Cost of living comparison
Beijing is 3.6 times more expensive than Lilongwe.
If you lived in Beijing instead of Lilongwe, you would:
pay 11.2% less for restaurants
Lilongwe
|
Beijing
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$3.46
MWK5,993.23
|
$4.15
CN¥30.03
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
?? |
$5.54
CN¥40.03
|
|
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.91
MWK1,585.04
|
$0.50
CN¥3.64
|
|
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.34
MWK588.89
|
$0.31
CN¥2.24
|
|
pay 4.4% less for groceries
Lilongwe
|
Beijing
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$1.41
MWK2,448.12
|
$1.43
CN¥10.34
|
|
Local cheese (8 oz) |
$7.88
MWK13,649.53
|
$6.83
CN¥49.34
|
|
Milk (1 gallon) |
$5.24
MWK9,069.47
|
$7.46
CN¥53.94
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.06
MWK5,292.36
|
$1.75
CN¥12.63
|
|
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$1.30
MWK2,243.34
|
$1.44
CN¥10.43
|
|
Apples (1 lb) |
$1.07
MWK1,845.17
|
$0.96
CN¥6.93
|
|
Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.59
MWK1,026.27
|
$0.79
CN¥5.73
|
|
Oranges (1 lb) | ?? |
$0.87
CN¥6.30
|
|
Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.56
MWK976.60
|
$0.58
CN¥4.17
|
|
Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.84
MWK1,449.18
|
$0.37
CN¥2.66
|
|
Onions (1 lb) |
$0.56
MWK976.47
|
$0.49
CN¥3.52
|
|
pay 4.3 times more for transportation
Lilongwe
|
Beijing
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$6.43
MWK11,133.79
|
$4.35
CN¥31.46
|
|
Monthly public transit pass |
$4.32
MWK7,486.95
|
$34.62
CN¥250.21
|
|
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) | ?? |
$20,773.90
CN¥150,126.72
|
|
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) | ?? |
$4.68
CN¥33.83
|
|
pay 3.1 times more for housing
Lilongwe
|
Beijing
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$62.37
MWK108,040.15
|
$13.59
CN¥98.21
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area | ?? |
$969.73
CN¥7,007.92
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$67.61
MWK117,124.11
|
$561.86
CN¥4,060.38
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$53.53
MWK92,729.59
|
$42.17
CN¥304.75
|
|
pay 10.8 times more for childcare
Lilongwe
|
Beijing
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly | ?? |
$836.50
CN¥6,045.11
|
|
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$2,349.49
MWK4,070,040.68
|
$25,256.69
CN¥182,522.49
|
|
pay 62.8% more for entertainment and sports
Lilongwe
|
Beijing
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$1.08
MWK1,871.21
|
$1.38
CN¥10.01
|
|
Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.21
MWK5,559.06
|
$3.73
CN¥26.97
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$1.59
MWK2,748.38
|
$3.46
CN¥25.02
|
|
Monthly membership at local gym |
$44.05
MWK76,313.26
|
$62.16
CN¥449.21
|
|
Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$3.95
MWK6,843.60
|
$8.31
CN¥60.05
|
|
pay (unknown) more for clothing
Lilongwe
|
Beijing
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
?? |
$65.57
CN¥473.85
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
?? |
$35.21
CN¥254.46
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
?? |
$85.31
CN¥616.48
|
|
Men's business shoes (leather) | ?? |
$112.58
CN¥813.60
|
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