Cost of living comparison
Dakar is 2.1 times more expensive than Lilongwe.
- Restaurants
-
pay 93.1% more in Dakar
- Groceries
-
pay 30.6% more in Dakar
- Transportation
-
pay 3.3 times more in Dakar
- Housing
-
pay 2.5 times more in Dakar
- Childcare
-
pay 80.2% more in Dakar
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 61.1% more in Dakar
The cost of transportation, housing, restaurants, childcare, entertainment and sports, and groceries in Dakar are more expensive than in Lilongwe. Notably, transportation, housing, and restaurants are significantly more expensive in Dakar.
If you lived in Dakar instead of Lilongwe, you would:
pay 93.1% more for restaurants
|
Lilongwe
|
Dakar
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$3.46
MWK6,001.10
|
$6.54
F CFA3,771
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
?? |
$8.99
F CFA5,185
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.91
MWK1,587.12
|
$0.93
F CFA534
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.34
MWK589.66
|
$0.98
F CFA567
|
|
pay 30.6% more for groceries
|
Lilongwe
|
Dakar
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$1.41
MWK2,451.33
|
$0.55
F CFA318
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$7.88
MWK13,667.44
|
$6.75
F CFA3,892
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$5.24
MWK9,081.37
|
$10.56
F CFA6,092
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.06
MWK5,299.30
|
$2.41
F CFA1,393
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$1.30
MWK2,246.29
|
$4.39
F CFA2,531
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.07
MWK1,847.59
|
$1.02
F CFA587
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.59
MWK1,027.61
|
$0.82
F CFA470
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) | ?? |
$0.99
F CFA570
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.56
MWK977.88
|
$0.88
F CFA508
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.84
MWK1,451.08
|
$0.64
F CFA371
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.56
MWK977.75
|
$0.54
F CFA312
|
|
pay 3.3 times more for transportation
|
Lilongwe
|
Dakar
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$6.43
MWK11,148.40
|
$6.12
F CFA3,533
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$4.32
MWK7,496.78
|
$24.51
F CFA14,140
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) | ?? |
$26,959.22
F CFA15,553,563
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) | ?? |
$25.33
F CFA14,611
|
|
pay 2.5 times more for housing
|
Lilongwe
|
Dakar
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$62.37
MWK108,181.90
|
$48.58
F CFA28,028
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area | ?? |
$932.62
F CFA538,054
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$67.61
MWK117,277.79
|
$326.78
F CFA188,528
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$53.53
MWK92,851.26
|
$97.46
F CFA56,226
|
|
pay 80.2% more for childcare
|
Lilongwe
|
Dakar
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$350.00
MWK607,104.39
|
$249.17
F CFA143,753
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$2,349.49
MWK4,075,380.83
|
$6,796.99
F CFA3,921,383
|
|
pay 61.1% more for entertainment and sports
|
Lilongwe
|
Dakar
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$1.08
MWK1,873.67
|
$2.45
F CFA1,414
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.21
MWK5,566.35
|
$4.23
F CFA2,441
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$1.59
MWK2,751.98
|
$1.47
F CFA848
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$44.05
MWK76,413.39
|
$64.81
F CFA37,391
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$3.95
MWK6,852.58
|
$8.17
F CFA4,713
|
|
pay (unknown) more for clothing
|
Lilongwe
|
Dakar
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
?? |
$58.82
F CFA33,935
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
?? |
$37.58
F CFA21,681
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
?? |
$88.23
F CFA50,903
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) | ?? |
$92.72
F CFA53,495
|
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