Cost of living comparison
Zambia is 1.7% cheaper than Botswana overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 21.6% less in Zambia
- Groceries
-
pay 11.3% more in Zambia
- Transportation
-
pay 14.8% less in Zambia
- Housing
-
pay 17.4% more in Zambia
- Childcare
-
pay 36.8% more in Zambia
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 24.6% less in Zambia
- Clothing
-
pay 16.6% less in Zambia
The cost of childcare, housing, and groceries in Zambia are more expensive than in Botswana. Expenses including entertainment and sports, restaurants, clothing, and transportation are lower in Zambia.
If you lived in Zambia instead of Botswana, you would:
pay 21.6% less for restaurants
|
Botswana
|
Zambia
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$7.50
BWP101.94
|
$7.21
ZMW207.74
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$6.00
BWP81.55
|
$3.82
ZMW110.09
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.83
BWP11.32
|
$0.71
ZMW20.56
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.49
BWP6.64
|
$0.33
ZMW9.53
|
|
pay 11.3% more for groceries
|
Botswana
|
Zambia
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$0.81
BWP11.05
|
$0.74
ZMW21.31
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$3.37
BWP45.81
|
$3.64
ZMW104.74
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$5.06
BWP68.82
|
$4.85
ZMW139.79
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.29
BWP31.16
|
$1.92
ZMW55.44
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$2.27
BWP30.92
|
$1.80
ZMW51.76
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$0.77
BWP10.53
|
$1.20
ZMW34.60
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.62
BWP8.42
|
$0.60
ZMW17.39
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$0.88
BWP12.02
|
$1.27
ZMW36.45
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.65
BWP8.78
|
$0.56
ZMW16.23
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.60
BWP8.12
|
$0.96
ZMW27.54
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.55
BWP7.45
|
$0.67
ZMW19.41
|
|
pay 14.8% less for transportation
|
Botswana
|
Zambia
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.27
BWP58.12
|
$4.77
ZMW137.29
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$28.18
BWP383.30
|
$37.04
ZMW1,066.96
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$22,486.26
BWP305,825.54
|
$8,004.53
ZMW230,602.53
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$19.49
BWP265.05
|
$12.13
ZMW349.44
|
|
pay 17.4% more for housing
|
Botswana
|
Zambia
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$90.60
BWP1,232.22
|
$125.92
ZMW3,627.61
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$254.84
BWP3,466.02
|
$214.42
ZMW6,177.30
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$149.91
BWP2,038.84
|
$114.96
ZMW3,311.85
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$49.21
BWP669.30
|
$83.50
ZMW2,405.60
|
|
pay 36.8% more for childcare
|
Botswana
|
Zambia
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$180.24
BWP2,451.38
|
$176.79
ZMW5,093.13
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$3,740.68
BWP50,875.35
|
$6,570.42
ZMW189,287.42
|
|
pay 24.6% less for entertainment and sports
|
Botswana
|
Zambia
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$2.25
BWP30.58
|
$0.97
ZMW27.85
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$2.37
BWP32.22
|
$2.07
ZMW59.74
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$3.75
BWP50.97
|
$2.49
ZMW71.71
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$32.19
BWP437.78
|
$41.21
ZMW1,187.28
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$6.75
BWP91.75
|
$3.50
ZMW100.82
|
|
pay 16.6% less for clothing
|
Botswana
|
Zambia
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$44.14
BWP600.32
|
$18.43
ZMW531.09
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$22.17
BWP301.46
|
$18.78
ZMW541.15
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$76.20
BWP1,036.41
|
$90.18
ZMW2,597.89
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$93.16
BWP1,266.99
|
$82.76
ZMW2,384.27
|
|
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