Cost of living comparison

compared to

Malabo vs. Islamabad Cost of Living Summary

Malabo is 27.4% more expensive than Islamabad.

Restaurants
pay 2.0 times more in Malabo
Groceries
pay 2.0 times more in Malabo
Transportation
pay 16.4% less in Malabo
Housing
pay 60.2% more in Malabo
Childcare
pay 93.2% less in Malabo
Entertainment and Sports
pay 14.4% more in Malabo

The cost of restaurants, groceries, housing, and entertainment and sports in Malabo are more expensive than in Islamabad. Expenses including childcare and transportation are lower in Malabo. Notably, restaurants and groceries are significantly more expensive in Malabo.

Malabo vs. Islamabad Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Malabo instead of Islamabad, you would:

pay 2.0 times more for restaurants

 
Islamabad
Malabo
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $3.61
PKR997.63
$8.54
FCFA4,999
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$5.42
PKR1,496.45
$8.54
FCFA4,999
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $0.34
PKR94.06
$0.85
FCFA500

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pay 2.0 times more for groceries

 
Islamabad
Malabo
Bread
1 loaf
$0.75
PKR207.38
??
Local cheese (8 oz) $3.07
PKR848.79
$3.37
FCFA1,973
Milk (1 gallon) $3.63
PKR1,003.12
$10.34
FCFA6,056

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pay 16.4% less for transportation

 
Islamabad
Malabo
Gasoline (1 gallon) $5.11
PKR1,411.20
??
Monthly public transit pass $21.66
PKR5,985.79
$26.40
FCFA15,461
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $54,159.34
PKR15M
$33,056.06
FCFA19M

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pay 60.2% more for housing

 
Islamabad
Malabo
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$17.07
PKR4,716.08
??
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $273.02
PKR75,437.56
??
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $139.79
PKR38,624.96
$223.95
FCFA131K

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pay 93.2% less for childcare

 
Islamabad
Malabo
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $74.62
PKR20,617.72
??
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $5,015.34
PKR1M
$341.40
FCFA200K

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pay 14.4% more for entertainment and sports

 
Islamabad
Malabo
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $3.61
PKR997.63
$1.71
FCFA1,000
Cappuccino in mid-range area $2.65
PKR731.67
$4.69
FCFA2,749
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$2.30
PKR635.49
$4.52
FCFA2,648

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pay (unknown) more for clothing

 
Islamabad
Malabo
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$24.82
PKR6,858.72
??
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$34.87
PKR9,633.94
??
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$96.43
PKR26,645.19
??

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We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Sources: MyLifeElsewhere's cost-of-living dataset (prices updated November 2026). How we calculate this

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