Cost of living comparison
Bishkek is 26.6% more expensive than Lilongwe.
- Restaurants
-
pay 13.0% more in Bishkek
- Groceries
-
pay 17.7% less in Bishkek
- Transportation
-
pay 9.9% more in Bishkek
- Housing
-
pay 94.9% more in Bishkek
- Childcare
-
pay 64.2% more in Bishkek
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 4.5% less in Bishkek
The cost of housing, childcare, restaurants, and transportation in Bishkek are more expensive than in Lilongwe. Expenses including groceries and entertainment and sports are lower in Bishkek. Notably, housing is significantly more expensive in Bishkek.
If you lived in Bishkek instead of Lilongwe, you would:
pay 13.0% more for restaurants
|
Lilongwe
|
Bishkek
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$3.46
MWK5,986.55
|
$5.80
KGS507.25
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
?? |
$5.68
KGS497.11
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.91
MWK1,583.27
|
$0.68
KGS59.14
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.34
MWK588.23
|
$0.33
KGS28.98
|
|
pay 17.7% less for groceries
|
Lilongwe
|
Bishkek
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$1.41
MWK2,445.39
|
$0.48
KGS41.78
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$7.88
MWK13,634.33
|
$5.14
KGS449.42
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$5.24
MWK9,059.37
|
$3.25
KGS283.83
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.06
MWK5,286.46
|
$1.76
KGS153.67
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$1.30
MWK2,240.84
|
$2.41
KGS211.16
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.07
MWK1,843.11
|
$0.47
KGS41.22
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.59
MWK1,025.12
|
$0.85
KGS74.39
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) | ?? |
$0.94
KGS82.52
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.56
MWK975.51
|
$0.90
KGS78.92
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.84
MWK1,447.56
|
$0.23
KGS19.88
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.56
MWK975.38
|
$0.24
KGS21.00
|
|
pay 9.9% more for transportation
|
Lilongwe
|
Bishkek
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$6.43
MWK11,121.38
|
$2.90
KGS254.01
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$4.32
MWK7,478.61
|
$7.54
KGS659.43
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) | ?? |
$39,443.16
KGS3,449,303.94
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) | ?? |
$4.18
KGS365.22
|
|
pay 94.9% more for housing
|
Lilongwe
|
Bishkek
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$62.37
MWK107,919.78
|
$12.05
KGS1,053.48
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area | ?? |
$474.69
KGS41,511.27
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$67.61
MWK116,993.62
|
$353.07
KGS30,875.68
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$53.53
MWK92,626.28
|
$23.19
KGS2,027.91
|
|
pay 64.2% more for childcare
|
Lilongwe
|
Bishkek
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$350.00
MWK605,633.36
|
$230.15
KGS20,126.58
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$2,349.49
MWK4,065,506.09
|
$6,168.50
KGS539,435.63
|
|
pay 4.5% less for entertainment and sports
|
Lilongwe
|
Bishkek
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$1.08
MWK1,869.13
|
$1.16
KGS101.45
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.21
MWK5,552.86
|
$2.06
KGS179.79
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$1.59
MWK2,745.31
|
$1.56
KGS136.45
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$44.05
MWK76,228.24
|
$43.01
KGS3,760.83
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$3.95
MWK6,835.97
|
$4.35
KGS380.44
|
|
pay (unknown) more for clothing
|
Lilongwe
|
Bishkek
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
?? |
$40.60
KGS3,550.75
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
?? |
$38.86
KGS3,398.58
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
?? |
$103.88
KGS9,084.40
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) | ?? |
$96.67
KGS8,454.18
|
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