Cost of living comparison

compared to
Lusaka vs. Monrovia Cost of Living Summary

Lusaka is 17.0% more expensive than Monrovia.

Restaurants
pay 56.6% less in Lusaka
Groceries
pay 43.2% less in Lusaka
Transportation
pay 39.2% more in Lusaka
Housing
pay 16.2% less in Lusaka
Childcare
pay 3.4 times more in Lusaka
Entertainment and Sports
pay 51.0% less in Lusaka
Clothing
pay 9.1% more in Lusaka

The cost of childcare, transportation, and clothing in Lusaka are more expensive than in Monrovia. Expenses including restaurants, entertainment and sports, groceries, and housing are lower in Lusaka. Notably, childcare is significantly more expensive in Lusaka.

Lusaka vs. Monrovia Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Lusaka instead of Monrovia, you would:

pay 56.6% less for restaurants

 
Monrovia
Lusaka
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $8.25
LRD1,519.63
$7.21
ZMW200.50
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$11.00
LRD2,026.17
$3.82
ZMW106.25
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $1.88
LRD345.37
$0.71
ZMW19.84

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pay 43.2% less for groceries

 
Monrovia
Lusaka
Bread
1 loaf
$1.65
LRD304.56
$0.74
ZMW20.56
Local cheese (8 oz) $5.91
LRD1,087.76
$3.64
ZMW101.09
Milk (1 gallon) $6.08
LRD1,120.52
$4.85
ZMW134.91

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pay 39.2% more for transportation

 
Monrovia
Lusaka
Gasoline (1 gallon) $4.03
LRD742.57
$4.77
ZMW132.50
Monthly public transit pass $20.00
LRD3,683.94
$37.04
ZMW1,029.76
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $5,069.87
LRD933,855.45
$8,004.53
ZMW222,562.30

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pay 16.2% less for housing

 
Monrovia
Lusaka
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$93.25
LRD17,176.36
$125.92
ZMW3,501.13
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $666.67
LRD122,798.00
$214.42
ZMW5,961.93
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $90.00
LRD16,577.73
$114.96
ZMW3,196.37

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pay 3.4 times more for childcare

 
Monrovia
Lusaka
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $74.33
LRD13,691.50
$176.79
ZMW4,915.55
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $1,500.00
LRD276,295.51
$6,570.42
ZMW182,687.68

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pay 51.0% less for entertainment and sports

 
Monrovia
Lusaka
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $2.50
LRD460.49
$0.97
ZMW26.88
Cappuccino in mid-range area $3.12
LRD575.62
$2.07
ZMW57.65
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$5.00
LRD920.99
$2.49
ZMW69.21

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pay 9.1% more for clothing

 
Monrovia
Lusaka
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$18.41
LRD3,391.51
$18.43
ZMW512.57
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$33.75
LRD6,216.65
$18.78
ZMW522.28
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$56.25
LRD10,361.08
$90.18
ZMW2,507.31

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The statistics used to build this comparison are calculated using data from users just like you. We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Learn more about our data sources. Page last updated: January 2025
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