Cost of living in Zambia

Summary of cost of living in Zambia

  • Family of four estimated monthly costs: 49,673 Kwacha
  • Single person estimated monthly costs: 22,534 Kwacha
  • WARNING!  These estimates are based on only a few data points. At the moment, you should treat them only as a best guess.
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Food
Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district 50 Kwacha
Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) 77 Kwacha
500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast 39 Kwacha
1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk 24 Kwacha
12 eggs, large 32 Kwacha
1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes 12 Kwacha
500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese 144 Kwacha
1 kg (2 lb.) of apples 39 Kwacha
1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes 17 Kwacha
0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket 18 Kwacha
1 bottle of red table wine, good quality 130 Kwacha
2 liters of coca-cola 32 Kwacha
Bread for 2 people for 1 day 17 Kwacha
Housing
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area 20,033 Kwacha
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area 6,771 Kwacha
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat 544 Kwacha
Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area 15,000 Kwacha
Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area 4,972 Kwacha
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio 405 Kwacha
Internet 8 mbps (1 month) 3,207 Kwacha
40” flat screen tv 2,682 Kwacha
Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) 7,000 Kwacha
Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) 45 Kwacha
Hourly rate for cleaning help 50 Kwacha
Clothes
1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) 500 Kwacha
1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) 500 Kwacha
1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) 800 Kwacha
1 pair of men’s leather business shoes 1,800 Kwacha
Transportation
Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new 600,000 Kwacha
1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas 35 Kwacha
Monthly ticket public transport 749 Kwacha
Personal Care
Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) 50 Kwacha
1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) 50 Kwacha
Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) 300 Kwacha
1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) 50 Kwacha
Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) 24 Kwacha
Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) 60 Kwacha
4 rolls of toilet paper 40 Kwacha
Tube of toothpaste 25 Kwacha
Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city -
Entertainment
Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub -
2 tickets to the movies 100 Kwacha
2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) 300 Kwacha
Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert 400 Kwacha
1 cocktail drink in downtown club 50 Kwacha
Cappuccino in expat area of the city 35 Kwacha
1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) 20 Kwacha
Ipad wi-fi 128gb 6,000 Kwacha
1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) 2.00 Kwacha
1 month of gym membership in business district 600 Kwacha
1 package of marlboro cigarettes 58 Kwacha

Map of Cost of Living in Zambia

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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.

List of all cities available in Zambia

Chingola Chipata Kabwe
Kasama Livingstone Lusaka
Mazabuka Mongu Mufulira
Ndola

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