Cost of living comparison
Lilongwe is 43.2% cheaper than San Jose.
- Restaurants
-
pay 66.3% less in Lilongwe
- Groceries
-
pay 26.3% less in Lilongwe
- Transportation
-
pay 35.8% less in Lilongwe
- Housing
-
pay 28.0% less in Lilongwe
- Childcare
-
pay 57.0% less in Lilongwe
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 46.0% less in Lilongwe
Expenses including restaurants, childcare, entertainment and sports, transportation, housing, and groceries are lower in Lilongwe.
If you lived in Lilongwe instead of San Jose, you would:
pay 66.3% less for restaurants
|
San Jose
|
Lilongwe
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$10.83
CRC5,511.51
|
$3.46
MWK5,989.22
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.72
CRC4,945.05
|
?? | |
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$1.99
CRC1,014.61
|
$0.91
MWK1,583.98
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.46
CRC743.48
|
$0.34
MWK588.49
|
|
pay 26.3% less for groceries
|
San Jose
|
Lilongwe
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.60
CRC1,321.41
|
$1.41
MWK2,446.48
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$4.26
CRC2,170.33
|
$7.88
MWK13,640.39
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$7.23
CRC3,680.64
|
$5.24
MWK9,063.40
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.26
CRC1,660.28
|
$3.06
MWK5,288.82
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$4.41
CRC2,242.54
|
$1.30
MWK2,241.84
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.95
CRC992.65
|
$1.07
MWK1,843.93
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.63
CRC320.74
|
$0.59
MWK1,025.58
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.59
CRC809.67
|
?? | |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.35
CRC686.05
|
$0.56
MWK975.95
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.30
CRC661.31
|
$0.84
MWK1,448.21
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.19
CRC606.08
|
$0.56
MWK975.82
|
|
pay 35.8% less for transportation
|
San Jose
|
Lilongwe
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$5.49
CRC2,792.75
|
$6.43
MWK11,126.33
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$38.02
CRC19,350.21
|
$4.32
MWK7,481.94
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$36,925.49
CRC18,791,205.05
|
?? | |
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$15.94
CRC8,112.36
|
?? | |
pay 28.0% less for housing
|
San Jose
|
Lilongwe
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$53.59
CRC27,274.05
|
$62.37
MWK107,967.76
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$742.08
CRC377,640.61
|
?? | |
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$463.60
CRC235,924.50
|
$67.61
MWK117,045.64
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$63.06
CRC32,088.70
|
$53.53
MWK92,667.47
|
|
pay 57.0% less for childcare
|
San Jose
|
Lilongwe
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$521.49
CRC265,384.56
|
$350.00
MWK605,902.67
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$12,425.72
CRC6,323,388.05
|
$2,349.49
MWK4,067,313.89
|
|
pay 46.0% less for entertainment and sports
|
San Jose
|
Lilongwe
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$2.92
CRC1,483.52
|
$1.08
MWK1,869.96
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.69
CRC1,878.49
|
$3.21
MWK5,555.33
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$5.05
CRC2,571.43
|
$1.59
MWK2,746.53
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$59.70
CRC30,381.59
|
$44.05
MWK76,262.14
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$9.72
CRC4,945.05
|
$3.95
MWK6,839.01
|
|
pay (unknown) more for clothing
|
San Jose
|
Lilongwe
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$73.59
CRC37,447.65
|
?? | |
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$50.81
CRC25,858.18
|
?? | |
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$125.98
CRC64,112.44
|
?? | |
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$117.31
CRC59,700.39
|
?? |
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