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 120

$3.91 ZMW 64.6

$11.64 ZMW 192

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.85 ZMW 378

$20.20 ZMW 334

$32.05 ZMW 530

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.76 ZMW 62.3

$3.67 ZMW 60.7

$3.98 ZMW 65.8

Cappuccino

$1.93 ZMW 31.84

$0.95 ZMW 15.68

$3.41 ZMW 56.3

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

$0.63 ZMW 10.42

$0.44 ZMW 7.21

$0.99 ZMW 16.35

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ZMW 5.36

$0.25 ZMW 4.10

$0.43 ZMW 7.10

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.89 ZMW 14.66

$0.56 ZMW 9.29

$1.79 ZMW 29.65

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 ZMW 24.62

$1.15 ZMW 19.09

$2.35 ZMW 38.85

Milk (1 liter)

$1.28 ZMW 21.21

$0.79 ZMW 13.13

$1.75 ZMW 28.96

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 ZMW 13.09

$0.56 ZMW 9.30

$1.02 ZMW 16.87

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.80 ZMW 29.76

$1.15 ZMW 19.06

$4.36 ZMW 72.1

Eggs

$1.47 ZMW 24.28

$0.98 ZMW 16.19

$3.15 ZMW 52.1

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.53 ZMW 125

$3.55 ZMW 58.8

$15.62 ZMW 258

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.02 ZMW 66.5

$2.32 ZMW 38.36

$7.12 ZMW 118

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.79 ZMW 79.2

$2.66 ZMW 44.04

$6.91 ZMW 114

Apples (1kg)

$2.31 ZMW 38.22

$1.24 ZMW 20.49

$3.39 ZMW 56.1

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 ZMW 25.88

$0.84 ZMW 13.96

$2.98 ZMW 49.21

Oranges (1kg)

$2.58 ZMW 42.70

$1.19 ZMW 19.60

$3.78 ZMW 62.5

Tomato (1kg)

$1.18 ZMW 19.52

$0.39 ZMW 6.39

$2.03 ZMW 33.65

Potato (1kg)

$2.03 ZMW 33.54

$0.53 ZMW 8.84

$5.22 ZMW 86.3

Onion (1kg)

$1.38 ZMW 22.78

$0.72 ZMW 11.96

$2.68 ZMW 44.25

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.96 ZMW 15.83

$0.40 ZMW 6.64

$1.36 ZMW 22.47

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 ZMW 8.91

$0.30 ZMW 5.02

$0.90 ZMW 14.91

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.26 ZMW 37.37

$1.81 ZMW 29.96

$3.84 ZMW 63.5

Wine (Bottle)

$6.34 ZMW 105

$4.49 ZMW 74.3

$14.83 ZMW 245

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 ZMW 14.83

$0.58 ZMW 9.61

$1.55 ZMW 25.61

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.24 ZMW 20.44

$0.75 ZMW 12.33

$2.54 ZMW 42.02

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.01 ZMW 16.76

$0.57 ZMW 9.48

$1.89 ZMW 31.31

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.26 ZMW 649

$30.05 ZMW 497

$52.5 ZMW 868

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.46 ZMW 40.77

$1.78 ZMW 29.40

$3.00 ZMW 49.70

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.03 ZMW 16.98

$0.49 ZMW 8.09

$1.65 ZMW 27.33

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.03 ZMW 149

$9.02 ZMW 149

$10.77 ZMW 178

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ZMW 20.23

$1.16 ZMW 19.22

$1.37 ZMW 22.74

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

$7,988 ZMW 132.1K

$6,808 ZMW 112.6K

$9,167 ZMW 151.6K

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

$28.8K ZMW 476.0K

$6,171 ZMW 102.1K

$32.2K ZMW 533.3K

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

$85.9 ZMW 1,421

$38.45 ZMW 636

$201 ZMW 3,322

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

$51.0 ZMW 843

$5.68 ZMW 93.9

$100 ZMW 1,656

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$124 ZMW 2,050

$43.10 ZMW 713

$198 ZMW 3,273

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.30 ZMW 683

$17.88 ZMW 296

$56.6 ZMW 936

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.65 ZMW 226

$9.22 ZMW 152

$18.69 ZMW 309

Cinema Ticket

$4.21 ZMW 69.6

$2.28 ZMW 37.79

$5.03 ZMW 83.2

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

$178 ZMW 2,948

$60.5 ZMW 1,000

$309 ZMW 5,106

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,698 ZMW 160.4K

$4,047 ZMW 66.9K

$20.2K ZMW 334.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.37 ZMW 320

$13.40 ZMW 222

$22.34 ZMW 369

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.27 ZMW 286

$7.88 ZMW 130

$35.76 ZMW 591

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.6 ZMW 1,283

$44.59 ZMW 737

$108 ZMW 1,794

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.5 ZMW 1,215

$43.40 ZMW 718

$92.3 ZMW 1,526

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$210 ZMW 3,481

$134 ZMW 2,210

$299 ZMW 4,946

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$127 ZMW 2,100

$90.3 ZMW 1,494

$179 ZMW 2,957

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$876 ZMW 14.5K

$466 ZMW 7,701

$2,026 ZMW 33.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$713 ZMW 11.8K

$270 ZMW 4,471

$1,511 ZMW 25.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,945 ZMW 32.2K

$1,887 ZMW 31.2K

$1,968 ZMW 32.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,156 ZMW 85.3K

$709 ZMW 11.7K

$16.4K ZMW 271.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$343 ZMW 5,668

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.