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

Name: United States
Address: US

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $277 per month in Zambia vs $2,642 in United States, rent included.

A couple spends around $476 per month in Zambia vs $3,857 in United States, rent included.

A family of three spends $674 per month in Zambia vs $5,072 in United States, rent included.

The cost of living in Zambia is roughly 90% lower than in United States on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Zambia sits 79% below the global median, while United States is 98% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.22 ZMW 131

$19.63 $19.63

-63.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.17 ZMW 422

$75.4 $75.4

-69.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.75 ZMW 68.3

$11.57 $11.57

-67.59%

Cappuccino

$2.01 ZMW 36.54

$5.22 $5.22

-61.49%

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

$0.63 ZMW 11.40

$2.49 $2.49

-74.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ZMW 5.95

$2.06 $2.06

-83.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.86 ZMW 15.73

$5.91 $5.91

-85.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 ZMW 27.50

$7.13 $7.13

-78.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 ZMW 22.51

$1.09 $1.09

13.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 ZMW 15.43

$3.56 $3.56

-76.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.76 ZMW 32.02

$4.74 $4.74

-62.87%

Eggs

$1.54 ZMW 28.04

$4.34 $4.34

-64.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.53 ZMW 137

$12.68 $12.68

-40.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.03 ZMW 73.4

$12.28 $12.28

-67.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.82 ZMW 87.7

$16.60 $16.60

-70.96%

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 ZMW 43.74

$5.16 $5.16

-53.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 ZMW 27.33

$1.70 $1.70

-11.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.52 ZMW 45.83

$4.45 $4.45

-43.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.14 ZMW 20.76

$4.80 $4.80

-76.25%

Potato (1kg)

$1.95 ZMW 35.51

$2.93 $2.93

-33.45%

Onion (1kg)

$1.43 ZMW 25.99

$3.09 $3.09

-53.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 ZMW 16.13

$2.22 $2.22

-59.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ZMW 9.57

$2.25 $2.25

-76.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.21 ZMW 40.28

$9.90 $9.90

-77.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.39 ZMW 189

$15.28 $15.28

-32.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 ZMW 16.75

$1.91 $1.91

-51.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.28 ZMW 23.21

$3.58 $3.58

-64.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ZMW 17.19

$2.46 $2.46

-61.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.06 ZMW 729

$64.6 $64.6

-38.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.50 ZMW 45.46

$3.77 $3.77

-33.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.06 ZMW 19.38

$1.71 $1.71

-38.01%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.37 ZMW 170

$30.08 $30.08

-68.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ZMW 22.54

$0.96 $0.96

29.17%

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

$8,143 ZMW 148.2K

$29.9K $29.9K

-72.73%

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

$28.4K ZMW 517.3K

$26.1K $26.1K

8.72%

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

$87.1 ZMW 1,585

$210 $210

-58.56%

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

$51.7 ZMW 941

$56.3 $56.3

-8.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$127 ZMW 2,305

$72.9 $72.9

73.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.95 ZMW 763

$45.39 $45.39

-7.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.89 ZMW 253

$21.60 $21.60

-35.69%

Cinema Ticket

$4.21 ZMW 76.6

$14.04 $14.04

-70.01%

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

$174 ZMW 3,172

$1,377 $1,377

-87.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,683 ZMW 176.2K

$22.4K $22.4K

-56.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.05 ZMW 365

$52.7 $52.7

-61.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.84 ZMW 325

$42.41 $42.41

-57.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.8 ZMW 1,434

$91.8 $91.8

-14.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.7 ZMW 1,304

$114 $114

-36.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$208 ZMW 3,792

$1,765 $1,765

-88.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$127 ZMW 2,308

$1,462 $1,462

-91.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$860 ZMW 15.7K

$2,849 $2,849

-69.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$714 ZMW 13.0K

$2,369 $2,369

-69.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,948 ZMW 90.0K

$3,364 $3,364

47.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$9,502 ZMW 172.9K

$2,665 $2,665

256.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$323 ZMW 5,884

$4,378 $4,378

-92.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

284.02%

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

Last update for Zambia: July 12, 2026

Last update for United States: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $22.00 in Zambia vs $1,635 in United States. For reference, capital cities sit at $228 in Lusaka and $1,625 in Washington, MI.

Average salary: $338 in Zambia vs $4,500 in United States. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 7332% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 564% more in United States.

Public transport is 400% more expensive in United States.

Salaries are 1231% higher in United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in United States.

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 United States: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Zambia is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 662% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

Housing costs more in United States, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but United States consistently has higher rents.

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Zambia, contributing to the overall 662% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$800 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Zambia, but in United States it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

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.