Cost of Living Comparison Between Zambia and Brazil Cost of Living Comparison Between Zambia and Brazil

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $277 per month in Zambia vs $764 in Brazil, rent included.

A couple spends around $473 per month in Zambia vs $1,221 in Brazil, rent included.

A family of three spends $669 per month in Zambia vs $1,678 in Brazil, rent included.

Zambia is roughly 64% cheaper than Brazil on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both Zambia and Brazil are more affordable than the global median – Zambia 79% lower, Brazil 43% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zambia
Brazil
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.04 ZMW 123
$5.48 R$27.72
28.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.74 ZMW 398
$28.29 R$143
-19.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.58 ZMW 62.6
$6.16 R$31.17
-41.88%
Cappuccino
$1.92 ZMW 33.63
$1.79 R$9.04
7.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63 ZMW 10.97
$1.08 R$5.45
-41.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ZMW 5.69
$0.70 R$3.57
-52.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.94 ZMW 16.44
$1.78 R$9.00
-47.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43 ZMW 25.05
$2.74 R$13.88
-47.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zambia
Brazil
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.24 ZMW 21.65
$0.99 R$5.02
25.25%
White Bread (500g)
$0.87 ZMW 15.21
$1.53 R$7.74
-43.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.80 ZMW 31.50
$1.22 R$6.18
47.54%
Eggs
$1.52 ZMW 26.57
$2.10 R$10.62
-27.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.93 ZMW 139
$8.72 R$44.12
-9.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.89 ZMW 67.9
$3.83 R$19.37
1.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.80 ZMW 83.9
$7.51 R$38.00
-36.09%
Apples (1kg)
$2.41 ZMW 42.18
$2.03 R$10.28
18.72%
Banana (1kg)
$1.54 ZMW 26.85
$1.34 R$6.76
14.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.63 ZMW 45.99
$1.14 R$5.78
130.70%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.13 ZMW 19.80
$1.48 R$7.47
-23.65%
Potato (1kg)
$1.99 ZMW 34.80
$1.12 R$5.66
77.68%
Onion (1kg)
$1.35 ZMW 23.60
$1.09 R$5.52
23.85%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.95 ZMW 16.63
$0.76 R$3.85
25.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ZMW 9.21
$0.68 R$3.45
-22.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.30 ZMW 40.17
$2.11 R$10.70
9.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.92 ZMW 191
$7.58 R$38.36
44.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.92 ZMW 16.06
$1.23 R$6.24
-25.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30 ZMW 22.66
$2.22 R$11.23
-41.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Zambia
Brazil
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.00 ZMW 17.51
$0.93 R$4.70
7.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.46 ZMW 707
$41.40 R$210
-2.27%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.52 ZMW 44.09
$1.09 R$5.53
131.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ZMW 17.86
$0.84 R$4.25
21.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.99 ZMW 157
$7.40 R$37.47
21.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.19 ZMW 20.81
$1.08 R$5.47
10.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$8,057 ZMW 140.8K
$21.8K R$110.4K
-63.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.7K ZMW 501.3K
$27.2K R$137.9K
5.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zambia
Brazil
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.9 ZMW 1,467
$69.2 R$350
21.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.2 ZMW 894
$13.63 R$69.0
275.42%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$127 ZMW 2,228
$18.79 R$95.1
578.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zambia
Brazil
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.48 ZMW 725
$22.85 R$116
81.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.87 ZMW 242
$22.76 R$115
-39.06%
Cinema Ticket
$4.11 ZMW 71.8
$6.24 R$31.58
-34.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zambia
Brazil
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$179 ZMW 3,127
$285 R$1,443
-37.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,699 ZMW 169.5K
$7,497 R$38.0K
29.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zambia
Brazil
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.38 ZMW 339
$48.45 R$245
-60.00%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$17.23 ZMW 301
$43.12 R$218
-60.04%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.3 ZMW 1,386
$74.8 R$379
6.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.6 ZMW 1,287
$62.0 R$314
18.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zambia
Brazil
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$208 ZMW 3,644
$337 R$1,705
-38.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$130 ZMW 2,275
$225 R$1,141
-42.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$871 ZMW 15.2K
$655 R$3,317
32.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$695 ZMW 12.1K
$455 R$2,301
52.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,987 ZMW 34.7K
$1,848 R$9,356
7.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,987 ZMW 104.7K
$1,200 R$6,077
398.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zambia
Brazil
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$349 ZMW 6,105
$512 R$2,595
-31.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
25
11.16
124.01%

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

Last update for Zambia: June 7, 2026

Last update for Brazil: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $22.00 in Zambia vs $305 in Brazil. For reference, capital cities sit at $226 in Lusaka and $414 in Brasilia.

Average salary: $342 in Zambia vs $479 in Brazil. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 1286% higher in Brazil.

Dining out costs 145% more in Brazil.

Public transport is 680% more expensive in Brazil.

Salaries are 40% higher in Brazil, giving Zambia stronger purchasing power.

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
Zambia vs Brazil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do Brazil and Zambia compare in cost of living?
Zambia is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 81% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
How do rents compare between Brazil and Zambia?
Housing costs more in Brazil, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Brazil consistently has higher rents.
Where are groceries and transport cheaper: Brazil or Zambia?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Zambia, contributing to the overall 81% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
How far does $800 go in Brazil vs Zambia?
$800 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Zambia, but in Brazil it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
How do I choose between living in Brazil and Zambia?
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.

Zambia vs other spots: cost of living compared

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