Cost of living comparison
Zambia is 0.9% cheaper than South Africa overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 30.0% less in Zambia
- Groceries
-
pay 18.2% more in Zambia
- Transportation
-
pay 13.2% less in Zambia
- Housing
-
pay 24.9% more in Zambia
- Childcare
-
pay 32.2% more in Zambia
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 13.1% less in Zambia
- Clothing
-
pay 25.3% less in Zambia
The cost of childcare, housing, and groceries in Zambia are more expensive than in South Africa. Expenses including restaurants, clothing, transportation, and entertainment and sports are lower in Zambia.
If you lived in Zambia instead of South Africa, you would:
pay 30.0% less for restaurants
|
South Africa
|
Zambia
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$8.97
ZAR161.87
|
$7.21
ZMW193.75
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$4.77
ZAR86.07
|
$3.82
ZMW102.67
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.95
ZAR17.22
|
$0.71
ZMW19.17
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.74
ZAR13.37
|
$0.33
ZMW8.89
|
|
pay 18.2% more for groceries
|
South Africa
|
Zambia
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$0.99
ZAR17.87
|
$0.74
ZMW19.87
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$3.67
ZAR66.30
|
$3.64
ZMW97.68
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.20
ZAR75.75
|
$4.85
ZMW130.37
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.23
ZAR40.18
|
$1.92
ZMW51.71
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$2.03
ZAR36.59
|
$1.80
ZMW48.27
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$0.68
ZAR12.21
|
$1.20
ZMW32.27
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.62
ZAR11.14
|
$0.60
ZMW16.22
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$0.64
ZAR11.58
|
$1.27
ZMW33.99
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.70
ZAR12.60
|
$0.56
ZMW15.13
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.55
ZAR9.99
|
$0.96
ZMW25.68
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.61
ZAR10.98
|
$0.67
ZMW18.10
|
|
pay 13.2% less for transportation
|
South Africa
|
Zambia
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.99
ZAR90.00
|
$4.77
ZMW128.04
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$52.31
ZAR943.76
|
$37.04
ZMW995.07
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$20,607.77
ZAR371,792.86
|
$8,004.53
ZMW215,065.29
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$8.55
ZAR154.23
|
$12.13
ZMW325.90
|
|
pay 24.9% more for housing
|
South Africa
|
Zambia
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$41.37
ZAR746.36
|
$125.92
ZMW3,383.19
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$382.55
ZAR6,901.80
|
$214.42
ZMW5,761.10
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$326.35
ZAR5,887.76
|
$114.96
ZMW3,088.70
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$80.40
ZAR1,450.49
|
$83.50
ZMW2,243.52
|
|
pay 32.2% more for childcare
|
South Africa
|
Zambia
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$174.12
ZAR3,141.30
|
$176.79
ZMW4,749.97
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$4,033.53
ZAR72,770.46
|
$6,570.42
ZMW176,533.85
|
|
pay 13.1% less for entertainment and sports
|
South Africa
|
Zambia
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$2.11
ZAR38.03
|
$0.97
ZMW25.98
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$1.88
ZAR33.97
|
$2.07
ZMW55.71
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$2.90
ZAR52.40
|
$2.49
ZMW66.88
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$29.50
ZAR532.23
|
$41.21
ZMW1,107.28
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$6.62
ZAR119.45
|
$3.50
ZMW94.02
|
|
pay 25.3% less for clothing
|
South Africa
|
Zambia
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$47.72
ZAR860.85
|
$18.43
ZMW495.31
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$32.06
ZAR578.39
|
$18.78
ZMW504.69
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$90.39
ZAR1,630.74
|
$90.18
ZMW2,422.86
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$81.37
ZAR1,467.97
|
$82.76
ZMW2,223.63
|
|
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