Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Zambia and the United States

Name: United States
Address: US

For one person, living is cheaper in Zambia: $898 a month against $2,734 in the United States, rent and utilities included – about $22,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

43

Cost of Living Index in Zambia
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Zambia Living Index
131

Cost of Living Index in the United States
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United States Living Index

Jump to prices

🇿🇲 Zambia

$898

/mo nomad

🇺🇸 United States

$2,734

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Zambia and in the United States

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Zambia and in the United States actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $898 per month in Zambia vs $2,734 in the United States, rent included.

Zambia $898
United States $2,734

A couple spends around $1,593 per month in Zambia vs $3,985 in the United States, rent included.

Zambia $1,593
United States $3,985

A family of three spends $2,287 per month in Zambia vs $5,235 in the United States, rent included.

Zambia $2,287
United States $5,235

The regional cost range is wider in the United States ($979–$5,160) than in Zambia ($131–$863), so city choice matters more there.

The cost of living in Zambia is roughly 67% lower than in the United States on average.

Zambia sits 34% below the global median, while the United States is 101% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.88 ZMW 138

$20.03 $20.03

-65.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.72 ZMW 598

$80.0 $80.0

-62.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.11 ZMW 103

$11.80 $11.80

-56.69%

Cappuccino

$3.00 ZMW 60.3

$5.55 $5.55

-45.95%

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

$0.73 ZMW 14.65

$2.66 $2.66

-72.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 ZMW 8.87

$2.17 $2.17

-79.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.23 ZMW 24.65

$6.12 $6.12

-79.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 ZMW 50.6

$7.94 $7.94

-68.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.76 ZMW 35.44

$1.04 $1.04

69.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.15 ZMW 23.06

$3.59 $3.59

-67.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.39 ZMW 48.13

$4.52 $4.52

-47.12%

Eggs

$1.77 ZMW 35.64

$4.28 $4.28

-58.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.20 ZMW 205

$13.22 $13.22

-22.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.49 ZMW 131

$12.60 $12.60

-48.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.02 ZMW 121

$17.60 $17.60

-65.80%

Apples (1kg)

$3.35 ZMW 67.4

$5.30 $5.30

-36.79%

Banana (1kg)

$2.21 ZMW 44.55

$1.69 $1.69

30.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.57 ZMW 71.8

$4.44 $4.44

-19.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 ZMW 31.05

$4.77 $4.77

-67.71%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 ZMW 55.6

$2.97 $2.97

-7.07%

Onion (1kg)

$1.84 ZMW 37.09

$3.15 $3.15

-41.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 ZMW 23.45

$2.20 $2.20

-46.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ZMW 14.01

$2.35 $2.35

-70.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.80 ZMW 56.3

$10.98 $10.98

-74.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.66 ZMW 194

$15.05 $15.05

-35.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 ZMW 27.67

$2.06 $2.06

-33.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 ZMW 41.60

$3.79 $3.79

-45.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.01 ZMW 20.23

$1.94 $1.94

-47.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.68 ZMW 1,000

$59.4 $59.4

-16.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.51 ZMW 50.5

$3.58 $3.58

-29.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 ZMW 32.80

$1.88 $1.88

-13.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.63 ZMW 174

$29.84 $29.84

-71.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ZMW 29.14

$1.02 $1.02

42.16%

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

$6,253 ZMW 125.8K

$28.8K $28.8K

-78.25%

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

$39.2K ZMW 788.2K

$26.2K $26.2K

49.49%

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

$91.1 ZMW 1,834

$218 $218

-58.18%

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

$10.68 ZMW 215

$62.5 $62.5

-82.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.6 ZMW 1,180

$74.5 $74.5

-21.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.0 ZMW 1,007

$41.86 $41.86

19.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.42 ZMW 330

$22.81 $22.81

-28.01%

Cinema Ticket

$6.84 ZMW 138

$14.70 $14.70

-53.47%

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

$140 ZMW 2,827

$1,489 $1,489

-90.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.4K ZMW 329.5K

$25.3K $25.3K

-35.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.74 ZMW 478

$54.3 $54.3

-56.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.37 ZMW 289

$42.71 $42.71

-66.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$58.5 ZMW 1,178

$94.1 $94.1

-37.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.4 ZMW 1,517

$114 $114

-33.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$447 ZMW 9,003

$1,659 $1,659

-73.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$176 ZMW 3,544

$1,348 $1,348

-86.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,054 ZMW 21.2K

$2,682 $2,682

-60.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$734 ZMW 14.8K

$2,169 $2,169

-66.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,827 ZMW 77.0K

$3,283 $3,283

16.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,287 ZMW 126.5K

$2,482 $2,482

153.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$422 ZMW 8,494

$4,296 $4,296

-90.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

26.25

6.55

300.76%

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

Last update for Zambia: October 24, 2026

Last update for the United States: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Groceries & Markets

Zambia

$234 26.1%

United States

$415 15.2% 77.3% $181

Accommodation & Living

Zambia

$176 19.6%

United States

$1.3K 49.3% 665% $1.2K

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Zambia

$160 17.9%

United States

$355 13% 121% $194

Eating Out

Zambia

$122 13.6%

United States

$328 12% 168% $206

Clothing & Footwear

Zambia

$77 8.6%

United States

$137 5% 77.1% $60

Getting Around

Zambia

$64 7.2%

United States

$80 2.9% 24.5% $16

Sport & Entertainment

Zambia

$64 7.1%

United States

$71 2.6% 11.9% $7.6

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $591 in Zambia vs $1,620 in the United States. For reference, capital cities sit at $380 in Lusaka and $2,768 in Washington, DC.

Average salary: $340 in Zambia vs $4,549 in the United States. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 174% higher in the United States.

Dining out costs 159% more in the United States.

Public transport is 26% more expensive in the United States.

Salaries are about 13 times higher in the United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in the United States.

Good to know

🇿🇲 Zambia

🇺🇸 United States

🕒 Local time

22:53 10:53 PM

16:53 4:53 PM

6 h behind Zambia

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

19,610,769

340,110,988

💱 Currency

Zambian Kwacha ZMW ZK

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

100 ZMW = 4.97 USD

100 ZMW = 4.46 EUR

1 USD = 0.897 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to ZMW – Zambian Kwacha Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇿🇲 Zambian Kwacha (ZK)

Zambian Kwacha exchange rates as of October 27, 2026: 1 USD = 20.12 ZMW (100 ZMW = 4.97 USD). 1 EUR = 22.43 ZMW (100 ZMW = 4.46 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 27, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.897 EUR).

USD to ZMW in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Zambia United States 13,270 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight

From you

Zambia
United States

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 United States: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Zambia is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 67% lower on average.

Housing costs more in the United States: a central one-bedroom averages $1,620 versus $591 in Zambia.

Groceries, public transport, and eating out all cost less in Zambia, adding to the overall 204% price gap.

Zambia is the budget-friendly choice for expats. But cost isn’t everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.