Cost of living in Zambia compared to Russia
Currency:
| Food | - 8% | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food in Zambia is 8% cheaper than in Russia | ||||
| Zambia | Russia | Diff | ||
| Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district | 75 Kwacha (руб 248) | руб 494 | - 50% | |
| Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) | 118 Kwacha (руб 393) | руб 361 | + 9% | |
| 500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | 37 Kwacha (руб 124) | руб 213 | - 42% | |
| 1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | 31 Kwacha (руб 104) | руб 86 | + 21% | |
| 12 eggs, large | 39 Kwacha (руб 128) | руб 137 | - 6% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | 28 Kwacha (руб 94) | руб 208 | - 55% | |
| 500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | 310 Kwacha (руб 1,027) | руб 441 | + 133% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | 68 Kwacha (руб 227) | руб 128 | + 78% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | 21 Kwacha (руб 70) | руб 58 | + 20% | |
| 0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | 23 Kwacha (руб 77) | руб 84 | - 8% | |
| 1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | 314 Kwacha (руб 1,042) | руб 692 | + 50% | |
| 2 liters of coca-cola | 30 Kwacha (руб 100) | руб 175 | - 43% | |
| Bread for 2 people for 1 day | 25 Kwacha (руб 82) | руб 43 | + 90% | |
| Housing | + 41% | |||
| Housing in Zambia is 41% more expensive than in Russia | ||||
| Zambia | Russia | Diff | ||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area | 20,033 Kwacha (руб 66,401) | руб 102,249 | - 35% | |
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | 6,771 Kwacha (руб 22,445) | руб 56,047 | - 60% | |
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | 544 Kwacha (руб 1,804) | руб 7,760 | - 77% | |
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | 15,000 Kwacha (руб 49,719) | руб 52,573 | - 5% | |
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | 4,972 Kwacha (руб 16,480) | руб 33,044 | - 50% | |
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | 405 Kwacha (руб 1,342) | руб 5,587 | - 76% | |
| Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | 3,207 Kwacha (руб 10,630) | руб 958 | + 1009% | |
| 40” flat screen tv | 2,682 Kwacha (руб 8,888) | руб 20,885 | - 57% | |
| Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | 7,000 Kwacha (руб 23,202) | руб 7,221 | + 221% | |
| Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | 45 Kwacha (руб 149) | руб 548 | - 73% | |
| Hourly rate for cleaning help | 50 Kwacha (руб 166) | руб 618 | - 73% | |
| Clothes | - 51% | |||
| Clothes in Zambia is 51% cheaper than in Russia | ||||
| Zambia | Russia | Diff | ||
| 1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) | 500 Kwacha (руб 1,657) | руб 6,816 | - 76% | |
| 1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) | 500 Kwacha (руб 1,657) | руб 3,176 | - 48% | |
| 1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) | 2,042 Kwacha (руб 6,768) | руб 7,907 | - 14% | |
| 1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | 1,800 Kwacha (руб 5,966) | руб 6,921 | - 14% | |
| Transportation | + 13% | |||
| Transportation in Zambia is 13% more expensive than in Russia | ||||
| Zambia | Russia | Diff | ||
| Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new | 355,205 Kwacha (руб 1,177,357) | руб 2,485,230 | - 53% | |
| 1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | 33 Kwacha (руб 110) | руб 56 | + 97% | |
| Monthly ticket public transport | 992 Kwacha (руб 3,289) | руб 2,313 | + 42% | |
| Personal Care | - 9% | |||
| Personal Care in Zambia is 9% cheaper than in Russia | ||||
| Zambia | Russia | Diff | ||
| Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) | 116 Kwacha (руб 384) | руб 270 | + 42% | |
| 1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | 72 Kwacha (руб 238) | руб 515 | - 54% | |
| Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) | 337 Kwacha (руб 1,115) | руб 1,977 | - 44% | |
| 1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) | 87 Kwacha (руб 287) | руб 320 | - 10% | |
| Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | 61 Kwacha (руб 203) | руб 187 | + 9% | |
| Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | 60 Kwacha (руб 199) | руб 172 | + 15% | |
| 4 rolls of toilet paper | 40 Kwacha (руб 133) | руб 123 | + 8% | |
| Tube of toothpaste | 25 Kwacha (руб 83) | руб 132 | - 37% | |
| Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | - | руб 589 | - | |
| Entertainment | - 53% | |||
| Entertainment in Zambia is 53% cheaper than in Russia | ||||
| Zambia | Russia | Diff | ||
| Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | 500 Kwacha (руб 1,657) | руб 1,593 | + 4% | |
| 2 tickets to the movies | 69 Kwacha (руб 229) | руб 680 | - 66% | |
| 2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | 300 Kwacha (руб 994) | руб 6,005 | - 83% | |
| Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | 400 Kwacha (руб 1,326) | руб 3,237 | - 59% | |
| 1 cocktail drink in downtown club | 50 Kwacha (руб 166) | руб 473 | - 65% | |
| Cappuccino in expat area of the city | 35 Kwacha (руб 116) | руб 177 | - 34% | |
| 1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | 59 Kwacha (руб 197) | руб 236 | - 17% | |
| Ipad wi-fi 128gb | 6,000 Kwacha (руб 19,888) | руб 50,539 | - 61% | |
| 1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | 2.00 Kwacha (руб 7) | руб 23 | - 72% | |
| 1 month of gym membership in business district | 467 Kwacha (руб 1,549) | руб 3,349 | - 54% | |
| 1 package of marlboro cigarettes | 50 Kwacha (руб 167) | руб 197 | - 15% | |
| TOTAL | - 0% | |||
WARNING! This comparison is based on only a few data points. At this point it is only a guess. It is based on 1,846 prices entered by 174 different people.
These prices were last updated on June 14, 2025.
Exchange rate:
3.315
RUB
/
ZMW
Cost of living in Zambia is about the same as in Russia
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