Cost of living in Zambia
Summary of cost of living in Zambia
- Family of four estimated monthly costs: 52,568 Kwacha
- Single person estimated monthly costs: 25,413 Kwacha WARNING! These estimates are based on only a few data points. At the moment, you should treat them only as a best guess.
Food | |||
---|---|---|---|
Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district | 52 Kwacha | ||
Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) | 65 Kwacha | ||
500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | 61 Kwacha | ||
1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | 21 Kwacha | ||
12 eggs, large | 46 Kwacha | ||
1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | 27 Kwacha | ||
500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | 181 Kwacha | ||
1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | 39 Kwacha | ||
1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | 33 Kwacha | ||
0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | 18 Kwacha | ||
1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | 163 Kwacha | ||
2 liters of coca-cola | 26 Kwacha | ||
Bread for 2 people for 1 day | 17 Kwacha | ||
Housing | |||
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area | 5,083 Kwacha | ||
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | 25,000 Kwacha | ||
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | 2,325 Kwacha | ||
Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | 30,000 Kwacha | ||
Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | 26,000 Kwacha | ||
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | 600 Kwacha | ||
Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | 972 Kwacha | ||
40” flat screen tv | 6,200 Kwacha | ||
Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | 3,500 Kwacha | ||
Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | 126 Kwacha | ||
Hourly rate for cleaning help | - | ||
Clothes | |||
1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) | 1,750 Kwacha | ||
1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) | 850 Kwacha | ||
1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) | 1,850 Kwacha | ||
1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | 2,300 Kwacha | ||
Transportation | |||
Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new | 360,000 Kwacha | ||
1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | 27 Kwacha | ||
Monthly ticket public transport | 845 Kwacha | ||
Personal Care | |||
Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) | 350 Kwacha | ||
1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | 120 Kwacha | ||
Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) | 850 Kwacha | ||
1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) | 54 Kwacha | ||
Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | 39 Kwacha | ||
Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | 106 Kwacha | ||
4 rolls of toilet paper | 28 Kwacha | ||
Tube of toothpaste | 27 Kwacha | ||
Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | 165 Kwacha | ||
Entertainment | |||
Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | 370 Kwacha | ||
2 tickets to the movies | 145 Kwacha | ||
2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | 200 Kwacha | ||
Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | 935 Kwacha | ||
1 cocktail drink in downtown club | - | ||
Cappuccino in expat area of the city | 65 Kwacha | ||
1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | 25 Kwacha | ||
Ipad wi-fi 128gb | 18,000 Kwacha | ||
1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | 2.00 Kwacha | ||
1 month of gym membership in business district | 526 Kwacha | ||
1 package of marlboro cigarettes | 44 Kwacha |
Map of Cost of Living in Zambia

This map shows only the top cities in Zambia. We also have on this page a list of all the cities available in Expatistan:
List of all the cities available in Expatistan
The color of each marker corresponds with the cost of living in the city red markers show more expensive cities green ones show cheaper cities
Moving the mouse on top of a city will show its name and the Cost of Living Index of that city.
What is the Cost of Living Index? To calculate each city's Price Index value, we start by assigning a value of 100 to a
central reference city (that happens to be Prague).
Once the reference point has been established, the Price Index value of every other city in the
database is calculated by comparing their cost of living to the cost of living in Prague.
Therefore, if a city has a Price Index of 134, that means that living there is 34% more expensive than living in Prague.
Recent Comparisons
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Compare other countries
Prices recently added
- 6 eggs, large in Lusaka costs 50 Kwacha (4 days ago)