Cost of living in Zambia
Summary of cost of living in Zambia
- Family of four estimated monthly costs: 51,804 Kwacha
- Single person estimated monthly costs: 24,577 Kwacha WARNING! These estimates are based on only a few data points. At the moment, you should treat them only as a best guess.
Change the currency:
| Food | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district | 44 Kwacha | ||
| Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) | 65 Kwacha | ||
| 500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | 61 Kwacha | ||
| 1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | 24 Kwacha | ||
| 12 eggs, large | 32 Kwacha | ||
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | 27 Kwacha | ||
| 500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | 144 Kwacha | ||
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | 39 Kwacha | ||
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | 33 Kwacha | ||
| 0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | 17 Kwacha | ||
| 1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | 163 Kwacha | ||
| 2 liters of coca-cola | 23 Kwacha | ||
| Bread for 2 people for 1 day | 17 Kwacha | ||
| Housing | |||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area | 5,083 Kwacha | ||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | 25,000 Kwacha | ||
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | 2,325 Kwacha | ||
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | 30,000 Kwacha | ||
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | 4,000 Kwacha | ||
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | 600 Kwacha | ||
| Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | 972 Kwacha | ||
| 40” flat screen tv | 1,500 Kwacha | ||
| Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | 3,500 Kwacha | ||
| Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | 126 Kwacha | ||
| Hourly rate for cleaning help | - | ||
| Clothes | |||
| 1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) | 1,750 Kwacha | ||
| 1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) | 850 Kwacha | ||
| 1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) | 1,850 Kwacha | ||
| 1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | 2,300 Kwacha | ||
| Transportation | |||
| Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new | 360,000 Kwacha | ||
| 1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | 27 Kwacha | ||
| Monthly ticket public transport | 845 Kwacha | ||
| Personal Care | |||
| Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) | 350 Kwacha | ||
| 1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | 120 Kwacha | ||
| Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) | 850 Kwacha | ||
| 1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) | 54 Kwacha | ||
| Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | 39 Kwacha | ||
| Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | 106 Kwacha | ||
| 4 rolls of toilet paper | 28 Kwacha | ||
| Tube of toothpaste | 27 Kwacha | ||
| Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | 165 Kwacha | ||
| Entertainment | |||
| Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | 370 Kwacha | ||
| 2 tickets to the movies | 145 Kwacha | ||
| 2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | 200 Kwacha | ||
| Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | 935 Kwacha | ||
| 1 cocktail drink in downtown club | - | ||
| Cappuccino in expat area of the city | 65 Kwacha | ||
| 1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | 25 Kwacha | ||
| Ipad wi-fi 128gb | 18,000 Kwacha | ||
| 1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | 2.00 Kwacha | ||
| 1 month of gym membership in business district | 526 Kwacha | ||
| 1 package of marlboro cigarettes | 30 Kwacha | ||
Map of Cost of Living in Zambia
This map shows only the top cities in Zambia. We also have on this page a list of all the cities available in Expatistan:
List of all the cities available in Expatistan
The color of each marker corresponds with the cost of living in the city red markers show more expensive cities green ones show cheaper cities
Moving the mouse on top of a city will show its name and the Cost of Living Index of that city.
What is the Cost of Living Index? To calculate each city's Price Index value, we start by assigning a value of 100 to a
central reference city (that happens to be Prague).
Once the reference point has been established, the Price Index value of every other city in the
database is calculated by comparing their cost of living to the cost of living in Prague.
Therefore, if a city has a Price Index of 134, that means that living there is 34% more expensive than living in Prague.
Recent Comparisons
- Cost of living in Lusaka is 75% cheaper than in London
- Cost of living in Ndola is about the same as in Barcelona, Spain
- Cost of living in Ndola is about the same as in Johannesburg
- Cost of living in Lusaka is 17% cheaper than in Port Elizabeth
- Cost of living in Lusaka is 33% cheaper than in Gaborone
- Cost of living in Lusaka is 69% cheaper than in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- Cost of living in Ndola is 18% cheaper than in Liverpool
- Cost of living in Lusaka is 23% cheaper than in Angers
- Cost of living in Ndola is 8% cheaper than in Leeuwarden
- Cost of living in Lusaka is 37% cheaper than in Belo Horizonte
- Cost of living in Lusaka is 15% cheaper than in Kabwe
- Cost of living in Lusaka is 26% cheaper than in Rabat
- Cost of living in Lusaka is 7% more expensive than in Pune
- Cost of living in Lusaka is 11% more expensive than in Kostroma
- Cost of living in Lusaka is 56% cheaper than in Jeddah
- Cost of living in Lusaka is 25% cheaper than in Pretoria
- Cost of living in Lusaka is 64% cheaper than in The Hague
- Cost of living in Lusaka is about the same as in Lusaka
- Cost of living in Lusaka is 64% cheaper than in Dubai
- Cost of living in Lusaka is 66% cheaper than in Oslo
Compare other countries
Prices recently added
- 1 pack of marlboro cigarettes in Chipata costs 30 Kwacha (5 days ago)
- 500 ml beer in neighbourhood pub in Chipata costs 25 Kwacha (5 days ago)
- 2 liters of coca-cola in Chipata costs 21 Kwacha (5 days ago)
- 500 ml domestic beer in the supermarket in Chipata costs 20 Kwacha (5 days ago)
- 250 g of local cheese in Chipata costs 80 Kwacha (5 days ago)
- 12 eggs, large in Chipata costs 30 Kwacha (5 days ago)
- 1 liter of whole fat milk in Chipata costs 30 Kwacha (5 days ago)
- Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) in Chipata costs 65 Kwacha (5 days ago)
- Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district in Chipata costs 40 Kwacha (5 days ago)