- Cost of Living
- Malawi
- United Kingdom
- Lilongwe
- Edinburgh
- Comparison
Cost of living comparison between Lilongwe (Malawi) and Edinburgh (United Kingdom)
| Food | 59% | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Food in Lilongwe (Malawi) is 59% cheaper than in Edinburgh (United Kingdom) | |||
| Daily menu in the business district | 1,250 Kwacha (£2.31) | £10.33 | 78% |
| Combo meal in fast food restaurant (Big Mac Meal or similar) | - | £5.32 | - |
| 1/2 Kg (1 lb.) of chicken breast | 800 Kwacha (£1.48) | £5.18 | 71% |
| 1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | 200 Kwacha (£0.37) | £1.09 | 66% |
| 12 eggs, large | - | £2.65 | - |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | - | £2.30 | - |
| 500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | 1,600 Kwacha (£2.96) | £3.92 | 25% |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | 360 Kwacha (£0.67) | £2.13 | 69% |
| 2 kg (4,5 lb.) of potatoes | 400 Kwacha (£0.74) | £2.24 | 67% |
| 0.5 l (16 oz) beer in the supermarket | 163 Kwacha (£0.30) | £1.85 | 84% |
| 1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | - | £8.16 | - |
| 2 liters of Coca-Cola | 400 Kwacha (£0.74) | £1.98 | 63% |
| bread for 2 people for 1 day | 88 Kwacha (£0.16) | £0.99 | 84% |
| Housing | 14% | ||
| Housing in Lilongwe (Malawi) is 14% cheaper than in Edinburgh (United Kingdom) | |||
| monthly rent for a 85 m2 (900 Sqft) furnished apartment in expensive area of the city | - | £847 | - |
| utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | 7,000 Kwacha (£12.95) | £109 | 88% |
| Internet 8MB (1 month) | 7,000 Kwacha (£12.95) | £19.10 | 32% |
| 40” flat screen TV | - | £519 | - |
| Microwave, known brand, 800/900 Watt | - | £71 | - |
| Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | - | £5.57 | - |
| Hourly rate for cleaning help | - | £9.89 | - |
| Clothes | 32% | ||
| Clothes in Lilongwe (Malawi) is 32% cheaper than in Edinburgh (United Kingdom) | |||
| 1 pair of Levis 501 | - | £61 | - |
| 1 summer dress in a chain store (Zara, H&M, ...) | 5,000 Kwacha (£9.25) | £29 | 68% |
| 1 pair of Adidas trainers | - | £64 | - |
| 1 pair of average business shoes | - | £69 | - |
| Transportation | 42% | ||
| Transportation in Lilongwe (Malawi) is 42% cheaper than in Edinburgh (United Kingdom) | |||
| Volkswagen Golf 2.0 TDI 140 CV 6 vel. (or equivalent), with no extras, new | 3,500,000 Kwacha (£6,475) | £18,059 | 64% |
| 1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | 290 Kwacha (£0.54) | £1.39 | 61% |
| monthly ticket public transport | - | £49 | - |
| Taxi trip on a business day, basic tariff, 8 Km. (5 miles) | - | £16.38 | - |
| Personal Care | 51% | ||
| Personal Care in Lilongwe (Malawi) is 51% cheaper than in Edinburgh (United Kingdom) | |||
| medicine against cold for 6 days (Frenadol, Coldrex, ...) | 200 Kwacha (£0.37) | £3.61 | 90% |
| 1 box of 32 tampons (Tampax, OB, ...) | 1,600 Kwacha (£2.96) | £3.58 | 17% |
| Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | - | £1.99 | - |
| Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | - | £2.52 | - |
| 4 rolls of toilet paper | 500 Kwacha (£0.93) | £1.96 | 53% |
| Tube of toothpaste | 250 Kwacha (£0.46) | £1.75 | 74% |
| Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | 1,000 Kwacha (£1.85) | £12.33 | 85% |
| Entertainment | 49% | ||
| Entertainment in Lilongwe (Malawi) is 49% cheaper than in Edinburgh (United Kingdom) | |||
| basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | 1,000 Kwacha (£1.85) | £21 | 91% |
| 2 tickets to the movies | - | £16.84 | - |
| 2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | - | £63 | - |
| dinner out for two in Italian restaurant with wine and dessert | 6,000 Kwacha (£11.10) | £54 | 79% |
| 1 cocktail drink in downtown club | 700 Kwacha (£1.30) | £6.98 | 81% |
| Capuccino in expat area of the city | - | £2.41 | - |
| 1 beer in neighbourhood pub | 250 Kwacha (£0.46) | £3.46 | 87% |
| iPod nano 16GB | - | £131 | - |
| 1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | - | £0.27 | - |
| 1 month of gym in business district | - | £46 | - |
| 1 package of Marlboro cigarretes | 600 Kwacha (£1.11) | £7.87 | 86% |
| TOTAL | 40% | ||
WARNING! This comparison is based on only a few data points. At this point it is only a guess. It is based on 1,526 prices entered by 125 different people.
These prices were last updated on May 15, 2013.
Recent Comparisons
- Cost of living in Dallas is 6% cheaper than in Las Vegas
- Cost of living in London is 9% more expensive than in New York City
- Cost of living in Santiago is 92% more expensive than in Buenos Aires
- Cost of living in Santiago is 93% more expensive than in Buenos Aires
- Cost of living in Singapore is 8% more expensive than in Paris
- Cost of living in London is 9% more expensive than in New York City
- Cost of living in London is 9% more expensive than in New York City
- Cost of living in Sydney is 8% cheaper than in London
- Cost of living in London is 15% more expensive than in Paris
- Cost of living in Johannesburg is 10% cheaper than in Lisbon
Cost of living in Lilongwe (Malawi) is 40% cheaper than in Edinburgh (United Kingdom)
For example, to keep the same standard of living that would require
£3,125
in Edinburgh
you would need to make just about £1,864
(1,007,549 Kwacha)
in Lilongwe.