Cost of living comparison
Panama City is 2.9 times more expensive than Lilongwe.
- Restaurants
-
pay 3.3 times more in Panama City
- Groceries
-
pay 56.9% more in Panama City
- Transportation
-
pay 3.2 times more in Panama City
- Housing
-
pay 4.6 times more in Panama City
- Childcare
-
pay 2.8 times more in Panama City
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 2.0 times more in Panama City
The cost of housing, restaurants, transportation, childcare, entertainment and sports, and groceries in Panama City are more expensive than in Lilongwe. Notably, housing, restaurants, and transportation are significantly more expensive in Panama City.
If you lived in Panama City instead of Lilongwe, you would:
pay 3.3 times more for restaurants
|
Lilongwe
|
Panama City
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$3.46
MWK5,999.26
|
$13.25
PAB13.25
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
?? |
$8.00
PAB8.00
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.91
MWK1,586.63
|
$1.86
PAB1.86
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.34
MWK589.48
|
$1.41
PAB1.41
|
|
pay 56.9% more for groceries
|
Lilongwe
|
Panama City
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$1.41
MWK2,450.58
|
$2.51
PAB2.51
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$7.88
MWK13,663.26
|
$6.39
PAB6.39
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$5.24
MWK9,078.59
|
$6.80
PAB6.80
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.06
MWK5,297.68
|
$2.68
PAB2.68
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$1.30
MWK2,245.60
|
$3.41
PAB3.41
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.07
MWK1,847.03
|
$1.48
PAB1.48
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.59
MWK1,027.30
|
$0.72
PAB0.72
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) | ?? |
$1.24
PAB1.24
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.56
MWK977.58
|
$1.40
PAB1.40
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.84
MWK1,450.63
|
$0.98
PAB0.98
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.56
MWK977.45
|
$1.15
PAB1.15
|
|
pay 3.2 times more for transportation
|
Lilongwe
|
Panama City
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$6.43
MWK11,144.98
|
$3.69
PAB3.69
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$4.32
MWK7,494.48
|
$25.00
PAB25.00
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) | ?? |
$19,750.00
PAB19,750.00
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) | ?? |
$16.71
PAB16.71
|
|
pay 4.6 times more for housing
|
Lilongwe
|
Panama City
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$62.37
MWK108,148.79
|
$52.10
PAB52.10
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area | ?? |
$1,023.81
PAB1,023.81
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$67.61
MWK117,241.89
|
$755.88
PAB755.88
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$53.53
MWK92,822.84
|
$94.84
PAB94.84
|
|
pay 2.8 times more for childcare
|
Lilongwe
|
Panama City
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$350.00
MWK606,918.57
|
$439.17
PAB439.17
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$2,349.49
MWK4,074,133.45
|
$10,092.67
PAB10,092.67
|
|
pay 2.0 times more for entertainment and sports
|
Lilongwe
|
Panama City
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$1.08
MWK1,873.09
|
$3.00
PAB3.00
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.21
MWK5,564.65
|
$3.59
PAB3.59
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$1.59
MWK2,751.14
|
$5.50
PAB5.50
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$44.05
MWK76,390.00
|
$47.27
PAB47.27
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$3.95
MWK6,850.48
|
$7.00
PAB7.00
|
|
pay (unknown) more for clothing
|
Lilongwe
|
Panama City
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
?? |
$53.91
PAB53.91
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
?? |
$37.78
PAB37.78
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
?? |
$87.62
PAB87.62
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) | ?? |
$108.75
PAB108.75
|
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