Cost of Living Comparison Between China and Zambia Cost of Living Comparison Between China and Zambia

🙂 Solo nomad: China is 23% cheaper than Zambia without rent, and 5.9% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: China is 14.8% cheaper than Zambia without rent, and 16.2% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
China
Zambia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.85 ¥20.46
$7 ZMW 172
-59.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.97 ¥172
$23.02 ZMW 566
4.13%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.96 ¥35.61
$3.62 ZMW 89
37.02%
Cappuccino
$3.13 ¥22.47
$1.98 ZMW 48.67
58.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 ¥3.18
$0.66 ZMW 16.27
-33.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29 ¥2.1
$0.33 ZMW 8.07
-12.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.95 ¥6.83
$0.93 ZMW 22.94
2.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 ¥15.32
$1.48 ZMW 36.48
44.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
China
Zambia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.85 ¥13.23
$1.24 ZMW 30.44
49.19%
White Bread (500g)
$1.68 ¥12.06
$0.84 ZMW 20.69
100.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.95 ¥6.81
$1.79 ZMW 44.07
-46.93%
Eggs
$1.55 ¥11.11
$1.49 ZMW 36.56
4.03%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.25 ¥95.1
$7.48 ZMW 184
77.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.28 ¥23.52
$3.98 ZMW 97.8
-17.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.85 ¥77.8
$4.99 ZMW 123
117.43%
Apples (1kg)
$1.77 ¥12.66
$2.42 ZMW 59.5
-26.86%
Banana (1kg)
$1.26 ¥9.01
$1.56 ZMW 38.42
-19.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.5 ¥10.73
$2.61 ZMW 64.3
-42.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.19 ¥8.5
$1.14 ZMW 28.01
4.39%
Potato (1kg)
$0.75 ¥5.4
$1.96 ZMW 48.17
-61.73%
Onion (1kg)
$0.86 ¥6.15
$1.36 ZMW 33.46
-36.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.61 ¥4.37
$0.89 ZMW 21.94
-31.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 ¥4.14
$0.53 ZMW 13.15
9.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.45 ¥24.74
$2.25 ZMW 55.5
53.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.3 ¥81.1
$6.78 ZMW 167
66.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 ¥6
$0.92 ZMW 22.58
-8.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 ¥12.05
$1.27 ZMW 31.31
32.28%
🚌 Getting Around
China
Zambia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.4 ¥2.86
$0.96 ZMW 23.56
-58.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.83 ¥149
$39.44 ZMW 970
-47.19%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ¥9.74
$2.48 ZMW 61
-45.16%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 ¥2.55
$1.06 ZMW 26.1
-66.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.8 ¥48.75
$9.4 ZMW 231
-27.66%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 ¥8.05
$1.24 ZMW 30.59
-9.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.2K ¥137.7K
$8,152 ZMW 200.5K
135.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.7K ¥119.8K
$28.1K ZMW 692.2K
-40.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
Zambia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.4 ¥369
$85.8 ZMW 2,111
-40.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.77 ¥70.1
$50.5 ZMW 1,243
-80.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.34 ¥81.3
$126 ZMW 3,111
-91.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
China
Zambia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.55 ¥284
$42.29 ZMW 1,040
-6.48%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.89 ¥107
$13.59 ZMW 334
9.57%
Cinema Ticket
$6.23 ¥44.71
$4.1 ZMW 101
51.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
China
Zambia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$417 ¥2,989
$176 ZMW 4,329
136.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.7K ¥126.8K
$9,594 ZMW 236K
84.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
China
Zambia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.65 ¥327
$19.78 ZMW 487
130.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.49 ¥240
$17.61 ZMW 433
90.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.8 ¥515
$78 ZMW 1,919
-7.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.9 ¥523
$71.2 ZMW 1,752
2.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
China
Zambia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$445 ¥3,194
$208 ZMW 5,117
114.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$255 ¥1,830
$127 ZMW 3,129
100.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$915 ¥6,566
$865 ZMW 21.3K
5.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$543 ¥3,895
$706 ZMW 17.4K
-23.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,142 ¥44.1K
$3,458 ZMW 85.1K
77.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,860 ¥20.5K
$6,440 ZMW 158.4K
-55.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
China
Zambia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$942 ¥6,755
$281 ZMW 6,903
235.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.06
25
-83.76%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for China: October 29, 2025

Last update for Zambia: October 28, 2025

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