Cost of living comparison
Colombo is 11.1% more expensive than Lilongwe.
- Restaurants
-
pay 2.0% less in Colombo
- Groceries
-
pay 15.5% more in Colombo
- Transportation
-
pay 16.2% more in Colombo
- Housing
-
pay 24.9% more in Colombo
- Childcare
-
pay 83.4% less in Colombo
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 95.2% more in Colombo
The cost of entertainment and sports, housing, transportation, and groceries in Colombo are more expensive than in Lilongwe. Expenses including childcare and restaurants are lower in Colombo. Notably, entertainment and sports is significantly more expensive in Colombo.
If you lived in Colombo instead of Lilongwe, you would:
pay 2.0% less for restaurants
|
Lilongwe
|
Colombo
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$3.46
MWK5,995.72
|
$3.40
LKR1,017.07
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
?? |
$7.48
LKR2,237.55
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.91
MWK1,585.70
|
$0.74
LKR221.21
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.34
MWK589.13
|
$0.39
LKR116.96
|
|
pay 15.5% more for groceries
|
Lilongwe
|
Colombo
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$1.41
MWK2,449.13
|
$0.57
LKR170.50
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$7.88
MWK13,655.19
|
$6.94
LKR2,075.98
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$5.24
MWK9,073.23
|
$6.54
LKR1,957.35
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.06
MWK5,294.55
|
$2.22
LKR663.71
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$1.30
MWK2,244.27
|
$2.38
LKR712.61
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.07
MWK1,845.93
|
$3.28
LKR980.64
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.59
MWK1,026.69
|
$0.51
LKR152.72
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) | ?? |
$2.65
LKR791.78
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.56
MWK977.01
|
$0.53
LKR158.49
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.84
MWK1,449.78
|
$0.51
LKR152.17
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.56
MWK976.87
|
$0.55
LKR163.32
|
|
pay 16.2% more for transportation
|
Lilongwe
|
Colombo
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$6.43
MWK11,138.40
|
$4.84
LKR1,447.35
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$4.32
MWK7,490.06
|
$6.80
LKR2,034.14
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) | ?? |
$35,303.89
LKR10,567,356.18
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) | ?? |
$3.13
LKR935.70
|
|
pay 24.9% more for housing
|
Lilongwe
|
Colombo
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$62.37
MWK108,084.91
|
$16.40
LKR4,908.57
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area | ?? |
$297.60
LKR89,078.37
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$67.61
MWK117,172.64
|
$180.09
LKR53,904.60
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$53.53
MWK92,768.01
|
$43.85
LKR13,124.37
|
|
pay 83.4% less for childcare
|
Lilongwe
|
Colombo
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$350.00
MWK606,560.10
|
$28.60
LKR8,560.34
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$2,349.49
MWK4,071,727.11
|
$586.98
LKR175,698.82
|
|
pay 95.2% more for entertainment and sports
|
Lilongwe
|
Colombo
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$1.08
MWK1,871.99
|
$2.04
LKR610.24
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.21
MWK5,561.36
|
$2.59
LKR775.43
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$1.59
MWK2,749.51
|
$9.34
LKR2,796.94
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$44.05
MWK76,344.88
|
$13.89
LKR4,156.30
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$3.95
MWK6,846.43
|
$3.40
LKR1,017.07
|
|
pay (unknown) more for clothing
|
Lilongwe
|
Colombo
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
?? |
$29.69
LKR8,887.16
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
?? |
$22.31
LKR6,678.76
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
?? |
$68.77
LKR20,584.61
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) | ?? |
$37.51
LKR11,226.89
|
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