Cost of living comparison
Manama is 2.7 times more expensive than Lilongwe.
- Restaurants
-
pay 31.6% more in Manama
- Groceries
-
pay 6.9% more in Manama
- Transportation
-
pay 4.1 times more in Manama
- Housing
-
pay 3.5 times more in Manama
- Childcare
-
pay 2.7 times more in Manama
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 3.5 times more in Manama
The cost of transportation, housing, entertainment and sports, childcare, restaurants, and groceries in Manama are more expensive than in Lilongwe. Notably, transportation, housing, and entertainment and sports are significantly more expensive in Manama.
If you lived in Manama instead of Lilongwe, you would:
pay 31.6% more for restaurants
|
Lilongwe
|
Manama
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$3.46
MWK5,999.06
|
$6.86
BHD2.580
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
?? |
$7.12
BHD2.680
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.91
MWK1,586.58
|
$0.85
BHD0.320
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.34
MWK589.46
|
$0.35
BHD0.130
|
|
pay 6.9% more for groceries
|
Lilongwe
|
Manama
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$1.41
MWK2,450.50
|
$1.42
BHD0.530
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$7.88
MWK13,662.80
|
$3.72
BHD1.400
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$5.24
MWK9,078.29
|
$6.73
BHD2.540
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.06
MWK5,297.50
|
$2.62
BHD0.990
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$1.30
MWK2,245.52
|
$3.01
BHD1.130
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.07
MWK1,846.96
|
$1.06
BHD0.400
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.59
MWK1,027.27
|
$0.94
BHD0.350
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) | ?? |
$0.78
BHD0.290
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.56
MWK977.55
|
$0.53
BHD0.200
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.84
MWK1,450.59
|
$0.37
BHD0.140
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.56
MWK977.42
|
$0.45
BHD0.170
|
|
pay 4.1 times more for transportation
|
Lilongwe
|
Manama
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$6.43
MWK11,144.61
|
$2.07
BHD0.780
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$4.32
MWK7,494.23
|
$34.28
BHD12.910
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) | ?? |
$36,920.22
BHD13,905.930
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) | ?? |
$39.43
BHD14.850
|
|
pay 3.5 times more for housing
|
Lilongwe
|
Manama
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$62.37
MWK108,145.16
|
$40.00
BHD15.060
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area | ?? |
$765.66
BHD288.380
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$67.61
MWK117,237.95
|
$540.84
BHD203.710
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$53.53
MWK92,819.72
|
$95.46
BHD35.950
|
|
pay 2.7 times more for childcare
|
Lilongwe
|
Manama
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$350.00
MWK606,898.17
|
$364.26
BHD137.200
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$2,349.49
MWK4,073,996.54
|
$10,054.17
BHD3,786.880
|
|
pay 3.5 times more for entertainment and sports
|
Lilongwe
|
Manama
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$1.08
MWK1,873.03
|
$8.00
BHD3.010
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.21
MWK5,564.46
|
$5.38
BHD2.030
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$1.59
MWK2,751.05
|
$6.46
BHD2.430
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$44.05
MWK76,387.44
|
$67.98
BHD25.600
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$3.95
MWK6,850.25
|
$10.55
BHD3.970
|
|
pay (unknown) more for clothing
|
Lilongwe
|
Manama
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
?? |
$49.67
BHD18.710
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
?? |
$72.52
BHD27.320
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
?? |
$85.71
BHD32.280
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) | ?? |
$90.98
BHD34.270
|
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