Cost of living comparison
Muscat is 3.1 times more expensive than Lilongwe.
- Restaurants
-
pay 10.9% more in Muscat
- Groceries
-
pay 8.3% less in Muscat
- Transportation
-
pay 7.4 times more in Muscat
- Housing
-
pay 2.9 times more in Muscat
- Childcare
-
pay 2.1 times more in Muscat
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 4.2 times more in Muscat
The cost of transportation, entertainment and sports, housing, childcare, and restaurants in Muscat are more expensive than in Lilongwe. Notably, transportation, entertainment and sports, and housing are significantly more expensive in Muscat.
If you lived in Muscat instead of Lilongwe, you would:
pay 10.9% more for restaurants
|
Lilongwe
|
Muscat
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$3.46
MWK6,025.48
|
$5.20
OMR2.000
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
?? |
$7.79
OMR3.000
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.91
MWK1,593.57
|
$0.84
OMR0.330
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.34
MWK592.06
|
$0.31
OMR0.120
|
|
pay 8.3% less for groceries
|
Lilongwe
|
Muscat
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$1.41
MWK2,461.29
|
$1.17
OMR0.450
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$7.88
MWK13,722.98
|
$2.01
OMR0.770
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$5.24
MWK9,118.28
|
$6.07
OMR2.340
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.06
MWK5,320.84
|
$2.30
OMR0.880
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$1.30
MWK2,255.42
|
$2.12
OMR0.820
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.07
MWK1,855.10
|
$1.07
OMR0.410
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.59
MWK1,031.79
|
$0.79
OMR0.300
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) | ?? |
$0.77
OMR0.300
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.56
MWK981.86
|
$0.52
OMR0.200
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.84
MWK1,456.97
|
$0.43
OMR0.170
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.56
MWK981.72
|
$0.42
OMR0.160
|
|
pay 7.4 times more for transportation
|
Lilongwe
|
Muscat
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$6.43
MWK11,193.70
|
$2.33
OMR0.900
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$4.32
MWK7,527.24
|
$62.34
OMR24.000
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) | ?? |
$22,858.86
OMR8,800.020
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) | ?? |
$10.13
OMR3.900
|
|
pay 2.9 times more for housing
|
Lilongwe
|
Muscat
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$62.37
MWK108,621.51
|
$69.80
OMR26.870
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area | ?? |
$609.46
OMR234.630
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$67.61
MWK117,754.36
|
$409.71
OMR157.730
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$53.53
MWK93,228.57
|
$81.57
OMR31.400
|
|
pay 2.1 times more for childcare
|
Lilongwe
|
Muscat
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$350.00
MWK609,571.42
|
$188.90
OMR72.720
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$2,349.49
MWK4,091,941.58
|
$8,697.81
OMR3,348.410
|
|
pay 4.2 times more for entertainment and sports
|
Lilongwe
|
Muscat
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$1.08
MWK1,881.28
|
$12.99
OMR5.000
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.21
MWK5,588.97
|
$4.85
OMR1.870
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$1.59
MWK2,763.16
|
$5.97
OMR2.300
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$44.05
MWK76,723.90
|
$45.34
OMR17.450
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$3.95
MWK6,880.42
|
$10.39
OMR4.000
|
|
pay (unknown) more for clothing
|
Lilongwe
|
Muscat
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
?? |
$43.16
OMR16.620
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
?? |
$37.38
OMR14.390
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
?? |
$77.28
OMR29.750
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) | ?? |
$88.48
OMR34.060
|
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