Cost of living comparison
California is 4.2 times more expensive than Zambia overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 4.1 times more in California
- Groceries
-
pay 2.4 times more in California
- Transportation
-
pay 2.0 times more in California
- Housing
-
pay 7.9 times more in California
- Childcare
-
pay 7.1 times more in California
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 4.0 times more in California
- Clothing
-
pay 84.0% more in California
The cost of housing, childcare, restaurants, entertainment and sports, groceries, and transportation in California are more expensive than in Zambia. Notably, housing, childcare, and restaurants are significantly more expensive in California.
If you lived in California instead of Zambia, you would:
pay 4.1 times more for restaurants
|
Zambia
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$7.21
ZMW203.11
|
$21.02
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$3.82
ZMW107.63
|
$11.52
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.71
ZMW20.10
|
$2.71
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.33
ZMW9.32
|
$2.16
|
|
pay 2.4 times more for groceries
|
Zambia
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$0.74
ZMW20.83
|
$4.14
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$3.64
ZMW102.40
|
$6.95
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.85
ZMW136.67
|
$4.61
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$1.92
ZMW54.20
|
$4.33
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$1.80
ZMW50.60
|
$5.70
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.20
ZMW33.83
|
$2.34
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.60
ZMW17.00
|
$0.92
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.27
ZMW35.64
|
$1.91
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.56
ZMW15.87
|
$2.38
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.96
ZMW26.92
|
$1.39
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.67
ZMW18.98
|
$1.44
|
|
pay 2.0 times more for transportation
|
Zambia
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.77
ZMW134.22
|
$4.83
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$37.04
ZMW1,043.15
|
$62.05
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$8,004.53
ZMW225,455.66
|
$30,005.28
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$12.13
ZMW341.65
|
$20.07
|
|
pay 7.9 times more for housing
|
Zambia
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$125.92
ZMW3,546.64
|
$68.54
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$214.42
ZMW6,039.43
|
$2,371.29
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$114.96
ZMW3,237.93
|
$2,055.18
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$83.50
ZMW2,351.91
|
$171.68
|
|
pay 7.1 times more for childcare
|
Zambia
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$176.79
ZMW4,979.45
|
$1,682.51
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$6,570.42
ZMW185,062.67
|
$30,905.75
|
|
pay 4.0 times more for entertainment and sports
|
Zambia
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$0.97
ZMW27.23
|
$7.00
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$2.07
ZMW58.40
|
$5.34
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$2.49
ZMW70.11
|
$10.91
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$41.21
ZMW1,160.78
|
$66.35
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$3.50
ZMW98.57
|
$14.41
|
|
pay 84.0% more for clothing
|
Zambia
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$18.43
ZMW519.24
|
$52.77
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$18.78
ZMW529.07
|
$40.15
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$90.18
ZMW2,539.91
|
$85.15
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$82.76
ZMW2,331.06
|
$117.31
|
|
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