Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Zambia and Istanbul

For one person, living is cheaper in Zambia: $905 a month against $1,526 in Istanbul, rent and utilities included – about $7,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

44

Cost of Living Index in Zambia
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Zambia Living Index
74

Cost of Living Index in Istanbul
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Istanbul Living Index

Jump to prices

🇿🇲 Zambia

$905

/mo nomad

Istanbul

🇹🇷 Turkey

$1,526

/mo nomad

🙂 Solo nomad: Zambia is 20.4% cheaper than Istanbul without rent, and 40.7% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Zambia is 24.4% cheaper than Istanbul without rent, and 28.9% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.84 ZMW 136

$11.88 ₺585

-42.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.13 ZMW 597

$55.1 ₺2,714

-45.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.20 ZMW 103

$9.14 ₺450

-43.11%

Cappuccino

$3.03 ZMW 60.1

$4.24 ₺209

-28.54%

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

$0.78 ZMW 15.38

$1.75 ₺86.0

-55.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ZMW 9.72

$0.54 ₺26.83

-9.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.30 ZMW 25.73

$4.69 ₺231

-72.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 ZMW 50.3

$5.97 ₺294

-57.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 ZMW 37.25

$1.26 ₺62.1

49.21%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 ZMW 24.32

$0.95 ₺46.81

29.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.44 ZMW 48.42

$2.31 ₺114

5.63%

Eggs

$1.84 ZMW 36.42

$2.47 ₺122

-25.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.44 ZMW 207

$10.55 ₺520

-1.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.54 ZMW 130

$5.60 ₺276

16.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.13 ZMW 122

$21.21 ₺1,045

-71.10%

Apples (1kg)

$3.48 ZMW 68.9

$1.93 ₺95.1

80.31%

Banana (1kg)

$2.14 ZMW 42.42

$2.29 ₺113

-6.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.51 ZMW 69.5

$1.28 ₺63.1

174.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.57 ZMW 31.15

$1.84 ₺90.8

-14.67%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 ZMW 55.7

$0.67 ₺32.86

319.40%

Onion (1kg)

$1.90 ZMW 37.77

$0.59 ₺29.31

222.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 ZMW 22.88

$1.33 ₺65.4

-13.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 ZMW 14.09

$0.59 ₺29.10

20.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.84 ZMW 56.3

$2.36 ₺116

20.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.13 ZMW 201

$13.47 ₺664

-24.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.41 ZMW 27.94

$2.42 ₺119

-41.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 ZMW 41.62

$3.54 ₺174

-40.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 ZMW 19.52

$0.83 ₺40.64

18.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$50.2 ZMW 995

$66.5 ₺3,273

-24.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 ZMW 50.9

$1.35 ₺66.6

90.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.69 ZMW 33.60

$0.85 ₺42.05

98.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.94 ZMW 177

$10.86 ₺535

-17.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 ZMW 28.88

$1.47 ₺72.3

-0.68%

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

$6,225 ZMW 123.4K

$51.6K ₺2.5M

-87.94%

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

$38.8K ZMW 768.5K

$44.4K ₺2.2M

-12.81%

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

$89.7 ZMW 1,778

$89.2 ₺4,395

0.49%

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

$10.95 ZMW 217

$11.60 ₺572

-5.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.9 ZMW 1,169

$16.10 ₺793

266.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.3 ZMW 998

$77.3 ₺3,805

-34.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.39 ZMW 325

$22.66 ₺1,116

-27.67%

Cinema Ticket

$6.80 ZMW 135

$8.34 ₺411

-18.47%

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

$142 ZMW 2,821

$974 ₺48.0K

-85.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.8K ZMW 333.1K

$25.8K ₺1.3M

-34.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.56 ZMW 487

$52.7 ₺2,597

-53.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.64 ZMW 290

$39.16 ₺1,929

-62.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.2 ZMW 1,174

$103 ₺5,083

-42.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.9 ZMW 1,505

$96.6 ₺4,759

-21.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$453 ZMW 8,980

$994 ₺49.0K

-54.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$174 ZMW 3,443

$629 ₺31.0K

-72.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,074 ZMW 21.3K

$2,024 ₺99.7K

-46.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$720 ZMW 14.3K

$1,155 ₺56.9K

-37.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,941 ZMW 78.1K

$3,160 ₺155.7K

24.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,414 ZMW 127.2K

$1,838 ₺90.5K

249.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$428 ZMW 8,485

$1,203 ₺59.3K

-64.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

26.25

41.09

-36.12%

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

Last update for Zambia: October 4, 2026

Last update for Istanbul: October 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Groceries & Markets

Zambia

$240 26.5%

Istanbul

$264 17.3% 10.2% $24

Accommodation & Living

Zambia

$174 19.2%

Istanbul

$629 41.2% 263% $456

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Zambia

$160 17.7%

Istanbul

$117 7.7% 26.7% $43

Eating Out

Zambia

$123 13.7%

Istanbul

$218 14.3% 76.7% $95

Clothing & Footwear

Zambia

$78 8.7%

Istanbul

$131 8.6% 67.3% $53

Getting Around

Zambia

$65 7.2%

Istanbul

$75 4.9% 15.7% $10

Sport & Entertainment

Zambia

$64 7.1%

Istanbul

$94 6.1% 47% $30

Good to know

🇿🇲 Zambia

🇹🇷 Istanbul

🕒 Local time

11:45 11:45 AM

12:45 12:45 PM

1 h ahead of Zambia

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

19,610,769

15,701,602

💱 Currency

Zambian Kwacha ZMW ZK

Turkish Lira TRY ₺

📈 Exchange rate

100 ZMW = 5.04 USD

100 ZMW = 4.5 EUR

100 TRY = 2.03 USD

100 TRY = 1.81 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

TRY, USD, EUR to ZMW – Zambian Kwacha Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇿🇲 Zambian Kwacha (ZK)

Zambian Kwacha exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 19.83 ZMW (100 ZMW = 5.04 USD). 1 EUR = 22.22 ZMW (100 ZMW = 4.5 EUR).

Turkish Lira exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 49.26 TRY (100 TRY = 2.03 USD). 1 EUR = 55.2 TRY (100 TRY = 1.81 EUR).

USD to ZMW in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Zambia Istanbul 6,270 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight

From you

Zambia
Istanbul

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 other spots: cost of living compared

Cost of Living Comparison Between Zambia and Istanbul

TRY, USD, EUR to ZMW – Zambian Kwacha Converter

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

Zambia

Istanbul

Zambia

Istanbul

Zambia vs other spots: cost of living compared

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