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

😐 Solo nomad: Zambia is 29.9% more expensive than China without rent, and 6.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Zambia is 17.4% more expensive than China without rent, and 19.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zambia
China
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7 ZMW 172
$2.85 ¥20.46
145.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.02 ZMW 566
$23.97 ¥172
-3.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.62 ZMW 89
$4.96 ¥35.61
-27.02%
Cappuccino
$1.98 ZMW 48.67
$3.13 ¥22.47
-36.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 ZMW 16.27
$0.44 ¥3.18
50.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ZMW 8.07
$0.29 ¥2.1
13.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.93 ZMW 22.94
$0.95 ¥6.83
-2.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48 ZMW 36.48
$2.14 ¥15.32
-30.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zambia
China
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.24 ZMW 30.44
$1.85 ¥13.23
-32.97%
White Bread (500g)
$0.84 ZMW 20.69
$1.68 ¥12.06
-50.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.79 ZMW 44.07
$0.95 ¥6.81
88.42%
Eggs
$1.49 ZMW 36.56
$1.55 ¥11.11
-3.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.48 ZMW 184
$13.25 ¥95.1
-43.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.98 ZMW 97.8
$3.28 ¥23.52
21.34%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.99 ZMW 123
$10.85 ¥77.8
-54.01%
Apples (1kg)
$2.42 ZMW 59.5
$1.77 ¥12.66
36.72%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 ZMW 38.42
$1.26 ¥9.01
23.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.61 ZMW 64.3
$1.5 ¥10.73
74.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.14 ZMW 28.01
$1.19 ¥8.5
-4.20%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 ZMW 48.17
$0.75 ¥5.4
161.33%
Onion (1kg)
$1.36 ZMW 33.46
$0.86 ¥6.15
58.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 ZMW 21.94
$0.61 ¥4.37
45.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ZMW 13.15
$0.58 ¥4.14
-8.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25 ZMW 55.5
$3.45 ¥24.74
-34.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.78 ZMW 167
$11.3 ¥81.1
-40.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.92 ZMW 22.58
$0.84 ¥6
9.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27 ZMW 31.31
$1.68 ¥12.05
-24.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Zambia
China
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.96 ZMW 23.56
$0.4 ¥2.86
140.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$39.44 ZMW 970
$20.83 ¥149
89.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.48 ZMW 61
$1.36 ¥9.74
82.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.06 ZMW 26.1
$0.35 ¥2.55
202.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.4 ZMW 231
$6.8 ¥48.75
38.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 ZMW 30.59
$1.12 ¥8.05
10.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$8,152 ZMW 200.5K
$19.2K ¥137.7K
-57.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.1K ZMW 692.2K
$16.7K ¥119.8K
68.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zambia
China
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$85.8 ZMW 2,111
$51.4 ¥369
66.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$50.5 ZMW 1,243
$9.77 ¥70.1
417.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$126 ZMW 3,111
$11.34 ¥81.3
1015.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zambia
China
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.29 ZMW 1,040
$39.55 ¥284
6.93%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.59 ZMW 334
$14.89 ¥107
-8.73%
Cinema Ticket
$4.1 ZMW 101
$6.23 ¥44.71
-34.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zambia
China
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$176 ZMW 4,329
$417 ¥2,989
-57.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,594 ZMW 236K
$17.7K ¥126.8K
-45.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zambia
China
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.78 ZMW 487
$45.65 ¥327
-56.67%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$17.61 ZMW 433
$33.49 ¥240
-47.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78 ZMW 1,919
$71.8 ¥515
8.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.2 ZMW 1,752
$72.9 ¥523
-2.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zambia
China
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$208 ZMW 5,117
$445 ¥3,194
-53.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$127 ZMW 3,129
$255 ¥1,830
-50.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$865 ZMW 21.3K
$915 ¥6,566
-5.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$706 ZMW 17.4K
$543 ¥3,895
30.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,458 ZMW 85.1K
$6,142 ¥44.1K
-43.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,440 ZMW 158.4K
$2,860 ¥20.5K
125.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zambia
China
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$281 ZMW 6,903
$942 ¥6,755
-70.20%
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: October 28, 2025

Last update for China: October 29, 2025

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