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

🙂 Solo nomad: China is 24.8% cheaper than Zambia without rent, and 5.6% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: China is 11.1% cheaper than Zambia without rent, and 18.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
China
Zambia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.83 ¥19.57
$7.17 ZMW 136
-60.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.56 ¥163
$22.94 ZMW 436
2.70%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.90 ¥33.88
$3.75 ZMW 71.2
30.67%
Cappuccino
$3.11 ¥21.55
$1.92 ZMW 36.56
61.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 ¥3.03
$0.67 ZMW 12.75
-34.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29 ¥2.02
$0.35 ZMW 6.69
-17.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.98 ¥6.79
$0.94 ZMW 17.87
4.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 ¥14.85
$1.43 ZMW 27.18
50.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
China
Zambia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.78 ¥12.35
$1.25 ZMW 23.76
42.40%
White Bread (500g)
$1.64 ¥11.34
$0.85 ZMW 16.21
92.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.90 ¥6.25
$1.74 ZMW 33.13
-48.28%
Eggs
$1.57 ¥10.90
$1.52 ZMW 28.97
3.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.14 ¥91.0
$7.90 ZMW 150
66.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.20 ¥22.15
$4.00 ZMW 76.1
-20.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.69 ¥74.0
$4.86 ZMW 92.5
119.96%
Apples (1kg)
$1.76 ¥12.15
$2.32 ZMW 44.11
-24.14%
Banana (1kg)
$1.29 ¥8.93
$1.48 ZMW 28.21
-12.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 ¥10.42
$2.53 ZMW 48.13
-40.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.18 ¥8.19
$1.13 ZMW 21.55
4.42%
Potato (1kg)
$0.72 ¥4.99
$2.06 ZMW 39.14
-65.05%
Onion (1kg)
$0.94 ¥6.54
$1.41 ZMW 26.76
-33.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.57 ¥3.91
$0.95 ZMW 18.09
-40.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57 ¥3.93
$0.54 ZMW 10.22
5.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.55 ¥24.58
$2.29 ZMW 43.62
55.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.34 ¥78.5
$6.31 ZMW 120
79.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 ¥5.46
$0.91 ZMW 17.21
-13.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66 ¥11.45
$1.23 ZMW 23.47
34.96%
🚌 Getting Around
China
Zambia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.43 ¥3.00
$1.01 ZMW 19.19
-57.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.01 ¥145
$40.26 ZMW 765
-47.81%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 ¥9.75
$2.58 ZMW 49.05
-45.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 ¥2.45
$1.03 ZMW 19.65
-66.02%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.84 ¥47.31
$9.26 ZMW 176
-26.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 ¥8.03
$1.18 ZMW 22.38
-1.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4K ¥134.5K
$7,994 ZMW 152.0K
143.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.8K ¥116.4K
$28.8K ZMW 547.0K
-41.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
Zambia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$52.0 ¥360
$86.9 ZMW 1,652
-40.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.89 ¥68.4
$51.4 ZMW 977
-80.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.32 ¥78.3
$127 ZMW 2,410
-91.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
China
Zambia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.63 ¥274
$41.39 ZMW 787
-4.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.99 ¥104
$13.57 ZMW 258
10.46%
Cinema Ticket
$6.17 ¥42.73
$4.30 ZMW 81.8
43.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
China
Zambia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$406 ¥2,808
$176 ZMW 3,348
130.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.5K ¥121.3K
$9,547 ZMW 181.5K
83.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
China
Zambia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.71 ¥316
$19.61 ZMW 373
133.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.18 ¥230
$17.84 ZMW 339
85.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.4 ¥494
$79.8 ZMW 1,517
-10.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.9 ¥518
$73.5 ZMW 1,396
1.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
China
Zambia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$439 ¥3,040
$208 ZMW 3,963
110.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$251 ¥1,738
$130 ZMW 2,477
92.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$902 ¥6,240
$874 ZMW 16.6K
3.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$544 ¥3,761
$712 ZMW 13.5K
-23.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,160 ¥35.7K
$1,986 ZMW 37.8K
159.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,612 ¥18.1K
$5,076 ZMW 96.5K
-48.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
China
Zambia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,071 ¥7,409
$383 ZMW 7,274
179.83%
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: March 29, 2026

Last update for Zambia: March 31, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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