Cost of living comparison
Malawi is 27.9% cheaper than Costa Rica overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 45.9% less in Malawi
- Groceries
-
pay 26.4% less in Malawi
- Transportation
-
pay 12.2% less in Malawi
- Housing
-
pay 22.1% more in Malawi
- Childcare
-
pay 59.1% less in Malawi
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 42.5% less in Malawi
- Clothing
-
pay 31.5% less in Malawi
Expenses including childcare, restaurants, entertainment and sports, clothing, groceries, and transportation are lower in Malawi.
If you lived in Malawi instead of Costa Rica, you would:
pay 45.9% less for restaurants
Costa Rica
|
Malawi
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$9.75
CRC4,960.41
|
$4.32
MWK7,482.20
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.08
CRC4,621.51
|
$9.04
MWK15,657.73
|
|
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.01
CRC1,023.18
|
$0.87
MWK1,509.52
|
|
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.49
CRC759.04
|
$0.43
MWK749.43
|
|
pay 26.4% less for groceries
Costa Rica
|
Malawi
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.53
CRC1,288.62
|
$1.36
MWK2,362.85
|
|
Local cheese (8 oz) |
$3.76
CRC1,914.83
|
$4.82
MWK8,342.22
|
|
Milk (1 gallon) |
$6.98
CRC3,550.00
|
$4.51
MWK7,814.33
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.21
CRC1,634.68
|
$2.31
MWK3,993.20
|
|
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$3.97
CRC2,020.77
|
$1.93
MWK3,333.93
|
|
Apples (1 lb) |
$1.79
CRC910.60
|
$1.03
MWK1,791.50
|
|
Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.62
CRC313.93
|
$0.81
MWK1,401.78
|
|
Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.22
CRC619.02
|
$1.12
MWK1,936.86
|
|
Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.22
CRC621.69
|
$0.53
MWK912.61
|
|
Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.09
CRC556.88
|
$0.72
MWK1,245.99
|
|
Onions (1 lb) |
$1.11
CRC566.77
|
$0.59
MWK1,015.03
|
|
pay 12.2% less for transportation
Costa Rica
|
Malawi
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$5.63
CRC2,863.57
|
$6.19
MWK10,713.29
|
|
Monthly public transit pass |
$49.00
CRC24,935.34
|
$4.32
MWK7,481.94
|
|
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$35,063.37
CRC17,843,584.03
|
$35,669.17
MWK61,748,694.10
|
|
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$15.62
CRC7,950.08
|
$20.40
MWK35,319.52
|
|
pay 22.1% more for housing
Costa Rica
|
Malawi
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$48.50
CRC24,681.64
|
$186.12
MWK322,210.06
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$778.04
CRC395,939.69
|
$202.19
MWK350,014.27
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$547.50
CRC278,621.84
|
$98.76
MWK170,973.43
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$68.26
CRC34,736.03
|
$41.29
MWK71,472.15
|
|
pay 59.1% less for childcare
Costa Rica
|
Malawi
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$519.07
CRC264,151.03
|
$354.75
MWK614,132.35
|
|
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$10,987.74
CRC5,591,610.53
|
$1,467.81
MWK2,540,999.96
|
|
pay 42.5% less for entertainment and sports
Costa Rica
|
Malawi
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$2.73
CRC1,387.84
|
$1.12
MWK1,937.90
|
|
Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.65
CRC1,859.63
|
$2.91
MWK5,042.71
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$4.58
CRC2,331.92
|
$1.59
MWK2,746.53
|
|
Monthly membership at local gym |
$59.46
CRC30,259.21
|
$51.33
MWK88,865.37
|
|
Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$8.63
CRC4,389.69
|
$3.95
MWK6,839.01
|
|
pay 31.5% less for clothing
Costa Rica
|
Malawi
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$65.32
CRC33,242.90
|
$45.22
MWK78,289.56
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$44.54
CRC22,666.37
|
$34.94
MWK60,491.58
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$110.39
CRC56,174.67
|
$59.17
MWK102,434.77
|
|
Men's business shoes (leather) |
$97.22
CRC49,473.20
|
$70.71
MWK122,401.22
|
|
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