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

🙂 Solo nomad: Zambia is 45.9% cheaper than United States without rent, and 69.8% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Zambia is 49.9% cheaper than United States without rent, and 60.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zambia
United States
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7 ZMW 172
$20.33 $20.33
-65.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.02 ZMW 566
$74.4 $74.4
-69.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.62 ZMW 89
$11.49 $11.49
-68.49%
Cappuccino
$1.98 ZMW 48.67
$5.09 $5.09
-61.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 ZMW 16.27
$2.54 $2.54
-74.02%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ZMW 8.07
$2.11 $2.11
-84.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.93 ZMW 22.94
$6.09 $6.09
-84.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48 ZMW 36.48
$7.1 $7.1
-79.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zambia
United States
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.24 ZMW 30.44
$1.08 $1.08
14.81%
White Bread (500g)
$0.84 ZMW 20.69
$3.7 $3.7
-77.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.79 ZMW 44.07
$4.65 $4.65
-61.51%
Eggs
$1.49 ZMW 36.56
$4.21 $4.21
-64.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.48 ZMW 184
$12.75 $12.75
-41.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.98 ZMW 97.8
$12.24 $12.24
-67.48%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.99 ZMW 123
$16.08 $16.08
-68.97%
Apples (1kg)
$2.42 ZMW 59.5
$5.41 $5.41
-55.27%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 ZMW 38.42
$1.73 $1.73
-9.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.61 ZMW 64.3
$4.37 $4.37
-40.27%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.14 ZMW 28.01
$4.94 $4.94
-76.92%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 ZMW 48.17
$2.88 $2.88
-31.94%
Onion (1kg)
$1.36 ZMW 33.46
$3.07 $3.07
-55.70%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 ZMW 21.94
$2.25 $2.25
-60.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ZMW 13.15
$2.21 $2.21
-76.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25 ZMW 55.5
$10.09 $10.09
-77.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.78 ZMW 167
$14.73 $14.73
-53.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.92 ZMW 22.58
$1.91 $1.91
-51.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27 ZMW 31.31
$3.54 $3.54
-64.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Zambia
United States
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.96 ZMW 23.56
$2.56 $2.56
-62.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$39.44 ZMW 970
$63.9 $63.9
-38.23%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.48 ZMW 61
$3.81 $3.81
-34.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.06 ZMW 26.1
$1.77 $1.77
-40.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.4 ZMW 231
$30.4 $30.4
-69.08%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 ZMW 30.59
$0.94 $0.94
31.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$8,152 ZMW 200.5K
$30K $30K
-72.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.1K ZMW 692.2K
$25.8K $25.8K
9.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zambia
United States
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$85.8 ZMW 2,111
$209 $209
-58.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$50.5 ZMW 1,243
$57.9 $57.9
-12.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$126 ZMW 3,111
$71.1 $71.1
77.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zambia
United States
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.29 ZMW 1,040
$45.88 $45.88
-7.82%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.59 ZMW 334
$22.25 $22.25
-38.92%
Cinema Ticket
$4.1 ZMW 101
$14.14 $14.14
-71.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zambia
United States
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$176 ZMW 4,329
$1,373 $1,373
-87.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,594 ZMW 236K
$22.4K $22.4K
-57.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zambia
United States
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.78 ZMW 487
$51.5 $51.5
-61.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$17.61 ZMW 433
$41.96 $41.96
-58.03%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78 ZMW 1,919
$88.3 $88.3
-11.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.2 ZMW 1,752
$112 $112
-36.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zambia
United States
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$208 ZMW 5,117
$1,731 $1,731
-87.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$127 ZMW 3,129
$1,446 $1,446
-91.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$865 ZMW 21.3K
$2,846 $2,846
-69.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$706 ZMW 17.4K
$2,366 $2,366
-70.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,458 ZMW 85.1K
$3,245 $3,245
6.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,440 ZMW 158.4K
$2,667 $2,667
141.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zambia
United States
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$281 ZMW 6,903
$4,312 $4,312
-93.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
25
6.51
284.02%

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

Last update for Zambia: October 28, 2025

Last update for United States: October 27, 2025

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