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

😐 Solo nomad: Zambia is 28.2% more expensive than China without rent, and 8.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Zambia is 14.6% more expensive than China without rent, and 19.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zambia
China
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.95 ZMW 133
$2.86 ¥19.51
143.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.29 ZMW 446
$23.89 ¥163
-2.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.69 ZMW 70.6
$4.77 ¥32.61
-22.64%
Cappuccino
$1.97 ZMW 37.66
$3.08 ¥21.02
-36.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63 ZMW 12.01
$0.44 ¥2.99
43.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ZMW 6.76
$0.27 ¥1.84
29.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.93 ZMW 17.86
$0.93 ¥6.36
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 ZMW 28.63
$2.04 ¥13.96
-26.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zambia
China
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.28 ZMW 24.54
$1.78 ¥12.16
-28.09%
White Bread (500g)
$0.85 ZMW 16.34
$1.60 ¥10.94
-46.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.73 ZMW 33.12
$0.98 ¥6.70
76.53%
Eggs
$1.52 ZMW 29.11
$1.55 ¥10.60
-1.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.50 ZMW 144
$13.22 ¥90.3
-43.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.94 ZMW 75.4
$3.39 ¥23.13
16.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.81 ZMW 92.1
$10.52 ¥71.9
-54.28%
Apples (1kg)
$2.38 ZMW 45.46
$1.84 ¥12.59
29.35%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 ZMW 28.58
$1.30 ¥8.89
14.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.50 ZMW 47.74
$1.47 ¥10.03
70.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.15 ZMW 21.93
$1.15 ¥7.83
-
Potato (1kg)
$2.06 ZMW 39.38
$0.72 ¥4.94
186.11%
Onion (1kg)
$1.36 ZMW 25.94
$0.94 ¥6.40
44.68%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.95 ZMW 18.12
$0.61 ¥4.16
55.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ZMW 10.00
$0.53 ¥3.61
-1.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.21 ZMW 42.23
$3.54 ¥24.15
-37.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.76 ZMW 129
$11.89 ¥81.2
-43.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 ZMW 16.08
$0.79 ¥5.39
6.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.24 ZMW 23.67
$1.69 ¥11.51
-26.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Zambia
China
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.03 ZMW 19.68
$0.44 ¥2.98
134.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.24 ZMW 770
$20.98 ¥143
91.80%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.57 ZMW 49.15
$1.38 ¥9.39
86.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ZMW 19.50
$0.35 ¥2.40
191.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.45 ZMW 181
$6.75 ¥46.13
40.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.18 ZMW 22.51
$1.16 ¥7.93
1.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$8,042 ZMW 153.8K
$19.7K ¥134.8K
-59.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.4K ZMW 543.6K
$16.9K ¥115.8K
67.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zambia
China
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$86.1 ZMW 1,647
$50.3 ¥344
71.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$50.9 ZMW 973
$10.04 ¥68.5
406.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$125 ZMW 2,400
$11.39 ¥77.8
1001.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zambia
China
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.59 ZMW 815
$40.16 ¥274
6.05%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.89 ZMW 266
$14.68 ¥100
-5.38%
Cinema Ticket
$4.07 ZMW 77.9
$6.21 ¥42.39
-34.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zambia
China
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$176 ZMW 3,374
$402 ¥2,746
-56.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,412 ZMW 180.1K
$17.4K ¥119.1K
-46.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zambia
China
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.83 ZMW 379
$46.39 ¥317
-57.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$17.85 ZMW 341
$32.60 ¥223
-45.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.5 ZMW 1,521
$71.3 ¥487
11.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.0 ZMW 1,396
$74.8 ¥511
-2.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zambia
China
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$214 ZMW 4,101
$429 ¥2,931
-50.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$126 ZMW 2,417
$261 ¥1,783
-51.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$866 ZMW 16.6K
$915 ¥6,253
-5.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$696 ZMW 13.3K
$545 ¥3,725
27.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,001 ZMW 38.3K
$5,127 ¥35.0K
-60.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,056 ZMW 96.7K
$2,614 ¥17.9K
93.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zambia
China
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$383 ZMW 7,334
$1,061 ¥7,244
-63.85%
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: April 11, 2026

Last update for China: April 12, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
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