Cost of living comparison
Malawi is 27.9% cheaper than Costa Rica.
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
CRC4,975.61
|
$4.32
MWK7,517.07
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.08
CRC4,635.67
|
$9.04
MWK15,730.71
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.01
CRC1,026.32
|
$0.87
MWK1,516.56
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.49
CRC761.37
|
$0.43
MWK752.93
|
|
pay 26.4% less for groceries
|
Costa Rica
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.53
CRC1,292.57
|
$1.36
MWK2,373.87
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$3.76
CRC1,920.70
|
$4.82
MWK8,381.11
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$6.98
CRC3,560.88
|
$4.51
MWK7,850.76
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.21
CRC1,639.69
|
$2.31
MWK4,011.81
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$3.97
CRC2,026.96
|
$1.93
MWK3,349.47
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.79
CRC913.40
|
$1.03
MWK1,799.85
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.62
CRC314.90
|
$0.81
MWK1,408.31
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.22
CRC620.92
|
$1.12
MWK1,945.88
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.22
CRC623.60
|
$0.53
MWK916.86
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.09
CRC558.59
|
$0.72
MWK1,251.80
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.11
CRC568.50
|
$0.59
MWK1,019.77
|
|
pay 12.2% less for transportation
|
Costa Rica
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$5.63
CRC2,872.34
|
$6.19
MWK10,763.22
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$49.00
CRC25,011.74
|
$4.32
MWK7,516.81
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$35,063.37
CRC17,898,258.10
|
$35,669.17
MWK62,036,520.02
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$15.62
CRC7,974.44
|
$20.40
MWK35,484.15
|
|
pay 22.1% more for housing
|
Costa Rica
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$48.50
CRC24,757.27
|
$186.12
MWK323,711.96
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$778.04
CRC397,152.88
|
$202.19
MWK351,645.78
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$547.50
CRC279,475.56
|
$98.76
MWK171,770.38
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$68.26
CRC34,842.46
|
$41.29
MWK71,805.30
|
|
pay 59.1% less for childcare
|
Costa Rica
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$519.07
CRC264,960.41
|
$354.75
MWK616,994.98
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$10,987.74
CRC5,608,743.64
|
$1,467.81
MWK2,552,844.18
|
|
pay 42.5% less for entertainment and sports
|
Costa Rica
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$2.73
CRC1,392.09
|
$1.12
MWK1,946.93
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.65
CRC1,865.32
|
$2.91
MWK5,066.22
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$4.58
CRC2,339.06
|
$1.59
MWK2,759.34
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$59.46
CRC30,351.92
|
$51.33
MWK89,279.59
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$8.63
CRC4,403.14
|
$3.95
MWK6,870.89
|
|
pay 31.5% less for clothing
|
Costa Rica
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$65.32
CRC33,344.76
|
$45.22
MWK78,654.49
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$44.54
CRC22,735.83
|
$34.94
MWK60,773.55
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$110.39
CRC56,346.79
|
$59.17
MWK102,912.24
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$97.22
CRC49,624.79
|
$70.71
MWK122,971.76
|
|
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