589.13
|
|
pay 62.1% more for groceries
|
Bissau
|
Lilongwe
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$0.90
F CFA521
|
$1.41
MWK2,449.13
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$7.28
F CFA4,206
|
$7.88
MWK13,655.19
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$6.18
F CFA3,575
|
$5.24
MWK9,073.23
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$4.90
F CFA2,833
|
$3.06
MWK5,294.55
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$5.93
F CFA3,427
|
$1.30
MWK2,244.27
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.85
F CFA1,071
|
$1.07
MWK1,845.93
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.44
F CFA257
|
$0.59
MWK1,026.69
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.85
F CFA1,071
|
?? | |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.07
F CFA43
|
$0.56
MWK977.01
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.59
F CFA343
|
$0.84
MWK1,449.78
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.59
F CFA343
|
$0.56
MWK976.87
|
|
pay 20.4% less for transportation
|
Bissau
|
Lilongwe
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.52
F CFA2,612
|
$6.43
MWK11,138.40
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$25.57
F CFA14,782
|
$4.32
MWK7,490.06
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$32,027.10
F CFA18,513,436
|
?? | |
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$6.94
F CFA4,014
|
?? | |
pay 20.5% less for housing
|
Bissau
|
Lilongwe
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$45.27
F CFA26,168
|
$62.37
MWK108,084.91
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$433.95
F CFA250,850
|
?? | |
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$225.47
F CFA130,335
|
$67.61
MWK117,172.64
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$75.86
F CFA43,851
|
$53.53
MWK92,768.01
|
|
pay 26.2% less for childcare
|
Bissau
|
Lilongwe
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$765.65
F CFA442,587
|
$350.00
MWK606,560.10
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$2,307.50
F CFA1,333,864
|
$2,349.49
MWK4,071,727.11
|
|
pay 28.5% more for entertainment and sports
|
Bissau
|
Lilongwe
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$1.55
F CFA897
|
$1.08
MWK1,871.99
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$2.04
F CFA1,181
|
$3.21
MWK5,561.36
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$1.63
F CFA944
|
$1.59
MWK2,749.51
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$57.19
F CFA33,057
|
$44.05
MWK76,344.88
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$1.63
F CFA944
|
$3.95
MWK6,846.43
|
|
pay (unknown) more for clothing
|
Bissau
|
Lilongwe
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$89.86
F CFA51,946
|
?? | |
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$57.19
F CFA33,057
|
?? | |
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$81.69
F CFA47,224
|
?? | |
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$106.20
F CFA61,391
|
?? |
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