Cost of living comparison
Malawi is 24.4% cheaper than Costa Rica.
If you lived in Malawi instead of Costa Rica, you would:
pay 44.0% less for restaurants
Costa Rica
|
Malawi
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$9.05
CRC4,634.51
|
$4.34
MWK7,517.60
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$8.98
CRC4,598.17
|
$9.11
MWK15,774.24
|
|
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$1.93
CRC988.19
|
$0.87
MWK1,515.39
|
|
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.48
CRC760.18
|
$0.43
MWK753.02
|
|
pay 25.7% less for groceries
Costa Rica
|
Malawi
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.46
CRC1,257.19
|
$1.37
MWK2,372.15
|
|
Local cheese (8 oz) |
$3.95
CRC2,024.38
|
$4.82
MWK8,358.12
|
|
Milk (1 gallon) |
$6.91
CRC3,539.66
|
$4.53
MWK7,841.80
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.22
CRC1,646.27
|
$2.31
MWK4,005.01
|
|
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$4.09
CRC2,095.66
|
$1.93
MWK3,351.15
|
|
Apples (1 lb) |
$1.97
CRC1,007.29
|
$1.04
MWK1,798.59
|
|
Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.62
CRC317.51
|
$0.81
MWK1,408.74
|
|
Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.08
CRC553.22
|
$1.13
MWK1,951.27
|
|
Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.17
CRC598.47
|
$0.53
MWK916.09
|
|
Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.09
CRC557.53
|
$0.72
MWK1,250.36
|
|
Onions (1 lb) |
$1.06
CRC541.61
|
$0.59
MWK1,019.28
|
|
pay 4.3% less for transportation
Costa Rica
|
Malawi
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$5.70
CRC2,916.21
|
$6.21
MWK10,755.34
|
|
Monthly public transit pass |
$45.78
CRC23,439.34
|
$4.32
MWK7,486.95
|
|
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$30,441.08
CRC15,586,640.87
|
$35,910.51
MWK62,208,173.61
|
|
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$14.02
CRC7,178.15
|
$20.54
MWK35,582.33
|
|
pay 29.7% more for housing
Costa Rica
|
Malawi
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$45.97
CRC23,535.83
|
$187.17
MWK324,242.16
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$731.28
CRC374,434.50
|
$203.55
MWK352,618.77
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$520.21
CRC266,363.85
|
$99.20
MWK171,849.43
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$63.96
CRC32,747.47
|
$41.38
MWK71,690.27
|
|
pay 54.6% less for childcare
Costa Rica
|
Malawi
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$476.14
CRC243,795.21
|
$361.94
MWK626,993.11
|
|
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$9,916.17
CRC5,077,343.17
|
$1,469.79
MWK2,546,138.55
|
|
pay 39.2% less for entertainment and sports
Costa Rica
|
Malawi
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$2.97
CRC1,519.29
|
$1.12
MWK1,945.99
|
|
Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.43
CRC1,757.07
|
$2.92
MWK5,061.43
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$4.33
CRC2,216.84
|
$1.59
MWK2,748.38
|
|
Monthly membership at local gym |
$56.36
CRC28,859.57
|
$51.53
MWK89,268.45
|
|
Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$7.46
CRC3,817.84
|
$3.95
MWK6,843.60
|
|
pay 32.5% less for clothing
Costa Rica
|
Malawi
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$71.44
CRC36,577.22
|
$45.53
MWK78,872.12
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$46.89
CRC24,010.05
|
$35.18
MWK60,941.71
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$105.63
CRC54,084.09
|
$59.57
MWK103,196.99
|
|
Men's business shoes (leather) |
$95.19
CRC48,739.24
|
$71.18
MWK123,312.02
|
|
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