Cost of living comparison
Zambia is 54.9% cheaper than California.
- Restaurants
-
pay 72.7% less in Zambia
- Groceries
-
pay 47.9% less in Zambia
- Transportation
-
pay 38.6% less in Zambia
- Housing
-
pay 38.3% less in Zambia
- Childcare
-
pay 84.1% less in Zambia
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 67.6% less in Zambia
- Clothing
-
pay 35.4% less in Zambia
Expenses including childcare, restaurants, entertainment and sports, groceries, transportation, and housing are lower in Zambia.
If you lived in Zambia instead of California, you would:
pay 72.7% less for restaurants
|
California
|
Zambia
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$21.02
|
$7.21
ZMW205.21
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$11.52
|
$3.82
ZMW108.75
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.71
|
$0.71
ZMW20.31
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.16
|
$0.33
ZMW9.42
|
|
pay 47.9% less for groceries
|
California
|
Zambia
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$4.14
|
$0.74
ZMW21.05
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$6.95
|
$3.64
ZMW103.46
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.61
|
$4.85
ZMW138.08
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$4.33
|
$1.92
ZMW54.77
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$5.70
|
$1.80
ZMW51.13
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.34
|
$1.20
ZMW34.18
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.92
|
$0.60
ZMW17.18
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.91
|
$1.27
ZMW36.01
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.38
|
$0.56
ZMW16.03
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.39
|
$0.96
ZMW27.20
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.44
|
$0.67
ZMW19.17
|
|
pay 38.6% less for transportation
|
California
|
Zambia
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.83
|
$4.77
ZMW135.61
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$62.05
|
$37.04
ZMW1,053.98
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$30,005.28
|
$8,004.53
ZMW227,796.39
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$20.07
|
$12.13
ZMW345.19
|
|
pay 38.3% less for housing
|
California
|
Zambia
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$68.54
|
$125.92
ZMW3,583.46
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$2,371.29
|
$214.42
ZMW6,102.13
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$2,055.18
|
$114.96
ZMW3,271.55
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$171.68
|
$83.50
ZMW2,376.33
|
|
pay 84.1% less for childcare
|
California
|
Zambia
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,682.51
|
$176.79
ZMW5,031.15
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$30,905.75
|
$6,570.42
ZMW186,984.03
|
|
pay 67.6% less for entertainment and sports
|
California
|
Zambia
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$7.00
|
$0.97
ZMW27.52
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.34
|
$2.07
ZMW59.01
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$10.91
|
$2.49
ZMW70.84
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$66.35
|
$41.21
ZMW1,172.83
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$14.41
|
$3.50
ZMW99.59
|
|
pay 35.4% less for clothing
|
California
|
Zambia
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$52.77
|
$18.43
ZMW524.63
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$40.15
|
$18.78
ZMW534.56
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$85.15
|
$90.18
ZMW2,566.28
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$117.31
|
$82.76
ZMW2,355.26
|
|
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