dict vs numpy arrays

dict_array_test.py

import sets
import sys
import memory_profiler as mp
import numpy as np


def test_list(n):
    a = np.zeros((n,),dtype = int)
    b = np.zeros((n,),dtype = int)
    del a
    del b

def test_dict(n):
    d = {}
    for i in range(n):
        d[i] = i
    del d

size = 10

for i in range(6):

    list_mem = mp.memory_usage((test_list,(size,),), max_usage = True )
    print '**************      ',size,'      *****************'
    print "List Memory =",list_mem[0],"MB"

    dict_mem = mp.memory_usage((test_dict,(size,),), max_usage = True )
    print "Dict Memory =",dict_mem[0],"MB"

    size *= 10

output.txt

**************       10       *****************
List Memory = 16.87109375 MB
Dict Memory = 16.88671875 MB
**************       100       *****************
List Memory = 16.88671875 MB
Dict Memory = 16.890625 MB
**************       1000       *****************
List Memory = 16.89453125 MB
Dict Memory = 16.94921875 MB
**************       10000       *****************
List Memory = 17.03515625 MB
Dict Memory = 18.18359375 MB
**************       100000       *****************
List Memory = 17.29296875 MB
Dict Memory = 30.48046875 MB
**************       1000000       *****************
List Memory = 20.09765625 MB
Dict Memory = 145.5390625 MB