Cost of living comparison
Zambia is 28.2% more expensive than Malaysia overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 31.1% more in Zambia
- Groceries
-
pay 5.1% more in Zambia
- Transportation
-
pay 75.8% more in Zambia
- Housing
-
pay 2.1 times more in Zambia
- Childcare
-
pay 3.6% more in Zambia
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 26.0% less in Zambia
- Clothing
-
pay 5.4% less in Zambia
The cost of housing, transportation, restaurants, groceries, and childcare in Zambia are more expensive than in Malaysia. Expenses including entertainment and sports and clothing are lower in Zambia. Notably, housing and transportation are significantly more expensive in Zambia.
If you lived in Zambia instead of Malaysia, you would:
pay 31.1% more for restaurants
|
Malaysia
|
Zambia
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$2.98
MYR13.20
|
$7.21
ZMW207.16
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$4.23
MYR18.75
|
$3.82
ZMW109.78
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.68
MYR3.01
|
$0.71
ZMW20.50
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.38
MYR1.69
|
$0.33
ZMW9.50
|
|
pay 5.1% more for groceries
|
Malaysia
|
Zambia
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$0.91
MYR4.05
|
$0.74
ZMW21.25
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$7.65
MYR33.92
|
$3.64
ZMW104.44
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$6.39
MYR28.32
|
$4.85
ZMW139.39
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$1.97
MYR8.74
|
$1.92
ZMW55.29
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$1.83
MYR8.12
|
$1.80
ZMW51.61
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.17
MYR5.20
|
$1.20
ZMW34.50
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.57
MYR2.53
|
$0.60
ZMW17.34
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.21
MYR5.38
|
$1.27
ZMW36.35
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.63
MYR2.80
|
$0.56
ZMW16.18
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.43
MYR1.91
|
$0.96
ZMW27.46
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.51
MYR2.26
|
$0.67
ZMW19.36
|
|
pay 75.8% more for transportation
|
Malaysia
|
Zambia
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$1.77
MYR7.85
|
$4.77
ZMW136.90
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$15.69
MYR69.55
|
$37.04
ZMW1,063.96
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$34,330.57
MYR152,204.60
|
$8,004.53
ZMW229,954.14
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$6.94
MYR30.76
|
$12.13
ZMW348.46
|
|
pay 2.1 times more for housing
|
Malaysia
|
Zambia
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$26.31
MYR116.67
|
$125.92
ZMW3,617.41
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$322.80
MYR1,431.14
|
$214.42
ZMW6,159.94
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$212.35
MYR941.45
|
$114.96
ZMW3,302.53
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$33.00
MYR146.30
|
$83.50
ZMW2,398.84
|
|
pay 3.6% more for childcare
|
Malaysia
|
Zambia
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$163.68
MYR725.67
|
$176.79
ZMW5,078.81
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$6,626.64
MYR29,379.21
|
$6,570.42
ZMW188,755.18
|
|
pay 26.0% less for entertainment and sports
|
Malaysia
|
Zambia
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$3.66
MYR16.22
|
$0.97
ZMW27.78
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$2.54
MYR11.26
|
$2.07
ZMW59.57
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$4.07
MYR18.03
|
$2.49
ZMW71.51
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$36.32
MYR161.03
|
$41.21
ZMW1,183.94
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$4.00
MYR17.72
|
$3.50
ZMW100.53
|
|
pay 5.4% less for clothing
|
Malaysia
|
Zambia
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$53.15
MYR235.64
|
$18.43
ZMW529.60
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$30.13
MYR133.57
|
$18.78
ZMW539.63
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$65.18
MYR288.96
|
$90.18
ZMW2,590.59
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$57.93
MYR256.85
|
$82.76
ZMW2,377.57
|
|
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