Cost of Living in Zambia - Updated Prices & Insights

Name: Zambia
Address: ZM

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends around $275 per month with rent on average across Zambia.

A couple spends around $473 per month with rent on average across Zambia.

A family of three spends around $671 per month with rent on average across Zambia.

Across 16 cities in Zambia, monthly living costs range from $0 to $850 – a $850 difference that makes location a key factor.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.95 ZMW 132

$3.73 ZMW 71.1

$11.12 ZMW 212

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.29 ZMW 443

$20.59 ZMW 392

$32.67 ZMW 622

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.69 ZMW 70.3

$3.60 ZMW 68.6

$3.90 ZMW 74.3

Cappuccino

$1.97 ZMW 37.48

$0.97 ZMW 18.45

$3.48 ZMW 66.3

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

$0.63 ZMW 11.95

$0.43 ZMW 8.27

$0.98 ZMW 18.75

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ZMW 6.73

$0.27 ZMW 5.15

$0.47 ZMW 8.91

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.93 ZMW 17.78

$0.59 ZMW 11.26

$1.89 ZMW 35.96

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 ZMW 28.50

$1.16 ZMW 22.10

$2.36 ZMW 44.98

Milk (1 liter)

$1.28 ZMW 24.42

$0.79 ZMW 15.12

$1.75 ZMW 33.34

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 ZMW 16.26

$0.61 ZMW 11.56

$1.10 ZMW 20.97

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.73 ZMW 32.97

$1.11 ZMW 21.11

$4.19 ZMW 79.8

Eggs

$1.52 ZMW 28.97

$1.01 ZMW 19.31

$3.27 ZMW 62.2

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.50 ZMW 143

$3.54 ZMW 67.4

$15.57 ZMW 296

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.94 ZMW 75.1

$2.27 ZMW 43.27

$6.98 ZMW 133

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.81 ZMW 91.7

$2.68 ZMW 51.0

$6.95 ZMW 132

Apples (1kg)

$2.38 ZMW 45.25

$1.27 ZMW 24.26

$3.49 ZMW 66.4

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 ZMW 28.44

$0.81 ZMW 15.34

$2.84 ZMW 54.1

Oranges (1kg)

$2.50 ZMW 47.51

$1.15 ZMW 21.82

$3.65 ZMW 69.5

Tomato (1kg)

$1.15 ZMW 21.82

$0.38 ZMW 7.15

$1.98 ZMW 37.63

Potato (1kg)

$2.06 ZMW 39.19

$0.54 ZMW 10.33

$5.29 ZMW 101

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 ZMW 25.82

$0.71 ZMW 13.56

$2.63 ZMW 50.2

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 ZMW 18.04

$0.40 ZMW 7.56

$1.34 ZMW 25.60

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ZMW 9.95

$0.29 ZMW 5.61

$0.87 ZMW 16.65

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.21 ZMW 42.03

$1.77 ZMW 33.70

$3.75 ZMW 71.5

Wine (Bottle)

