Cost of Living in Zambia - Updated Prices & Insights

Name: Zambia
Address: ZM

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $634 (excluding rent), and $836 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $1,339 (excluding rent), and $2,139 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.27 ZMW 146

$3.91 ZMW 78.4

$11.64 ZMW 233

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.85 ZMW 458

$20.20 ZMW 405

$32.05 ZMW 643

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.76 ZMW 75.5

$3.67 ZMW 73.7

$3.98 ZMW 79.8

Cappuccino

$1.93 ZMW 38.62

$0.95 ZMW 19.01

$3.41 ZMW 68.3

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

$0.63 ZMW 12.64

$0.44 ZMW 8.75

$0.99 ZMW 19.83

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ZMW 6.51

$0.25 ZMW 4.98

$0.43 ZMW 8.61

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.89 ZMW 17.78

$0.56 ZMW 11.26

$1.79 ZMW 35.96

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 ZMW 29.86

$1.15 ZMW 23.15

$2.35 ZMW 47.12

Milk (1 liter)

$1.28 ZMW 25.73

$0.79 ZMW 15.93

$1.75 ZMW 35.12

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 ZMW 15.87

$0.56 ZMW 11.28

$1.02 ZMW 20.46

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.80 ZMW 36.09

$1.15 ZMW 23.11

$4.36 ZMW 87.4

Eggs

$1.47 ZMW 29.45

$0.98 ZMW 19.63

$3.15 ZMW 63.2

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.53 ZMW 151

$3.55 ZMW 71.3

$15.62 ZMW 313

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.02 ZMW 80.7

$2.32 ZMW 46.52

$7.12 ZMW 143

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.79 ZMW 96.0

$2.66 ZMW 53.4

$6.91 ZMW 139

Apples (1kg)

$2.31 ZMW 46.36

$1.24 ZMW 24.86

$3.39 ZMW 68.1

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 ZMW 31.39

$0.84 ZMW 16.94

$2.98 ZMW 59.7

Oranges (1kg)

$2.58 ZMW 51.8

$1.19 ZMW 23.78

$3.78 ZMW 75.8

Tomato (1kg)

$1.18 ZMW 23.67

$0.39 ZMW 7.75

$2.03 ZMW 40.81

Potato (1kg)

$2.03 ZMW 40.67

$0.53 ZMW 10.72

$5.22 ZMW 105

Onion (1kg)

$1.38 ZMW 27.63

$0.72 ZMW 14.51

$2.68 ZMW 53.7

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.96 ZMW 19.20

$0.40 ZMW 8.05

$1.36 ZMW 27.25

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 ZMW 10.81

$0.30 ZMW 6.09

$0.90 ZMW 18.08

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.26 ZMW 45.32

$1.81 ZMW 36.33

$3.84 ZMW 77.1

Wine (Bottle)

$6.34 ZMW 127

$4.49 ZMW 90.2

$14.83 ZMW 297

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 ZMW 17.99

$0.58 ZMW 11.65

$1.55 ZMW 31.07

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.24 ZMW 24.79

$0.75 ZMW 14.95

$2.54 ZMW 51.0

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.01 ZMW 20.32

$0.57 ZMW 11.50

$1.89 ZMW 37.98

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.26 ZMW 787

$30.05 ZMW 603

$52.5 ZMW 1,053

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.46 ZMW 49.44

$1.78 ZMW 35.65

$3.00 ZMW 60.3

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.03 ZMW 20.60

$0.49 ZMW 9.81

$1.65 ZMW 33.15

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.03 ZMW 181

$9.02 ZMW 181

$10.77 ZMW 216

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ZMW 24.53

$1.16 ZMW 23.32

$1.37 ZMW 27.57

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

$7,988 ZMW 160.2K

$6,808 ZMW 136.6K

$9,167 ZMW 183.9K

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

$28.8K ZMW 577.3K

$6,171 ZMW 123.8K

$32.2K ZMW 646.8K

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

$85.9 ZMW 1,723

$38.45 ZMW 771

$201 ZMW 4,029

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

$51.0 ZMW 1,023

$5.68 ZMW 114

$100 ZMW 2,008

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$124 ZMW 2,486

$43.10 ZMW 865

$198 ZMW 3,970

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.30 ZMW 828

$17.88 ZMW 359

$56.6 ZMW 1,135

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.65 ZMW 274

$9.22 ZMW 185

$18.69 ZMW 375

Cinema Ticket

$4.21 ZMW 84.4

$2.28 ZMW 45.83

$5.03 ZMW 101

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

$178 ZMW 3,575

$60.5 ZMW 1,213

$309 ZMW 6,193

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,698 ZMW 194.5K

$4,047 ZMW 81.2K

$20.2K ZMW 405.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.37 ZMW 389

$13.40 ZMW 269

$22.34 ZMW 448

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.27 ZMW 346

$7.88 ZMW 158

$35.76 ZMW 717

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.6 ZMW 1,556

$44.59 ZMW 894

$108 ZMW 2,176

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.5 ZMW 1,474

$43.40 ZMW 871

$92.3 ZMW 1,851

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$210 ZMW 4,222

$134 ZMW 2,680

$299 ZMW 5,999

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$127 ZMW 2,547

$90.3 ZMW 1,812

$179 ZMW 3,586

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$876 ZMW 17.6K

$466 ZMW 9,340

$2,026 ZMW 40.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$713 ZMW 14.3K

$270 ZMW 5,423

$1,511 ZMW 30.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,945 ZMW 39.0K

$1,887 ZMW 37.8K

$1,968 ZMW 39.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,156 ZMW 103.4K

$709 ZMW 14.2K

$16.4K ZMW 329.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$343 ZMW 6,874

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

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

Last update: January 18, 2026

By City in Zambia

Lowest

Highest

Rank	City	Population	Living Index	Solo costs (no rent) / month	Solo costs (with rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (no rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (with rent) / month	Mobile download speed (Mbps)	Internet download speed (Mbps)
1	Chilanga	107051		$539	$625	$1,269	$1,255	14.04	50.86
2	Chingola	210073		$271	$340	$751	$798	33.38	120
3	Kabwe	117517		$511	$613	$1,181	$1,243	172.55	140.89
4	Kafue	-	34	$535	$674	$1,152	$1,351	119.39	273.15
5	Kalomo	-						46.42	200.11
6	Kansanshi	-						44.26	150.03
7	Kaoma	-						25.25	344.49
8	Kasama	113000						292.61	43.89
9	Kawambwa	46171						17.04	29.59
10	Kitwe	522092		$226	$223	$543	$502	313.64	60.61
11	Livingstone	136897		$177	$172	$505	$444	178.22	68.55
12	Lusaka	1742979	43	$643	$850	$1,403	$2,046	231	54.09
13	Namwala	-						27.14	95.27
14	Ndola	455194	36	$515	$710	$1,213	$2,642	141.9	91.31
15	Solwezi	1000000						57.29	150.03
16	Zimba	-		$103	$109	$206	$233	-	88.25

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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.