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

Name: Zambia
Address: ZM

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,626 per month in United States vs $276 in Zambia, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,830 per month in United States vs $548 in Zambia, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,033 per month in United States vs $820 in Zambia, rent included.

The cost of living in United States is about 851% higher than in Zambia on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

United States sits 90% above the global median, while Zambia is 80% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.83 $19.83

$6.91 ZMW 133

186.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.8 $78.8

$31.38 ZMW 604

151.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.19 $12.19

$5.31 ZMW 102

129.57%

Cappuccino

$5.59 $5.59

$3.10 ZMW 59.7

80.32%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 $2.78

$0.80 ZMW 15.31

247.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$0.49 ZMW 9.47

344.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.86 $5.86

$1.27 ZMW 24.52

361.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.02 $8.02

$2.52 ZMW 48.52

218.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 $1.07

$1.83 ZMW 35.17

-41.53%

White Bread (500g)

$3.68 $3.68

$1.27 ZMW 24.36

189.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.66 $4.66

$2.44 ZMW 46.96

90.98%

Eggs

$4.20 $4.20

$1.88 ZMW 36.19

123.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.78 $12.78

$10.64 ZMW 205

20.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.40 $12.40

$6.54 ZMW 126

89.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.90 $16.90

$6.46 ZMW 124

161.61%

Apples (1kg)

$5.23 $5.23

$3.60 ZMW 69.2

45.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 $1.66

$2.21 ZMW 42.63

-24.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.33 $4.33

$3.59 ZMW 69.1

20.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$1.53 ZMW 29.49

224.18%

Potato (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.84 ZMW 54.6

-0.70%

Onion (1kg)

$3.11 $3.11

$1.95 ZMW 37.49

59.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.19 $2.19

$1.23 ZMW 23.74

78.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$0.73 ZMW 14.13

209.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.35 $10.35

$2.90 ZMW 55.9

256.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$10.28 ZMW 198

44.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$1.37 ZMW 26.28

52.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.65 $3.65

$2.10 ZMW 40.41

73.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.38 $2.38

$1.06 ZMW 20.36

124.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.5 $64.5

$52.9 ZMW 1,018

22.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.54 $3.54

$2.60 ZMW 50.0

36.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.86 $1.86

$1.72 ZMW 33.13

8.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.34 $30.34

$9.20 ZMW 177

229.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.46 ZMW 28.12

-31.51%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.5K $35.5K

$6,647 ZMW 127.9K

434.62%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.9K $25.9K

$39.0K ZMW 751.1K

-33.71%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$222 $222

$94.1 ZMW 1,812

136.02%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$61.1 $61.1

$11.58 ZMW 223

427.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.7 $74.7

$61.1 ZMW 1,176

22.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.49 $44.49

$52.6 ZMW 1,012

-15.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.35 $22.35

$17.29 ZMW 333

29.27%

Cinema Ticket

$15.03 $15.03

$6.96 ZMW 134

115.95%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,431 $1,431

$146 ZMW 2,817

877.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.9K $25.9K

$16.6K ZMW 319.9K

55.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.6 $53.6

$25.28 ZMW 487

111.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.46 $43.46

$15.33 ZMW 295

183.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 $91.5

$61.4 ZMW 1,182

49.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$77.7 ZMW 1,496

46.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,633 $1,633

$449 ZMW 8,652

263.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,328 $1,328

$178 ZMW 3,436

644.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,606 $2,606

$1,086 ZMW 20.9K

140.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,206 $2,206

$729 ZMW 14.0K

202.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,323 $3,323

$3,987 ZMW 76.8K

-16.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,653 $2,653

$6,500 ZMW 125.1K

-59.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,306 $4,306

$432 ZMW 8,308

897.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.21

26.25

-76.34%

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

Last update for United States: September 7, 2026

Last update for Zambia: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,604 in United States vs $110 in Zambia. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,360 in Columbia, TN and $384 in Lusaka.

Average salary: $4,526 in United States vs $346 in Zambia. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 1358% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 477% more in United States.

Public transport is 800% more expensive in United States.

Salaries are 1208% higher in United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in United States.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

United States vs Zambia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Zambia is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 592% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

Housing costs more in United States, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but United States consistently has higher rents.

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Zambia, contributing to the overall 592% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$800 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Zambia, but in United States it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

Zambia is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.