Cost of Living Comparison Between Zambia and BrazilCost 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 – Zambia79% lower, Brazil43% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zambia
Brazil
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.04ZMW 123
$5.48R$27.72
28.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.74ZMW 398
$28.29R$143
-19.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.58ZMW 62.6
$6.16R$31.17
-41.88%
Cappuccino
$1.92ZMW 33.63
$1.79R$9.04
7.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63ZMW 10.97
$1.08R$5.45
-41.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33ZMW 5.69
$0.70R$3.57
-52.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.94ZMW 16.44
$1.78R$9.00
-47.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43ZMW 25.05
$2.74R$13.88
-47.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zambia
Brazil
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24ZMW 21.65
$0.99R$5.02
25.25%
White Bread(500g)
$0.87ZMW 15.21
$1.53R$7.74
-43.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.80ZMW 31.50
$1.22R$6.18
47.54%
Eggs
$1.52ZMW 26.57
$2.10R$10.62
-27.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.93ZMW 139
$8.72R$44.12
-9.06%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.89ZMW 67.9
$3.83R$19.37
1.57%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.80ZMW 83.9
$7.51R$38.00
-36.09%
Apples(1kg)
$2.41ZMW 42.18
$2.03R$10.28
18.72%
Banana(1kg)
$1.54ZMW 26.85
$1.34R$6.76
14.93%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.63ZMW 45.99
$1.14R$5.78
130.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.13ZMW 19.80
$1.48R$7.47
-23.65%
Potato(1kg)
$1.99ZMW 34.80
$1.12R$5.66
77.68%
Onion(1kg)
$1.35ZMW 23.60
$1.09R$5.52
23.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.95ZMW 16.63
$0.76R$3.85
25.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53ZMW 9.21
$0.68R$3.45
-22.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.30ZMW 40.17
$2.11R$10.70
9.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.92ZMW 191
$7.58R$38.36
44.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.92ZMW 16.06
$1.23R$6.24
-25.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30ZMW 22.66
$2.22R$11.23
-41.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Zambia
Brazil
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.00ZMW 17.51
$0.93R$4.70
7.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.46ZMW 707
$41.40R$210
-2.27%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.52ZMW 44.09
$1.09R$5.53
131.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02ZMW 17.86
$0.84R$4.25
21.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.99ZMW 157
$7.40R$37.47
21.49%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.19ZMW 20.81
$1.08R$5.47
10.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$8,057ZMW 140.8K
$21.8KR$110.4K
-63.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.7KZMW 501.3K
$27.2KR$137.9K
5.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zambia
Brazil
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.9ZMW 1,467
$69.2R$350
21.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.2ZMW 894
$13.63R$69.0
275.42%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$127ZMW 2,228
$18.79R$95.1
578.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zambia
Brazil
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.48ZMW 725
$22.85R$116
81.53%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.87ZMW 242
$22.76R$115
-39.06%
Cinema Ticket
$4.11ZMW 71.8
$6.24R$31.58
-34.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zambia
Brazil
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$179ZMW 3,127
$285R$1,443
-37.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,699ZMW 169.5K
$7,497R$38.0K
29.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zambia
Brazil
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.38ZMW 339
$48.45R$245
-60.00%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$17.23ZMW 301
$43.12R$218
-60.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.3ZMW 1,386
$74.8R$379
6.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.6ZMW 1,287
$62.0R$314
18.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zambia
Brazil
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$208ZMW 3,644
$337R$1,705
-38.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$130ZMW 2,275
$225R$1,141
-42.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$871ZMW 15.2K
$655R$3,317
32.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$695ZMW 12.1K
$455R$2,301
52.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,987ZMW 34.7K
$1,848R$9,356
7.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,987ZMW 104.7K
$1,200R$6,077
398.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zambia
Brazil
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$349ZMW 6,105
$512R$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.