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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $275 per month in Zambia vs $765 in Brazil, rent included.

A couple spends around $474 per month in Zambia vs $1,223 in Brazil, rent included.

A family of three spends $672 per month in Zambia vs $1,681 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
$7.02 ZMW 133
$5.51 R$27.48
27.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.64 ZMW 430
$29.01 R$145
-21.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.77 ZMW 71.5
$6.15 R$30.69
-38.70%
Cappuccino
$1.98 ZMW 37.59
$1.72 R$8.61
15.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ZMW 12.14
$1.12 R$5.60
-42.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32 ZMW 6.15
$0.71 R$3.52
-54.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.86 ZMW 16.30
$1.76 R$8.77
-51.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46 ZMW 27.63
$2.66 R$13.28
-45.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zambia
Brazil
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.30 ZMW 24.59
$0.99 R$4.96
31.31%
White Bread (500g)
$0.85 ZMW 16.14
$1.47 R$7.36
-42.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.82 ZMW 34.63
$1.22 R$6.07
49.18%
Eggs
$1.46 ZMW 27.67
$2.10 R$10.45
-30.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.62 ZMW 145
$8.74 R$43.60
-12.81%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.89 ZMW 73.8
$3.70 R$18.48
5.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.83 ZMW 91.6
$7.43 R$37.08
-34.99%
Apples (1kg)
$2.39 ZMW 45.35
$2.15 R$10.73
11.16%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 ZMW 29.47
$1.32 R$6.57
17.42%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.62 ZMW 49.77
$1.14 R$5.70
129.82%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.13 ZMW 21.42
$1.45 R$7.23
-22.07%
Potato (1kg)
$1.95 ZMW 37.09
$1.18 R$5.88
65.25%
Onion (1kg)
$1.37 ZMW 25.93
$1.06 R$5.27
29.25%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.95 ZMW 17.95
$0.71 R$3.54
33.80%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ZMW 9.94
$0.64 R$3.19
-18.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.26 ZMW 42.83
$2.18 R$10.90
3.67%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.70 ZMW 127
$8.05 R$40.17
-16.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 ZMW 17.17
$1.18 R$5.90
-23.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.24 ZMW 23.59
$2.25 R$11.20
-44.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Zambia
Brazil
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.03 ZMW 19.49
$0.86 R$4.30
19.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$39.83 ZMW 756
$41.78 R$208
-4.67%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.48 ZMW 47.15
$1.10 R$5.50
125.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.07 ZMW 20.33
$0.84 R$4.18
27.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.23 ZMW 175
$7.40 R$36.95
24.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 ZMW 23.35
$1.08 R$5.39
13.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$8,020 ZMW 152.2K
$21.6K R$107.9K
-62.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.3K ZMW 537.5K
$27.2K R$135.8K
4.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zambia
Brazil
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$86.3 ZMW 1,638
$68.1 R$340
26.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$50.9 ZMW 966
$14.12 R$70.5
260.62%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$125 ZMW 2,366
$19.25 R$96.0
547.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zambia
Brazil
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.67 ZMW 810
$23.11 R$115
84.64%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.97 ZMW 265
$22.58 R$113
-38.13%
Cinema Ticket
$4.13 ZMW 78.5
$6.26 R$31.22
-34.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zambia
Brazil
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$175 ZMW 3,318
$282 R$1,409
-38.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,571 ZMW 181.7K
$7,250 R$36.2K
32.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zambia
Brazil
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.57 ZMW 372
$49.23 R$246
-60.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$17.67 ZMW 335
$42.14 R$210
-58.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.6 ZMW 1,473
$75.1 R$375
3.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.8 ZMW 1,401
$62.0 R$309
19.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zambia
Brazil
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$215 ZMW 4,080
$326 R$1,628
-34.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$129 ZMW 2,449
$226 R$1,130
-43.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$866 ZMW 16.4K
$654 R$3,265
32.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$697 ZMW 13.2K
$450 R$2,245
54.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,988 ZMW 37.7K
$1,947 R$9,716
2.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,011 ZMW 95.1K
$1,317 R$6,572
280.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zambia
Brazil
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$382 ZMW 7,258
$541 R$2,700
-29.34%
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: April 25, 2026

Last update for Brazil: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $22.00 in Zambia vs $305 in Brazil. For reference, capital cities sit at $231 in Lusaka and $402 in Brasilia.

Average salary: $355 in Zambia vs $498 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 87% 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 87% 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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