JCTR FOOD BASKET: COST OF LIVING SURVEY                             APRIL 2001            (Note: US $1=K3,140)

A.  FOOD BASKET FOR A FAMILY OF SIX IN LUSAKA:

Commodity

Kwacha

Quantity

Final Total

Mealie meal

18,000

3 x 25 Kg bags

  54,000

Charcoal

19,500

2 x 90 Kg bags

  39,000

Cooking Oil

12,950

2 x 2.5 Litres

  25,900

Vegetables

1,500

for 30 days

  45,000

Meat (Brisket) 1 Kg

7,140

2 Kg/week

  57,120

Eggs 1 unit

2,600

I unit/week

  10,400

Bread

1,400

1 loaf/day

  42,000

Sugar 2 Kg

4,400

4 packets

  17,600

Salt 1 Kg

1,300

1 packet

    1,300

Tea 250 grams

8,750

2 packets

  17,500

Soap (Geisha)

1,650

6 tablets

    9,900

Wash-Soap (Surf) 500 g

4,200

4 packets

  16,800

Vaseline 100 grams

2,100

2 jars

    4,200

340,720

 

Totals for previous Years:

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

April

192,420

195,700

197,550

252,740

273,790

340,740

March 188,163 197,100 194,550 252,160 272,810 335,300

 

Supplementary items for nutrition:

 

  Commodity

Kwacha

Quantity

Final Total

  Beans smallest size

    K2,000

 2 /week

K16,000

  Kapenta smallest size

    K2,000

 2 /week

K16,000

  Milk 1 litre

    K1,990

 2 litres/week

K15,920

 

B.  SOME NON-FOOD ITEMS

Item Kwacha Item Kwacha
Education (per year-PTA) Transport Bus fare round trip:
     Primary K20,000-K30,000            Chilenje -Town K2,000
    Secondary K75,000-K185,000            Chelston-Town K2,800
Health (monthly scheme) K1000            Matero-Town K1,600
Housing (medium density) K200,000-K300,000 Electricity (medium/high density) K60,000-K90,000
Housing (high density) K80,000-K150,000 Water (medium/high density) K15,000-K40,000

C.  SOME COMPARATIVE FIGURES OF WAGES--''TAKE HOME PAY''

Teacher: Secretary in civil Service      Nurse Police Officer Security Guard
1. Primary
2. Secondary
SALARY 1. K110,000-K150,000 K125,000-K175,000 K125,000-K175,000 K100,000-K180,000 K40,000-K180,000
2. K150,000-K210,000

 

This survey was conducted on 26 April 2001 by the Economic and Social Development Research Project of the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection.  Average prices were calculated on the basis of prices gathered from large retail shops at Northmead, Longacres, Town Centre and Soweto Market and schools, clinics/hospitals around Lusaka.

 

Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection, P.O. Box 37774, 10101 Lusaka, Zambia Tel: 260-1-290-410. Fax: 260-1-290-759.

E-mail: jctr@zamnet.zm Internet: www.jctr.org.zm