Cost of Living Comparison Between Zambia and South Africa 
Sign up for free* to continue using Numbeo
Or please fill:
* Free use is limited to personal, academic and journalistic purposes only.
For commercial purposes, please obtain a Commercial License, Insights or API access
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in South Africa is 5.0% lower than in Zambia (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in South Africa is 0.6% higher than in Zambia | |
| Rent Prices in South Africa are 26.9% higher than in Zambia | |
| Restaurant Prices in South Africa are 40.7% higher than in Zambia | |
| Groceries Prices in South Africa are 0.2% higher than in Zambia | |
| Local Purchasing Power in South Africa is 368.5% higher than in Zambia | |
Restaurants | Zambia Edit |
South Africa Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant |
7.09 $ (126.44 R) |
8.97 $ (160.00 R) |
+26.5 % |
| Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course |
23.06 $ (411.55 R) |
39.23 $ (700.00 R) |
+70.1 % |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) |
3.67 $ (65.46 R) |
5.04 $ (90.00 R) |
+37.5 % |
| Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) |
0.90 $ (15.98 R) |
2.24 $ (40.00 R) |
+150.4 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
1.47 $ (26.26 R) |
2.52 $ (45.00 R) |
+71.4 % |
| Cappuccino (regular) |
1.95 $ (34.72 R) |
2.01 $ (35.83 R) |
+3.2 % |
| Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle) |
0.65 $ (11.54 R) |
0.99 $ (17.60 R) |
+52.5 % |
| Water (12 oz small bottle) |
0.34 $ (5.98 R) |
0.77 $ (13.78 R) |
+130.5 % |
Markets | Zambia Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Milk (regular), (1 gallon) |
4.78 $ (85.29 R) |
4.12 $ (73.59 R) |
-13.7 % |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) |
0.75 $ (13.43 R) |
0.90 $ (16.03 R) |
+19.4 % |
| Rice (white), (1 lb) |
0.81 $ (14.39 R) |
0.72 $ (12.85 R) |
-10.7 % |
| Eggs (regular) (12) |
1.50 $ (26.77 R) |
2.29 $ (40.94 R) |
+53.0 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
3.50 $ (62.43 R) |
3.48 $ (62.12 R) |
-0.5 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
1.81 $ (32.29 R) |
2.08 $ (37.03 R) |
+14.7 % |
| Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) |
2.22 $ (39.56 R) |
3.06 $ (54.59 R) |
+38.0 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
1.06 $ (19.00 R) |
0.70 $ (12.47 R) |
-34.4 % |
| Banana (1 lb) |
0.69 $ (12.32 R) |
0.65 $ (11.60 R) |
-5.8 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
1.16 $ (20.77 R) |
0.67 $ (12.04 R) |
-42.0 % |
| Tomato (1 lb) |
0.52 $ (9.35 R) |
0.69 $ (12.35 R) |
+32.1 % |
| Potato (1 lb) |
0.91 $ (16.31 R) |
0.56 $ (9.92 R) |
-39.2 % |
| Onion (1 lb) |
0.63 $ (11.23 R) |
0.59 $ (10.54 R) |
-6.1 % |
| Lettuce (1 head) |
0.93 $ (16.58 R) |
1.05 $ (18.76 R) |
+13.1 % |
| Water (1.5 liter bottle) |
0.55 $ (9.88 R) |
0.95 $ (17.04 R) |
+72.5 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
6.44 $ (114.97 R) |
4.76 $ (85.00 R) |
-26.1 % |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) |
0.88 $ (15.73 R) |
1.34 $ (24.00 R) |
+52.6 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
1.26 $ (22.54 R) |
1.71 $ (30.49 R) |
+35.2 % |
| Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) |
2.27 $ (40.51 R) |
2.91 $ (52.00 R) |
+28.4 % |
Transportation | Zambia Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| One-way Ticket (Local Transport) |
0.99 $ (17.66 R) |
1.68 $ (30.00 R) |
+69.9 % |
| Monthly Pass (Regular Price) |
40.00 $ (713.81 R) |
44.83 $ (800.00 R) |
+12.1 % |
| Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) |
2.51 $ (44.75 R) |
1.12 $ (20.00 R) |
-55.3 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) |
1.68 $ (30.02 R) |
1.80 $ (32.19 R) |
+7.2 % |
| Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) |
9.20 $ (164.12 R) |
4.76 $ (85.00 R) |
-48.2 % |
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
4.59 $ (81.98 R) |
4.85 $ (86.56 R) |
+5.6 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) |
8,004.53 $ (142,842.10 R) |
20,733.91 $ (370,000.00 R) |
+159.0 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) |
28,559.57 $ (509,650.01 R) |
23,708.28 $ (423,078.06 R) |
-17.0 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Zambia Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment |
85.54 $ (1,526.44 R) |
112.59 $ (2,009.15 R) |
+31.6 % |
| Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data |
50.95 $ (909.28 R) |
32.10 $ (572.89 R) |
-37.0 % |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) |
125.24 $ (2,234.93 R) |
40.95 $ (730.84 R) |
-67.3 % |
Sports And Leisure | Zambia Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult |
41.92 $ (748.15 R) |
31.25 $ (557.60 R) |
-25.5 % |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) |
13.82 $ (246.60 R) |
9.75 $ (174.01 R) |
-29.4 % |
| Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat |
4.18 $ (74.67 R) |
6.72 $ (120.00 R) |
+60.7 % |
Childcare | Zambia Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child |
176.79 $ (3,154.83 R) |
190.83 $ (3,405.44 R) |
+7.9 % |
| International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child |
9,585.47 $ (171,054.30 R) |
4,497.45 $ (80,257.76 R) |
-53.1 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Zambia Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) |
19.72 $ (351.90 R) |
49.02 $ (874.70 R) |
+148.6 % |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) |
17.57 $ (313.53 R) |
30.90 $ (551.45 R) |
+75.9 % |
| 1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
79.11 $ (1,411.68 R) |
92.17 $ (1,644.83 R) |
+16.5 % |
| 1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes |
72.43 $ (1,292.57 R) |
79.73 $ (1,422.72 R) |
+10.1 % |
Rent Per Month | Zambia Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre |
211.15 $ (3,768.06 R) |
447.45 $ (7,984.86 R) |
+111.9 % |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre |
127.86 $ (2,281.74 R) |
366.45 $ (6,539.28 R) |
+186.6 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre |
864.39 $ (15,425.22 R) |
895.14 $ (15,973.94 R) |
+3.6 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre |
707.75 $ (12,629.85 R) |
716.08 $ (12,778.57 R) |
+1.2 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Zambia Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
321.50 $ (5,737.26 R) |
92.96 $ (1,658.95 R) |
-71.1 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
588.36 $ (10,499.38 R) |
71.66 $ (1,278.84 R) |
-87.8 % |
Salaries And Financing | Zambia Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
279.82 $ (4,993.45 R) |
1,319.16 $ (23,540.58 R) |
+371.4 % |
| Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate | 25.00 | 11.55 | -53.8 % |
| Last update: | 20 May 2025 | 24 May 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 28 | 709 |
Moving to Zambia? Explore:
Other comparisons Zambia vs South Africa: