Cost of living comparison
Kampala is 93.3% more expensive than Lilongwe.
- Restaurants
-
pay 26.7% less in Kampala
- Groceries
-
pay 2.8% less in Kampala
- Transportation
-
pay 5.7 times more in Kampala
- Housing
-
pay 76.5% more in Kampala
- Childcare
-
pay 10.5% more in Kampala
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 33.0% more in Kampala
The cost of transportation, housing, entertainment and sports, and childcare in Kampala are more expensive than in Lilongwe. Expenses including restaurants and groceries are lower in Kampala. Notably, transportation and housing are significantly more expensive in Kampala.
If you lived in Kampala instead of Lilongwe, you would:
pay 26.7% less for restaurants
|
Lilongwe
|
Kampala
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$3.46
MWK6,001.10
|
$2.72
UGX9,918
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
?? |
$9.48
UGX34,619
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.91
MWK1,587.12
|
$0.45
UGX1,653
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.34
MWK589.66
|
$0.31
UGX1,141
|
|
pay 2.8% less for groceries
|
Lilongwe
|
Kampala
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$1.41
MWK2,451.33
|
$1.23
UGX4,483
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$7.88
MWK13,667.44
|
$1.81
UGX6,592
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$5.24
MWK9,081.37
|
$2.58
UGX9,403
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.06
MWK5,299.30
|
$1.87
UGX6,810
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$1.30
MWK2,246.29
|
$2.16
UGX7,901
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.07
MWK1,847.59
|
$1.24
UGX4,512
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.59
MWK1,027.61
|
$0.68
UGX2,486
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) | ?? |
$0.83
UGX3,040
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.56
MWK977.88
|
$0.70
UGX2,553
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.84
MWK1,451.08
|
$0.67
UGX2,450
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.56
MWK977.75
|
$0.84
UGX3,075
|
|
pay 5.7 times more for transportation
|
Lilongwe
|
Kampala
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$6.43
MWK11,148.40
|
$5.75
UGX20,991
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$4.32
MWK7,496.78
|
$45.35
UGX165,581
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) | ?? |
$8,827.16
UGX32,232,310
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) | ?? |
$2.72
UGX9,918
|
|
pay 76.5% more for housing
|
Lilongwe
|
Kampala
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$62.37
MWK108,181.90
|
$70.62
UGX257,858
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area | ?? |
$364.73
UGX1,331,797
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$67.61
MWK117,277.79
|
$241.73
UGX882,669
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$53.53
MWK92,851.26
|
$31.44
UGX114,814
|
|
pay 10.5% more for childcare
|
Lilongwe
|
Kampala
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$350.00
MWK607,104.39
|
$126.15
UGX460,619
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$2,349.49
MWK4,075,380.83
|
$4,345.68
UGX15,868,214
|
|
pay 33.0% more for entertainment and sports
|
Lilongwe
|
Kampala
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$1.08
MWK1,873.67
|
$1.36
UGX4,959
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.21
MWK5,566.35
|
$2.73
UGX9,963
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$1.59
MWK2,751.98
|
$2.78
UGX10,166
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$44.05
MWK76,413.39
|
$47.08
UGX171,906
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$3.95
MWK6,852.58
|
$6.79
UGX24,794
|
|
pay (unknown) more for clothing
|
Lilongwe
|
Kampala
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
?? |
$17.11
UGX62,481
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
?? |
$13.24
UGX48,348
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
?? |
$33.20
UGX121,216
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) | ?? |
$50.10
UGX182,925
|
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