$6.76 ZMW 129

$4.50 ZMW 85.6

$15.13 ZMW 288

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 ZMW 16.01

$0.54 ZMW 10.37

$1.45 ZMW 27.65

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.24 ZMW 23.56

$0.75 ZMW 14.21

$2.54 ZMW 48.43

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.03 ZMW 19.59

$0.58 ZMW 11.08

$1.92 ZMW 36.61

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.24 ZMW 766

$30.80 ZMW 586

$53.8 ZMW 1,024

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 ZMW 48.92

$1.85 ZMW 35.27

$3.13 ZMW 59.6

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ZMW 19.41

$0.49 ZMW 9.24

$1.64 ZMW 31.24

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.45 ZMW 180

$9.44 ZMW 180

$11.27 ZMW 215

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 ZMW 22.41

$1.12 ZMW 21.29

$1.32 ZMW 25.18

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

$8,042 ZMW 153.1K

$6,854 ZMW 130.5K

$9,229 ZMW 175.7K

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

$28.4K ZMW 541.0K

$6,094 ZMW 116.0K

$31.8K ZMW 606.2K

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

$86.1 ZMW 1,639

$38.53 ZMW 734

$201 ZMW 3,832

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

$50.9 ZMW 968

$5.66 ZMW 108

$99.8 ZMW 1,901

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$125 ZMW 2,388

$43.63 ZMW 831

$200 ZMW 3,814

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.59 ZMW 811

$18.44 ZMW 351

$58.4 ZMW 1,111

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.89 ZMW 265

$9.38 ZMW 179

$19.02 ZMW 362

Cinema Ticket

$4.07 ZMW 77.5

$2.21 ZMW 42.08

$4.87 ZMW 92.7

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

$176 ZMW 3,358

$59.9 ZMW 1,140

$306 ZMW 5,817

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,412 ZMW 179.2K

$3,928 ZMW 74.8K

$19.6K ZMW 373.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.83 ZMW 378

$13.72 ZMW 261

$22.87 ZMW 435

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.85 ZMW 340

$8.15 ZMW 155

$36.95 ZMW 704

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.5 ZMW 1,514

$45.71 ZMW 870

$111 ZMW 2,117

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.0 ZMW 1,389

$43.09 ZMW 820

$91.6 ZMW 1,744

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$214 ZMW 4,082

$136 ZMW 2,591

$305 ZMW 5,800

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$126 ZMW 2,406

$89.9 ZMW 1,711

$178 ZMW 3,387

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$866 ZMW 16.5K

$460 ZMW 8,761

$2,003 ZMW 38.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$696 ZMW 13.3K

$264 ZMW 5,023

$1,475 ZMW 28.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,001 ZMW 38.1K

$1,941 ZMW 37.0K

$2,025 ZMW 38.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,056 ZMW 96.3K

$696 ZMW 13.2K

$16.1K ZMW 306.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$383 ZMW 7,300

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

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

Last update: April 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom averages $22 nationally. In Lusaka, expect around $222, while Kalomo – the country's most affordable city overall – comes in at $0.

The average net salary across Zambia is $350 – enough to cover average monthly costs of $275, but with limited room for savings. Margins vary widely by city.

Groceries average around $79 per month nationally. A mid-range dinner for two costs about $11.

Most affordable: Kalomo at $0 per month. The capital, Lusaka, sits at $850. Across the country, monthly costs span roughly $850 between the cheapest and priciest cities.

Cost Highlights

Overall living costs ($275) is 80% below the global median of $1,347.

Average rent ($22) is 97% below the global median of $629.

Dining out ($11) is 77% below the global median of $48.

Public transport ($5) is 85% below the global median of $33.

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		$501	$634	$1,294	$1,278	38.4	38.54
2	Chingola	210073		$298	$341	$793	$813	40.97	51.07
3	Kabwe	117517		$532	$647	$1,282	$1,253	78.83	58.87
4	Kafue	-	35	$596	$694	$1,179	$1,391	73.54	260.05
5	Kalomo	-						45.61	70.24
6	Kansanshi	-						251.02	79.52
7	Kaoma	-						210.14	83.99
8	Kasama	113000						193.06	91.97
9	Kawambwa	46171						17.04	29.59
10	Kitwe	522092		$251	$224	$579	$500	92.75	64.82
11	Livingstone	136897		$174	$175	$457	$446	30.9	65.58
12	Lusaka	1742979	43	$639	$850	$1,369	$2,069	26.67	40.99
13	Namwala	-						27.14	95.27
14	Ndola	455194	36	$526	$727	$1,069	$2,752	116.33	67.4
15	Solwezi	1000000						33.62	79.52
16	Zimba	-		$127	$110	$232	$234	146.19	182.94

Zambia Median Internet Speeds (Updated April 2026)

Mobile

Mbps

Fixed Broadband

Mbps

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

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.

Zambia is affordable by global standards, though costs vary a lot by region. Smaller cities and rural areas are genuinely cheap, while capitals and tourist spots are pricier – but still below international averages for similar quality.

Rent in Zambia varies a lot – Lusaka has the highest prices, and the gap between capital and provincial rents can be 50% or more. Choosing which city to live in is one of the biggest financial decisions you'll make.

Absolutely – in smaller cities across Zambia, $2,000 covers rent and daily expenses with room to spare for eating out, entertainment, and saving. Even mid-sized cities work at this budget level.