Cost of living comparison
Iowa is 2.9 times more expensive than Zambia overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 3.2 times more in Iowa
- Groceries
-
pay 2.0 times more in Iowa
- Transportation
-
pay 65.2% more in Iowa
- Housing
-
pay 3.7 times more in Iowa
- Childcare
-
pay 4.4 times more in Iowa
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 3.2 times more in Iowa
- Clothing
-
pay 75.8% more in Iowa
The cost of childcare, housing, entertainment and sports, restaurants, groceries, and clothing in Iowa are more expensive than in Zambia. Notably, childcare, housing, and entertainment and sports are significantly more expensive in Iowa.
If you lived in Iowa instead of Zambia, you would:
pay 3.2 times more for restaurants
|
Zambia
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$7.21
ZMW205.21
|
$15.50
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$3.82
ZMW108.75
|
$9.86
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.71
ZMW20.31
|
$2.25
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.33
ZMW9.42
|
$1.61
|
|
pay 2.0 times more for groceries
|
Zambia
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$0.74
ZMW21.05
|
$2.75
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$3.64
ZMW103.46
|
$5.26
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.85
ZMW138.08
|
$3.55
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$1.92
ZMW54.77
|
$2.97
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$1.80
ZMW51.13
|
$4.90
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.20
ZMW34.18
|
$2.27
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.60
ZMW17.18
|
$0.66
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.27
ZMW36.01
|
$2.31
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.56
ZMW16.03
|
$2.19
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.96
ZMW27.20
|
$1.17
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.67
ZMW19.17
|
$1.32
|
|
pay 65.2% more for transportation
|
Zambia
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.77
ZMW135.61
|
$3.26
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$37.04
ZMW1,053.98
|
$41.60
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$8,004.53
ZMW227,796.39
|
$28,209.92
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$12.13
ZMW345.19
|
$15.53
|
|
pay 3.7 times more for housing
|
Zambia
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$125.92
ZMW3,583.46
|
$68.83
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$214.42
ZMW6,102.13
|
$1,149.79
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$114.96
ZMW3,271.55
|
$848.38
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$83.50
ZMW2,376.33
|
$132.52
|
|
pay 4.4 times more for childcare
|
Zambia
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$176.79
ZMW5,031.15
|
$1,043.98
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$6,570.42
ZMW186,984.03
|
$19,039.50
|
|
pay 3.2 times more for entertainment and sports
|
Zambia
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$0.97
ZMW27.52
|
$4.95
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$2.07
ZMW59.01
|
$5.14
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$2.49
ZMW70.84
|
$8.68
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$41.21
ZMW1,172.83
|
$61.12
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$3.50
ZMW99.59
|
$12.83
|
|
pay 75.8% more for clothing
|
Zambia
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$18.43
ZMW524.63
|
$50.44
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$18.78
ZMW534.56
|
$39.50
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$90.18
ZMW2,566.28
|
$83.35
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$82.76
ZMW2,355.26
|
$105.02
|
|
Change currency:
Compare countries by overall cost of living
Help us improve these prices
ASK THE ELSEWHERE COMMUNITY
Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about Iowa or Zambia. It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.