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

😐 Solo nomad: Zambia is 29.4% more expensive than China without rent, and 7.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Zambia is 15.1% more expensive than China without rent, and 22.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zambia
China
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.26 ZMW 138
$2.82 ¥19.48
157.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.64 ZMW 430
$23.62 ¥163
-4.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.61 ZMW 68.7
$4.97 ¥34.30
-27.36%
Cappuccino
$1.91 ZMW 36.39
$3.14 ¥21.63
-39.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63 ZMW 12.00
$0.44 ¥3.06
43.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ZMW 6.76
$0.27 ¥1.84
33.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.94 ZMW 17.87
$0.93 ¥6.39
1.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 ZMW 28.61
$2.08 ¥14.35
-27.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zambia
China
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.28 ZMW 24.40
$1.84 ¥12.68
-30.43%
White Bread (500g)
$0.87 ZMW 16.56
$1.62 ¥11.15
-46.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.73 ZMW 32.93
$0.96 ¥6.61
80.21%
Eggs
$1.52 ZMW 28.90
$1.56 ¥10.74
-2.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.91 ZMW 150
$13.18 ¥90.9
-39.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.96 ZMW 75.3
$3.21 ¥22.11
23.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.77 ZMW 90.6
$10.89 ¥75.2
-56.20%
Apples (1kg)
$2.31 ZMW 43.94
$1.77 ¥12.18
30.51%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 ZMW 29.51
$1.25 ¥8.62
24.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.53 ZMW 48.05
$1.52 ¥10.51
66.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.13 ZMW 21.42
$1.15 ¥7.94
-1.74%
Potato (1kg)
$2.00 ZMW 37.95
$0.76 ¥5.27
163.16%
Onion (1kg)
$1.41 ZMW 26.88
$0.89 ¥6.13
58.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.95 ZMW 18.11
$0.61 ¥4.24
55.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ZMW 10.02
$0.54 ¥3.71
-1.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25 ZMW 42.81
$3.38 ¥23.29
-33.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.59 ZMW 125
$11.67 ¥80.5
-43.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.92 ZMW 17.55
$0.78 ¥5.38
17.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 ZMW 24.25
$1.67 ¥11.52
-23.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Zambia
China
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.96 ZMW 18.25
$0.43 ¥2.97
123.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.29 ZMW 766
$20.93 ¥144
92.50%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.53 ZMW 48.06
$1.41 ¥9.72
79.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.06 ZMW 20.16
$0.35 ¥2.44
202.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.38 ZMW 178
$6.48 ¥44.71
44.75%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.18 ZMW 22.50
$1.16 ¥8.03
1.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$8,144 ZMW 154.8K
$19.3K ¥132.9K
-57.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.0K ZMW 551.5K
$17.0K ¥117.2K
70.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zambia
China
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$86.2 ZMW 1,639
$51.3 ¥354
68.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.2 ZMW 973
$9.84 ¥67.9
419.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$125 ZMW 2,376
$11.49 ¥79.3
987.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zambia
China
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.02 ZMW 799
$40.28 ¥278
4.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.05 ZMW 267
$14.78 ¥102
-4.94%
Cinema Ticket
$4.12 ZMW 78.3
$6.41 ¥44.24
-35.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zambia
China
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$180 ZMW 3,425
$403 ¥2,783
-55.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,561 ZMW 181.8K
$17.9K ¥123.3K
-46.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zambia
China
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.55 ZMW 372
$45.91 ¥317
-57.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$17.56 ZMW 334
$32.39 ¥223
-45.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.8 ZMW 1,517
$71.2 ¥492
12.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.7 ZMW 1,383
$74.0 ¥510
-1.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zambia
China
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$212 ZMW 4,023
$436 ¥3,008
-51.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$126 ZMW 2,400
$254 ¥1,750
-50.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$850 ZMW 16.1K
$900 ¥6,210
-5.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$704 ZMW 13.4K
$548 ¥3,781
28.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,981 ZMW 37.7K
$5,140 ¥35.5K
-61.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,060 ZMW 96.2K
$2,676 ¥18.5K
89.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zambia
China
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$376 ZMW 7,139
$1,024 ¥7,068
-63.34%
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: March 2, 2026

Last update for China: March 3, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated January 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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