Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and Zambia Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and Zambia

😐 Solo nomad: United States is 78.5% more expensive than Zambia without rent, and 225.3% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: United States is 105% more expensive than Zambia without rent, and 150.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
United States
Zambia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.97 $19.97
$7.26 ZMW 138
175.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.7 $74.7
$22.64 ZMW 430
229.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.40 $11.40
$3.61 ZMW 68.7
215.79%
Cappuccino
$5.37 $5.37
$1.91 ZMW 36.39
181.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63 $2.63
$0.63 ZMW 12.00
317.46%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 $2.06
$0.36 ZMW 6.76
472.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.90 $5.90
$0.94 ZMW 17.87
527.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.02 $7.02
$1.50 ZMW 28.61
368.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United States
Zambia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$1.28 ZMW 24.40
-14.84%
White Bread (500g)
$3.55 $3.55
$0.87 ZMW 16.56
308.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.73 $4.73
$1.73 ZMW 32.93
173.41%
Eggs
$4.30 $4.30
$1.52 ZMW 28.90
182.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.01 $13.01
$7.91 ZMW 150
64.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.22 $12.22
$3.96 ZMW 75.3
208.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.36 $16.36
$4.77 ZMW 90.6
242.98%
Apples (1kg)
$5.21 $5.21
$2.31 ZMW 43.94
125.54%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 $1.70
$1.55 ZMW 29.51
9.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.59 $4.59
$2.53 ZMW 48.05
81.42%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.97 $4.97
$1.13 ZMW 21.42
339.82%
Potato (1kg)
$2.98 $2.98
$2.00 ZMW 37.95
49.00%
Onion (1kg)
$3.04 $3.04
$1.41 ZMW 26.88
115.60%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.26 $2.26
$0.95 ZMW 18.11
137.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.17 $2.17
$0.53 ZMW 10.02
309.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.83 $9.83
$2.25 ZMW 42.81
336.89%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.17 $15.17
$6.59 ZMW 125
130.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.91 $1.91
$0.92 ZMW 17.55
107.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58 $3.58
$1.28 ZMW 24.25
179.69%
🚌 Getting Around
United States
Zambia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.49 $2.49
$0.96 ZMW 18.25
159.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$66.1 $66.1
$40.29 ZMW 766
64.09%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.82 $3.82
$2.53 ZMW 48.06
50.99%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.78 $1.78
$1.06 ZMW 20.16
67.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.48 $29.48
$9.38 ZMW 178
214.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.91 $0.91
$1.18 ZMW 22.50
-22.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.5K $29.5K
$8,144 ZMW 154.8K
262.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K $26.1K
$29.0K ZMW 551.5K
-9.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
Zambia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$206 $206
$86.2 ZMW 1,639
139.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$56.9 $56.9
$51.2 ZMW 973
11.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.8 $72.8
$125 ZMW 2,376
-41.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United States
Zambia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.23 $45.23
$42.02 ZMW 799
7.64%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.84 $21.84
$14.05 ZMW 267
55.44%
Cinema Ticket
$13.79 $13.79
$4.12 ZMW 78.3
234.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United States
Zambia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,355 $1,355
$180 ZMW 3,425
651.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.6K $22.6K
$9,561 ZMW 181.8K
135.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United States
Zambia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.3 $51.3
$19.55 ZMW 372
162.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.37 $42.37
$17.56 ZMW 334
141.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.6 $88.6
$79.8 ZMW 1,517
11.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115 $115
$72.7 ZMW 1,383
58.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United States
Zambia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,763 $1,763
$212 ZMW 4,023
733.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,432 $1,432
$126 ZMW 2,400
1034.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,827 $2,827
$850 ZMW 16.1K
232.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,358 $2,358
$704 ZMW 13.4K
235.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,391 $3,391
$1,981 ZMW 37.7K
71.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,614 $2,614
$5,060 ZMW 96.2K
-48.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United States
Zambia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,326 $4,326
$376 ZMW 7,139
1052.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
25
-73.96%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for United States: March 3, 2026

Last update for Zambia: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated January 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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