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

😐 Solo nomad: Zambia is 24.8% more expensive than China without rent, and 6.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Zambia is 17.5% more expensive than China without rent, and 21.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zambia
China
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.97 ZMW 139
$2.77 ¥19.31
151.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.45 ZMW 469
$24.14 ¥169
-2.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.74 ZMW 74.8
$4.75 ¥33.15
-21.26%
Cappuccino
$1.89 ZMW 37.80
$3.02 ¥21.06
-37.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 ZMW 13.53
$0.44 ¥3.06
54.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ZMW 6.50
$0.27 ¥1.87
22.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.92 ZMW 18.32
$0.96 ¥6.67
-4.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 ZMW 30.05
$2.04 ¥14.21
-26.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zambia
China
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.25 ZMW 24.92
$1.75 ¥12.21
-28.57%
White Bread (500g)
$0.82 ZMW 16.33
$1.69 ¥11.79
-51.48%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.83 ZMW 36.56
$0.98 ¥6.85
86.73%
Eggs
$1.53 ZMW 30.64
$1.60 ¥11.19
-4.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.91 ZMW 158
$13.34 ¥93.1
-40.70%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.92 ZMW 78.3
$3.27 ¥22.82
19.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.91 ZMW 98.1
$10.63 ¥74.2
-53.81%
Apples (1kg)
$2.31 ZMW 46.22
$1.74 ¥12.16
32.76%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 ZMW 31.12
$1.26 ¥8.76
23.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.60 ZMW 52.0
$1.45 ¥10.13
79.31%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.19 ZMW 23.80
$1.19 ¥8.28
-
Potato (1kg)
$1.97 ZMW 39.29
$0.73 ¥5.08
169.86%
Onion (1kg)
$1.43 ZMW 28.58
$0.86 ¥5.99
66.28%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.91 ZMW 18.11
$0.62 ¥4.30
46.77%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ZMW 11.28
$0.53 ¥3.71
5.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.30 ZMW 45.91
$3.44 ¥24.03
-33.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.24 ZMW 125
$11.63 ¥81.2
-46.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 ZMW 16.84
$0.84 ¥5.88
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29 ZMW 25.79
$1.62 ¥11.30
-20.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Zambia
China
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.96 ZMW 19.11
$0.44 ¥3.07
118.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$39.24 ZMW 784
$20.71 ¥145
89.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.48 ZMW 49.46
$1.42 ¥9.91
74.65%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.03 ZMW 20.56
$0.33 ¥2.27
212.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.36 ZMW 187
$6.51 ¥45.42
43.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.18 ZMW 23.51
$1.17 ¥8.19
0.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$8,112 ZMW 162.1K
$19.2K ¥133.9K
-57.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.5K ZMW 570.0K
$16.6K ¥116.1K
71.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zambia
China
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$86.8 ZMW 1,734
$51.4 ¥359
68.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.0 ZMW 1,019
$9.63 ¥67.2
429.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$123 ZMW 2,466
$11.22 ¥78.3
999.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zambia
China
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.51 ZMW 829
$39.09 ¥273
6.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.67 ZMW 273
$14.70 ¥103
-7.01%
Cinema Ticket
$4.10 ZMW 81.9
$6.14 ¥42.89
-33.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zambia
China
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$177 ZMW 3,536
$416 ¥2,905
-57.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,450 ZMW 188.8K
$17.9K ¥125.0K
-47.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zambia
China
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.64 ZMW 392
$45.24 ¥316
-56.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$17.66 ZMW 353
$32.59 ¥228
-45.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.4 ZMW 1,586
$73.0 ¥509
8.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.7 ZMW 1,452
$72.8 ¥508
-0.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zambia
China
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$212 ZMW 4,230
$432 ¥3,018
-51.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$127 ZMW 2,545
$253 ¥1,767
-49.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$862 ZMW 17.2K
$923 ¥6,441
-6.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$702 ZMW 14.0K
$546 ¥3,811
28.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,980 ZMW 39.6K
$5,324 ¥37.2K
-62.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,165 ZMW 103.2K
$2,784 ¥19.4K
85.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zambia
China
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$337 ZMW 6,743
$1,037 ¥7,240
-67.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
25
4.06
515.76%

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

Last update for Zambia: January 12, 2026

Last update for China: January 11, 2026

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