Cost of living comparison
Damascus is 38.9% more expensive than Lilongwe.
- Restaurants
-
pay 39.9% more in Damascus
- Groceries
-
pay 20.4% less in Damascus
- Transportation
-
pay 3.2 times more in Damascus
- Housing
-
pay 61.2% more in Damascus
- Childcare
-
pay 58.0% less in Damascus
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 9.9% less in Damascus
The cost of transportation, housing, and restaurants in Damascus are more expensive than in Lilongwe. Expenses including childcare, groceries, and entertainment and sports are lower in Damascus. Notably, transportation is significantly more expensive in Damascus.
If you lived in Damascus instead of Lilongwe, you would:
pay 39.9% more for restaurants
|
Lilongwe
|
Damascus
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$3.46
MWK5,995.72
|
$5.00
SYP65,010
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
?? |
$5.00
SYP65,010
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.91
MWK1,585.70
|
$1.05
SYP13,652
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.34
MWK589.13
|
$0.54
SYP7,086
|
|
pay 20.4% less for groceries
|
Lilongwe
|
Damascus
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$1.41
MWK2,449.13
|
$0.63
SYP8,217
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$7.88
MWK13,655.19
|
$1.67
SYP21,752
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$5.24
MWK9,073.23
|
$4.05
SYP52,594
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.06
MWK5,294.55
|
$1.97
SYP25,571
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$1.30
MWK2,244.27
|
$3.01
SYP39,106
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.07
MWK1,845.93
|
$0.46
SYP5,918
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.59
MWK1,026.69
|
$0.96
SYP12,544
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) | ?? |
$0.46
SYP5,963
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.56
MWK977.01
|
$0.39
SYP5,065
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.84
MWK1,449.78
|
$0.27
SYP3,476
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.56
MWK976.87
|
$0.28
SYP3,593
|
|
pay 3.2 times more for transportation
|
Lilongwe
|
Damascus
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$6.43
MWK11,138.40
|
$15.92
SYP207,051
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$4.32
MWK7,490.06
|
$17.00
SYP221,034
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) | ?? |
$18,500.00
SYP240,537,000
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) | ?? |
$11.00
SYP143,022
|
|
pay 61.2% more for housing
|
Lilongwe
|
Damascus
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$62.37
MWK108,084.91
|
$66.75
SYP867,884
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area | ?? |
$282.23
SYP3,669,607
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$67.61
MWK117,172.64
|
$145.72
SYP1,894,661
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$53.53
MWK92,768.01
|
$53.53
SYP695,989
|
|
pay 58.0% less for childcare
|
Lilongwe
|
Damascus
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$350.00
MWK606,560.10
|
$48.33
SYP628,430
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$2,349.49
MWK4,071,727.11
|
$1,650.00
SYP21,453,300
|
|
pay 9.9% less for entertainment and sports
|
Lilongwe
|
Damascus
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$1.08
MWK1,871.99
|
$1.25
SYP16,252
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.21
MWK5,561.36
|
$1.27
SYP16,578
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$1.59
MWK2,749.51
|
$3.00
SYP39,006
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$44.05
MWK76,344.88
|
$13.30
SYP172,927
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$3.95
MWK6,846.43
|
$3.00
SYP39,006
|
|
pay (unknown) more for clothing
|
Lilongwe
|
Damascus
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
?? |
$22.00
SYP286,044
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
?? |
$23.50
SYP305,547
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
?? |
$47.50
SYP617,595
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) | ?? |
$56.25
SYP731,362
|
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