Cost of Living Comparison Between South Africa and Zambia

For major cities in those countries you get more relevant data by specifying cities.

City in South Africa:
City in Zambia:

Indices Difference
Cost of Living in Zambia is 5.3% higher than in South Africa (excluding rent)
Cost of Living Including Rent in Zambia is 0.6% lower than in South Africa
Rent Prices in Zambia are 21.2% lower than in South Africa
Restaurant Prices in Zambia are 28.9% lower than in South Africa
Groceries Prices in Zambia are 0.2% lower than in South Africa
Local Purchasing Power in Zambia is 78.7% lower than in South Africa

Currency: Sticky Currency Switch to metric measurement units

Restaurants	South Africa Edit	Zambia Edit	Difference
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant	160.00 R (8.97 $)	126.44 R (7.09 $)	-21.0 %
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course	700.00 R (39.23 $)	411.55 R (23.06 $)	-41.2 %
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)	90.00 R (5.04 $)	65.46 R (3.67 $)	-27.3 %
Domestic Beer (1 pint draught)	40.00 R (2.24 $)	15.98 R (0.90 $)	-60.1 %
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)	45.00 R (2.52 $)	26.26 R (1.47 $)	-41.6 %
Cappuccino (regular)	35.83 R (2.01 $)	34.72 R (1.95 $)	-3.1 %
Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle)	17.60 R (0.99 $)	11.54 R (0.65 $)	-34.4 %
Water (12 oz small bottle)	13.78 R (0.77 $)	5.98 R (0.34 $)	-56.6 %
Markets	South Africa Edit	Zambia Edit
Milk (regular), (1 gallon)	73.59 R (4.12 $)	85.29 R (4.78 $)	+15.9 %
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb)	16.03 R (0.90 $)	13.43 R (0.75 $)	-16.2 %
Rice (white), (1 lb)	12.85 R (0.72 $)	14.39 R (0.81 $)	+12.0 %
Eggs (regular) (12)	40.94 R (2.29 $)	26.77 R (1.50 $)	-34.6 %
Local Cheese (1 lb)	62.12 R (3.48 $)	62.43 R (3.50 $)	+0.5 %
Chicken Fillets (1 lb)	37.03 R (2.08 $)	32.29 R (1.81 $)	-12.8 %
Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)	54.59 R (3.06 $)	39.56 R (2.22 $)	-27.5 %
Apples (1 lb)	12.47 R (0.70 $)	19.00 R (1.06 $)	+52.4 %
Banana (1 lb)	11.60 R (0.65 $)	12.32 R (0.69 $)	+6.2 %
Oranges (1 lb)	12.04 R (0.67 $)	20.77 R (1.16 $)	+72.4 %
Tomato (1 lb)	12.35 R (0.69 $)	9.35 R (0.52 $)	-24.3 %
Potato (1 lb)	9.92 R (0.56 $)	16.31 R (0.91 $)	+64.4 %
Onion (1 lb)	10.54 R (0.59 $)	11.23 R (0.63 $)	+6.5 %
Lettuce (1 head)	18.76 R (1.05 $)	16.58 R (0.93 $)	-11.6 %
Water (1.5 liter bottle)	17.04 R (0.95 $)	9.88 R (0.55 $)	-42.0 %
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)	85.00 R (4.76 $)	114.97 R (6.44 $)	+35.3 %
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)	24.00 R (1.34 $)	15.73 R (0.88 $)	-34.5 %
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)	30.49 R (1.71 $)	22.54 R (1.26 $)	-26.1 %
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro)	52.00 R (2.91 $)	40.51 R (2.27 $)	-22.1 %
Transportation	South Africa Edit	Zambia Edit
One-way Ticket (Local Transport)	30.00 R (1.68 $)	17.66 R (0.99 $)	-41.1 %
Monthly Pass (Regular Price)	800.00 R (44.83 $)	713.81 R (40.00 $)	-10.8 %
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)	20.00 R (1.12 $)	44.75 R (2.51 $)	+123.8 %
Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff)	32.19 R (1.80 $)	30.02 R (1.68 $)	-6.7 %
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)	85.00 R (4.76 $)	164.12 R (9.20 $)	+93.1 %
Gasoline (1 gallon)	86.56 R (4.85 $)	81.98 R (4.59 $)	-5.3 %
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car)	370,000.00 R (20,733.91 $)	142,842.10 R (8,004.53 $)	-61.4 %
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car)	423,078.06 R (23,708.28 $)	509,650.01 R (28,559.57 $)	+20.5 %
Utilities (Monthly)	South Africa Edit	Zambia Edit
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment	2,009.15 R (112.59 $)	1,526.44 R (85.54 $)	-24.0 %
Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data	572.89 R (32.10 $)	909.28 R (50.95 $)	+58.7 %
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)	730.84 R (40.95 $)	2,234.93 R (125.24 $)	+205.8 %
Sports And Leisure	South Africa Edit	Zambia Edit
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult	557.60 R (31.25 $)	748.15 R (41.92 $)	+34.2 %
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend)	174.01 R (9.75 $)	246.60 R (13.82 $)	+41.7 %
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat	120.00 R (6.72 $)	74.67 R (4.18 $)	-37.8 %
Childcare	South Africa Edit	Zambia Edit
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child	3,405.44 R (190.83 $)	3,154.83 R (176.79 $)	-7.4 %
International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child	80,257.76 R (4,497.45 $)	171,054.30 R (9,585.47 $)	+113.1 %
Clothing And Shoes	South Africa Edit	Zambia Edit
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)	874.70 R (49.02 $)	351.90 R (19.72 $)	-59.8 %
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...)	551.45 R (30.90 $)	313.53 R (17.57 $)	-43.1 %
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range)	1,644.83 R (92.17 $)	1,411.68 R (79.11 $)	-14.2 %
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes	1,422.72 R (79.73 $)	1,292.57 R (72.43 $)	-9.1 %
Rent Per Month	South Africa Edit	Zambia Edit
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre	7,984.86 R (447.45 $)	3,768.06 R (211.15 $)	-52.8 %
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre	6,539.28 R (366.45 $)	2,281.74 R (127.86 $)	-65.1 %
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre	15,973.94 R (895.14 $)	15,425.22 R (864.39 $)	-3.4 %
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre	12,778.57 R (716.08 $)	12,629.85 R (707.75 $)	-1.2 %
Buy Apartment Price	South Africa Edit	Zambia Edit
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre	1,658.95 R (92.96 $)	5,737.26 R (321.50 $)	+245.8 %
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre	1,278.84 R (71.66 $)	10,499.38 R (588.36 $)	+721.0 %
Salaries And Financing	South Africa Edit	Zambia Edit
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)	23,540.58 R (1,319.16 $)	4,993.45 R (279.82 $)	-78.8 %
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate	11.55	25.00	+116.4 %
Last update:	24 May 2025	20 May 2025
Contributors in the past 12 months:	709	28

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