Cost of living comparison
Manama is 2.7 times more expensive than Lilongwe.
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
MWK6,002.53
|
$6.86
BHD2.580
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
?? |
$7.12
BHD2.680
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.91
MWK1,587.50
|
$0.85
BHD0.320
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.34
MWK589.80
|
$0.35
BHD0.130
|
|
pay 6.9% more for groceries
|
Lilongwe
|
Manama
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$1.41
MWK2,451.92
|
$1.42
BHD0.530
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$7.88
MWK13,670.72
|
$3.72
BHD1.400
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$5.24
MWK9,083.55
|
$6.73
BHD2.540
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.06
MWK5,300.58
|
$2.62
BHD0.990
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$1.30
MWK2,246.83
|
$3.01
BHD1.130
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.07
MWK1,848.03
|
$1.06
BHD0.400
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.59
MWK1,027.86
|
$0.94
BHD0.350
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) | ?? |
$0.78
BHD0.290
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.56
MWK978.12
|
$0.53
BHD0.200
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.84
MWK1,451.43
|
$0.37
BHD0.140
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.56
MWK977.99
|
$0.45
BHD0.170
|
|
pay 4.1 times more for transportation
|
Lilongwe
|
Manama
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$6.43
MWK11,151.07
|
$2.07
BHD0.780
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$4.32
MWK7,498.58
|
$34.28
BHD12.920
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) | ?? |
$36,920.22
BHD13,911.320
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) | ?? |
$39.43
BHD14.860
|
|
pay 3.5 times more for housing
|
Lilongwe
|
Manama
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$62.37
MWK108,207.85
|
$40.00
BHD15.070
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area | ?? |
$765.66
BHD288.490
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$67.61
MWK117,305.92
|
$540.84
BHD203.780
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$53.53
MWK92,873.53
|
$95.46
BHD35.970
|
|
pay 2.7 times more for childcare
|
Lilongwe
|
Manama
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$350.00
MWK607,250.00
|
$364.26
BHD137.250
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$2,349.49
MWK4,076,358.30
|
$10,054.17
BHD3,788.350
|
|
pay 3.5 times more for entertainment and sports
|
Lilongwe
|
Manama
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$1.08
MWK1,874.12
|
$8.00
BHD3.010
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.21
MWK5,567.69
|
$5.38
BHD2.030
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$1.59
MWK2,752.64
|
$6.46
BHD2.430
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$44.05
MWK76,431.72
|
$67.98
BHD25.610
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$3.95
MWK6,854.22
|
$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
BHD27.330
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
?? |
$85.71
BHD32.290
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) | ?? |
$90.98
BHD34.280
|
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