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 148

$3.91 ZMW 79.4

$11.64 ZMW 236

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.85 ZMW 464

$20.20 ZMW 410

$32.05 ZMW 651

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.76 ZMW 76.5

$3.67 ZMW 74.6

$3.98 ZMW 80.9

Cappuccino

$1.93 ZMW 39.12

$0.95 ZMW 19.26

$3.41 ZMW 69.2

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

$0.63 ZMW 12.80

$0.44 ZMW 8.86

$0.99 ZMW 20.09

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ZMW 6.59

$0.25 ZMW 5.04

$0.43 ZMW 8.72

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.89 ZMW 18.01

$0.56 ZMW 11.41

$1.79 ZMW 36.43

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 ZMW 30.24

$1.15 ZMW 23.45

$2.35 ZMW 47.73

Milk (1 liter)

$1.28 ZMW 26.06

$0.79 ZMW 16.13

$1.75 ZMW 35.57

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 ZMW 16.08

$0.56 ZMW 11.43

$1.02 ZMW 20.72

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.80 ZMW 36.56

$1.15 ZMW 23.41

$4.36 ZMW 88.5

Eggs

$1.47 ZMW 29.83

$0.98 ZMW 19.88

$3.15 ZMW 64.0

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.53 ZMW 153

$3.55 ZMW 72.2

$15.62 ZMW 317

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.02 ZMW 81.8

$2.32 ZMW 47.13

$7.12 ZMW 145

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.79 ZMW 97.3

$2.66 ZMW 54.1

$6.91 ZMW 140

Apples (1kg)

$2.31 ZMW 46.96

$1.24 ZMW 25.18

$3.39 ZMW 68.9

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 ZMW 31.80

$0.84 ZMW 17.15

$2.98 ZMW 60.5

Oranges (1kg)

$2.58 ZMW 52.5

$1.19 ZMW 24.08

$3.78 ZMW 76.7

Tomato (1kg)

$1.18 ZMW 23.98

$0.39 ZMW 7.85

$2.03 ZMW 41.34

Potato (1kg)

$2.03 ZMW 41.20

$0.53 ZMW 10.86

$5.22 ZMW 106

Onion (1kg)

$1.38 ZMW 27.99

$0.72 ZMW 14.70

$2.68 ZMW 54.4

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.96 ZMW 19.45

$0.40 ZMW 8.16

$1.36 ZMW 27.61

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 ZMW 10.95

$0.30 ZMW 6.17

$0.90 ZMW 18.31

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.26 ZMW 45.90

$1.81 ZMW 36.80

$3.84 ZMW 78.1

Wine (Bottle)

$6.34 ZMW 129

$4.49 ZMW 91.3

$14.83 ZMW 301

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 ZMW 18.22

$0.58 ZMW 11.80

$1.55 ZMW 31.47

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.24 ZMW 25.11

$0.75 ZMW 15.15

$2.54 ZMW 51.6

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.01 ZMW 20.59

$0.57 ZMW 11.64

$1.89 ZMW 38.47

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.26 ZMW 798

$30.05 ZMW 611

$52.5 ZMW 1,066

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.46 ZMW 50.1

$1.78 ZMW 36.12

$3.00 ZMW 61.1

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.03 ZMW 20.86

$0.49 ZMW 9.94

$1.65 ZMW 33.58

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.03 ZMW 184

$9.02 ZMW 183

$10.77 ZMW 219

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ZMW 24.85

$1.16 ZMW 23.62

$1.37 ZMW 27.93

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

$7,988 ZMW 162.3K

$6,808 ZMW 138.3K

$9,167 ZMW 186.3K

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

$28.8K ZMW 584.8K

$6,171 ZMW 125.4K

$32.2K ZMW 655.2K

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

$85.9 ZMW 1,746

$38.45 ZMW 781

$201 ZMW 4,081

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

$51.0 ZMW 1,036

$5.68 ZMW 115

$100 ZMW 2,034

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$124 ZMW 2,518

$43.10 ZMW 876

$198 ZMW 4,021

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.30 ZMW 839

$17.88 ZMW 363

$56.6 ZMW 1,150

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.65 ZMW 277

$9.22 ZMW 187

$18.69 ZMW 380

Cinema Ticket

$4.21 ZMW 85.5

$2.28 ZMW 46.42

$5.03 ZMW 102

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

$178 ZMW 3,622

$60.5 ZMW 1,229

$309 ZMW 6,273

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,698 ZMW 197.1K

$4,047 ZMW 82.2K

$20.2K ZMW 411.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.37 ZMW 394

$13.40 ZMW 272

$22.34 ZMW 454

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.27 ZMW 351

$7.88 ZMW 160

$35.76 ZMW 727

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.6 ZMW 1,576

$44.59 ZMW 906

$108 ZMW 2,204

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.5 ZMW 1,493

$43.40 ZMW 882

$92.3 ZMW 1,875

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$210 ZMW 4,277

$134 ZMW 2,715

$299 ZMW 6,077

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$127 ZMW 2,581

$90.3 ZMW 1,835

$179 ZMW 3,633

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$876 ZMW 17.8K

$466 ZMW 9,461

$2,026 ZMW 41.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$713 ZMW 14.5K

$270 ZMW 5,493

$1,511 ZMW 30.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,945 ZMW 39.5K

$1,887 ZMW 38.3K

$1,968 ZMW 40.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,156 ZMW 104.8K

$709 ZMW 14.4K

$16.4K ZMW 333.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$343 ZMW 6,963

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

Zambia Median Internet Speeds (Updated December 2025)

Mobile

160

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.