Cost of Living in Zambia - Updated Prices & Insights

39.14

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $638 (excluding rent), and $851 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $1,356 (excluding rent), and $2,186 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.97 ZMW 171

$3.75 ZMW 92.1

$11.16 ZMW 274

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.91 ZMW 564

$20.25 ZMW 498

$32.13 ZMW 790

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.64 ZMW 89.7

$3.56 ZMW 87.5

$3.85 ZMW 94.8

Cappuccino

$1.92 ZMW 47.31

$0.95 ZMW 23.29

$3.4 ZMW 83.7

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

$0.68 ZMW 16.75

$0.47 ZMW 11.59

$1.07 ZMW 26.28

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ZMW 8.62

$0.27 ZMW 6.59

$0.46 ZMW 11.4

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.93 ZMW 22.96

$0.59 ZMW 14.54

$1.89 ZMW 46.44

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 ZMW 37.08

$1.17 ZMW 28.76

$2.38 ZMW 58.5

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 ZMW 31.66

$0.8 ZMW 19.6

$1.76 ZMW 43.22

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 ZMW 19.81

$0.57 ZMW 14.08

$1.04 ZMW 25.54

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.73 ZMW 42.55

$1.11 ZMW 27.25

$4.19 ZMW 103

Eggs

$1.53 ZMW 37.71

$1.02 ZMW 25.14

$3.29 ZMW 81

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.83 ZMW 193

$3.7 ZMW 91

$16.25 ZMW 400

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.01 ZMW 98.7

$2.31 ZMW 56.9

$7.1 ZMW 175

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.77 ZMW 117

$2.65 ZMW 65.2

$6.88 ZMW 169

Apples (1kg)

$2.4 ZMW 59

$1.29 ZMW 31.65

$3.52 ZMW 86.7

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 ZMW 38.43

$0.84 ZMW 20.73

$2.97 ZMW 73.1

Oranges (1kg)

$2.55 ZMW 62.8

$1.17 ZMW 28.81

$3.73 ZMW 91.8

Tomato (1kg)

$1.13 ZMW 27.79

$0.37 ZMW 9.1

$1.95 ZMW 47.91

Potato (1kg)

$2.03 ZMW 49.86

$0.53 ZMW 13.15

$5.21 ZMW 128

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 ZMW 35.02

$0.75 ZMW 18.39

$2.77 ZMW 68

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.9 ZMW 22.09

$0.38 ZMW 9.26

$1.27 ZMW 31.35

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ZMW 13.82

$0.32 ZMW 7.79

$0.94 ZMW 23.11

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.32 ZMW 57.1

$1.86 ZMW 45.74

$3.94 ZMW 97

Wine (Bottle)

$6.42 ZMW 158

$4.54 ZMW 112

$13.21 ZMW 325

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 ZMW 21.27

$0.56 ZMW 13.78

$1.49 ZMW 36.74

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.24 ZMW 30.38

$0.74 ZMW 18.33

$2.54 ZMW 62.5

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.01 ZMW 24.78

$0.57 ZMW 14.02

$1.88 ZMW 46.3

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.05 ZMW 985

$30.66 ZMW 754

$53.5 ZMW 1,317

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.54 ZMW 62.4

$1.83 ZMW 45.01

$3.09 ZMW 76.1

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ZMW 25.53

$0.49 ZMW 12.16

$1.67 ZMW 41.09

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.09 ZMW 224

$9.08 ZMW 223

$10.84 ZMW 267

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 ZMW 30.65

$1.18 ZMW 29.13

$1.4 ZMW 34.45

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

$8,055 ZMW 198.2K

$6,866 ZMW 168.9K

$9,244 ZMW 227.4K

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

$28.8K ZMW 707.4K

$6,167 ZMW 151.7K

$32.2K ZMW 792.7K

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

$84.8 ZMW 2,087

$37.98 ZMW 934

$198 ZMW 4,880

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

$50 ZMW 1,231

$5.57 ZMW 137

$98.2 ZMW 2,416

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$126 ZMW 3,100

$43.82 ZMW 1,078

$201 ZMW 4,950

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.81 ZMW 1,029

$18.1 ZMW 445

$57.3 ZMW 1,409

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.94 ZMW 343

$9.41 ZMW 232

$19.08 ZMW 469

Cinema Ticket

$4.13 ZMW 102

$2.24 ZMW 55.2

$4.94 ZMW 122

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

$176 ZMW 4,332

$59.8 ZMW 1,470

$305 ZMW 7,504

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,738 ZMW 239.5K

$4,064 ZMW 100K

$20.3K ZMW 499.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.97 ZMW 491

$13.81 ZMW 340

$23.03 ZMW 566

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.44 ZMW 429

$7.96 ZMW 196

$36.11 ZMW 888

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.4 ZMW 1,929

$45.08 ZMW 1,109

$110 ZMW 2,698

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.3 ZMW 1,802

$43.27 ZMW 1,065

$92 ZMW 2,263

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$212 ZMW 5,215

$135 ZMW 3,310

$301 ZMW 7,409

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$130 ZMW 3,187

$92.1 ZMW 2,267

$182 ZMW 4,486

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$847 ZMW 20.8K

$450 ZMW 11.1K

$1,961 ZMW 48.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 ZMW 17.7K

$272 ZMW 6,701

$1,523 ZMW 37.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,518 ZMW 86.6K

$2,033 ZMW 50K

$10.9K ZMW 269.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,372 ZMW 156.7K

$2,012 ZMW 49.5K

$16.3K ZMW 401K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$283 ZMW 6,962

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

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

Cost of Living in Zambia - Frequently Asked Questions

Cost of Living in Zambia varies by city and lifestyle. Urban centers offer more options but can feel pricier than rural areas, while budget-friendly choices appear in guesthouses, local markets, and community amenities. For travelers, expats, and digital nomads, value comes from mixing affordable everyday services with smart housing and transport decisions. Local markets, casual eateries, and cheaper public transport tend to keep the baseline comfortable, while occasional imported goods or premium services raise the bill. A practical approach is to blend low-cost routines with selective upgrades to support work needs. Tip: build a simple weekly plan to balance higher and lower-cost days.

Daily life in Zambia blends practicality with choice. For housing, look beyond the capital to regional towns where leases feel more negotiable and utilities are more affordable. Food options are abundant in local markets and affordable eateries, making home cooking a reliable saver. Transport ranges from shared minibuses to ride-hailing in cities, with walking or cycling viable in compact neighborhoods. Co-working spaces exist in major hubs, and cafes can serve as quick work spots. Erands are smoother when you know market hours and vendor rhythms. Zambia living cost shifts by location and season; plan a flexible routine to balance busy days with downtime. Tip: map a weekly route that covers work, shopping, and rest.

Quality of life in Zambia varies by neighborhood and pace. A practical budgeting framework helps you stay on track: set core categories (housing, food, transport, and activities), track a few essential expenses, and adjust with the seasons. Smart saving comes from choosing local groceries, cooking at home, using shared workspaces, and negotiating longer leases when possible. To find the right fit, visit a mix of areas – from city centers to quieter suburbs or lakeside zones – and test commute times and access to services. Seasonal shifts can affect crowds and prices, so keep a flexible plan. Tip: keep a small buffer for unexpected costs and sample several districts before committing.