Cost of living comparison
Beijing is 2.7 times more expensive than Lilongwe.
- Restaurants
-
pay 11.4% less in Beijing
- Groceries
-
pay 5.7% less in Beijing
- Transportation
-
pay 4.2 times more in Beijing
- Housing
-
pay 2.8 times more in Beijing
- Childcare
-
pay 6.0 times more in Beijing
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 58.9% more in Beijing
The cost of childcare, transportation, housing, and entertainment and sports in Beijing are more expensive than in Lilongwe. Expenses including restaurants and groceries are lower in Beijing. Notably, childcare, transportation, and housing are significantly more expensive in Beijing.
If you lived in Beijing instead of Lilongwe, you would:
pay 11.4% less for restaurants
|
Lilongwe
|
Beijing
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$3.46
MWK5,998.85
|
$4.17
CN¥30.42
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
?? |
$5.57
CN¥40.56
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.91
MWK1,586.53
|
$0.50
CN¥3.61
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.34
MWK589.44
|
$0.31
CN¥2.25
|
|
pay 5.7% less for groceries
|
Lilongwe
|
Beijing
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$1.41
MWK2,450.41
|
$1.43
CN¥10.45
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$7.88
MWK13,662.33
|
$7.31
CN¥53.25
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$5.24
MWK9,077.98
|
$7.17
CN¥52.25
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.06
MWK5,297.32
|
$1.74
CN¥12.67
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$1.30
MWK2,245.45
|
$1.53
CN¥11.16
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.07
MWK1,846.90
|
$0.92
CN¥6.68
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.59
MWK1,027.23
|
$0.71
CN¥5.18
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) | ?? |
$0.89
CN¥6.46
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.56
MWK977.52
|
$0.58
CN¥4.25
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.84
MWK1,450.54
|
$0.37
CN¥2.68
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.56
MWK977.39
|
$0.47
CN¥3.43
|
|
pay 4.2 times more for transportation
|
Lilongwe
|
Beijing
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$6.43
MWK11,144.23
|
$4.36
CN¥31.78
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$4.32
MWK7,493.97
|
$33.40
CN¥243.38
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) | ?? |
$20,872.18
CN¥152,110.18
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) | ?? |
$4.59
CN¥33.46
|
|
pay 2.8 times more for housing
|
Lilongwe
|
Beijing
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$62.37
MWK108,141.46
|
$13.28
CN¥96.81
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area | ?? |
$929.88
CN¥6,776.67
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$67.61
MWK117,233.94
|
$492.44
CN¥3,588.77
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$53.53
MWK92,816.54
|
$42.04
CN¥306.38
|
|
pay 6.0 times more for childcare
|
Lilongwe
|
Beijing
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$350.00
MWK606,877.41
|
$763.49
CN¥5,564.12
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$2,349.49
MWK4,073,857.15
|
$22,913.01
CN¥166,983.17
|
|
pay 58.9% more for entertainment and sports
|
Lilongwe
|
Beijing
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$1.08
MWK1,872.97
|
$1.11
CN¥8.11
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.21
MWK5,564.27
|
$3.60
CN¥26.26
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$1.59
MWK2,750.95
|
$3.48
CN¥25.35
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$44.05
MWK76,384.82
|
$65.46
CN¥477.03
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$3.95
MWK6,850.01
|
$8.35
CN¥60.84
|
|
pay (unknown) more for clothing
|
Lilongwe
|
Beijing
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
?? |
$62.65
CN¥456.61
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
?? |
$34.69
CN¥252.79
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
?? |
$83.45
CN¥608.18
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) | ?? |
$107.64
CN¥784.42
|
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