Cost of living comparison
Lilongwe is 23.2% more expensive than Vientiane.
- Restaurants
-
pay 42.6% more in Lilongwe
- Groceries
-
pay 8.6% more in Lilongwe
- Transportation
-
pay 31.4% less in Lilongwe
- Housing
-
pay 2.2 times more in Lilongwe
- Childcare
-
pay 34.7% less in Lilongwe
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 32.4% more in Lilongwe
The cost of housing, restaurants, entertainment and sports, and groceries in Lilongwe are more expensive than in Vientiane. Expenses including childcare and transportation are lower in Lilongwe. Notably, housing is significantly more expensive in Lilongwe.
If you lived in Lilongwe instead of Vientiane, you would:
pay 42.6% more for restaurants
|
Vientiane
|
Lilongwe
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$1.98
LAK42,952
|
$3.46
MWK5,999.06
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$2.97
LAK64,428
|
?? | |
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.53
LAK11,455
|
$0.91
MWK1,586.58
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.42
LAK9,164
|
$0.34
MWK589.46
|
|
pay 8.6% more for groceries
|
Vientiane
|
Lilongwe
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$0.91
LAK19,758
|
$1.41
MWK2,450.50
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$13.72
LAK297,182
|
$7.88
MWK13,662.80
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$6.42
LAK139,077
|
$5.24
MWK9,078.29
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$1.75
LAK37,924
|
$3.06
MWK5,297.50
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$2.95
LAK63,924
|
$1.30
MWK2,245.52
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$0.88
LAK19,105
|
$1.07
MWK1,846.96
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.49
LAK10,665
|
$0.59
MWK1,027.27
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$0.92
LAK20,004
|
?? | |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.60
LAK12,908
|
$0.56
MWK977.55
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.73
LAK15,727
|
$0.84
MWK1,450.59
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.46
LAK9,923
|
$0.56
MWK977.42
|
|
pay 31.4% less for transportation
|
Vientiane
|
Lilongwe
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$5.00
LAK108,406
|
$6.43
MWK11,144.61
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$49.23
LAK1,066,583
|
$4.32
MWK7,494.23
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$28,330.27
LAK613,738,867
|
?? | |
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$11.18
LAK242,248
|
?? | |
pay 2.2 times more for housing
|
Vientiane
|
Lilongwe
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$11.17
LAK242,043
|
$62.37
MWK108,145.16
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$859.15
LAK18,612,425
|
?? | |
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$775.98
LAK16,810,550
|
$67.61
MWK117,237.95
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$54.31
LAK1,176,518
|
$53.53
MWK92,819.72
|
|
pay 34.7% less for childcare
|
Vientiane
|
Lilongwe
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$332.66
LAK7,206,645
|
$350.00
MWK606,898.17
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$9,252.41
LAK200,441,503
|
$2,349.49
MWK4,073,996.54
|
|
pay 32.4% more for entertainment and sports
|
Vientiane
|
Lilongwe
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$0.95
LAK20,550
|
$1.08
MWK1,873.03
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$1.50
LAK32,400
|
$3.21
MWK5,564.46
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$1.59
LAK34,361
|
$1.59
MWK2,751.05
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$49.74
LAK1,077,519
|
$44.05
MWK76,387.44
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$3.50
LAK75,908
|
$3.95
MWK6,850.25
|
|
pay (unknown) more for clothing
|
Vientiane
|
Lilongwe
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$85.86
LAK1,859,982
|
?? | |
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$62.88
LAK1,362,184
|
?? | |
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$57.29
LAK1,241,062
|
?? | |
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$41.48
LAK898,554
|
?? |
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