Cost of living comparison
Malawi is 13.5% cheaper than Panama overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 35.2% less in Malawi
- Groceries
-
pay 26.5% less in Malawi
- Transportation
-
pay 21.6% more in Malawi
- Housing
-
pay 23.8% more in Malawi
- Childcare
-
pay 30.1% less in Malawi
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 32.7% less in Malawi
- Clothing
-
pay 15.2% less in Malawi
The cost of housing and transportation in Malawi are more expensive than in Panama. Expenses including restaurants, entertainment and sports, childcare, groceries, and clothing are lower in Malawi.
If you lived in Malawi instead of Panama, you would:
pay 35.2% less for restaurants
|
Panama
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$8.45
PAB8.45
|
$4.32
MWK7,494.74
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$7.90
PAB7.90
|
$9.04
MWK15,683.98
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$1.54
PAB1.54
|
$0.87
MWK1,512.05
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.17
PAB1.17
|
$0.43
MWK750.69
|
|
pay 26.5% less for groceries
|
Panama
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.19
PAB2.19
|
$1.36
MWK2,366.81
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$5.66
PAB5.66
|
$4.82
MWK8,356.21
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$6.43
PAB6.43
|
$4.51
MWK7,827.43
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.53
PAB2.53
|
$2.31
MWK3,999.89
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$3.54
PAB3.54
|
$1.93
MWK3,339.52
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.12
PAB2.12
|
$1.03
MWK1,794.51
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.61
PAB0.61
|
$0.81
MWK1,404.13
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.29
PAB1.29
|
$1.12
MWK1,940.10
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.16
PAB1.16
|
$0.53
MWK914.14
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.98
PAB0.98
|
$0.72
MWK1,248.08
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.01
PAB1.01
|
$0.59
MWK1,016.74
|
|
pay 21.6% more for transportation
|
Panama
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.92
PAB3.92
|
$6.19
MWK10,731.25
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$25.00
PAB25.00
|
$4.32
MWK7,494.48
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$18,916.67
PAB18,916.67
|
$35,669.17
MWK61,852,226.56
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$16.61
PAB16.61
|
$20.40
MWK35,378.74
|
|
pay 23.8% more for housing
|
Panama
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$47.61
PAB47.61
|
$186.12
MWK322,750.31
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$747.76
PAB747.76
|
$202.19
MWK350,601.13
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$567.84
PAB567.84
|
$98.76
MWK171,260.10
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$69.20
PAB69.20
|
$41.29
MWK71,591.98
|
|
pay 30.1% less for childcare
|
Panama
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$302.08
PAB302.08
|
$354.75
MWK615,162.05
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$6,548.17
PAB6,548.17
|
$1,467.81
MWK2,545,260.39
|
|
pay 32.7% less for entertainment and sports
|
Panama
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$1.95
PAB1.95
|
$1.12
MWK1,941.15
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.39
PAB3.39
|
$2.91
MWK5,051.17
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$5.38
PAB5.38
|
$1.59
MWK2,751.14
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$57.20
PAB57.20
|
$51.33
MWK89,014.37
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$5.33
PAB5.33
|
$3.95
MWK6,850.48
|
|
pay 15.2% less for clothing
|
Panama
|
Malawi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$47.41
PAB47.41
|
$45.22
MWK78,420.83
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$34.81
PAB34.81
|
$34.94
MWK60,593.01
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$81.21
PAB81.21
|
$59.17
MWK102,606.51
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$100.42
PAB100.42
|
$70.71
MWK122,606.44
|
|
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