Cost of Living in Zambia in 2023-2024 (forecast)

Restaurants in Zambia

Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant 0.34$ 2.67$ – 8.89$
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course 26.89$ 15.78$ – 81$
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) 5.45$ 5.17$ – 7.14$
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter draught) 2.03$ 2.88$ – 3.33$
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle) 0.51$ 4.33$ – 2.55$
Cappuccino (regular) 3.75$ 3$ – 7$
Coke/Pepsi (0.33 liter bottle) 3.83$ 2.55$ – 4$
Water (0.33 liter bottle) 0.54$ 2.26$ – 3$

Markets in Zambia

Milk (regular), (1 liter) 0.18$ 2.78$ – 4.84$
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g) 3.01$ 2.62$ – 5$
Rice (white), (1kg) 0.96$ 3$ – 6.37$
Eggs (regular) (12) 1.33$ 2.06$ – 4.4$
Local Cheese (1kg) 8.11$ 4.98$ – 17$
Chicken Fillets (1kg) 6.72$ 5.09$ – 9.15$
Beef Round (1kg) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) 4$ 7.29$ – 8.06$
Apples (1kg) 0.46$ 3.89$ – 6.1$
Banana (1kg) 1.68$ 3.77$ – 3.5$
Oranges (1kg) 0.29$ 1.89$ – 6$
Tomato (1kg) 4.01$ 3.48$ – 4.84$
Potato (1kg) 1.66$ 3.43$ – 5.94$
Onion (1kg) 3.44$ 3.9$ – 3.35$
Lettuce (1 head) 2.97$ 3.6$ – 4$
Water (1.5 liter bottle) 0.18$ 2.44$ – 4.22$
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) 1.9$ 7$ – 12$
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) 2.06$ 3.75$ – 3.52$
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle) 0.75$ 1.89$ – 2.53$
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) 0.43$ 2.77$ – 5.69$

Transportation in Zambia

One-way Ticket (Local Transport) 0.66$ 4.22$ – 8$
Monthly Pass (Regular Price) 43$ 31.62$ – 47.66$
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) 6$ 4.74$ – 5.06$
Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff) 3.93$ 1.5$ – 2.2$
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) 12.08$ 11.19$ – 12.97$
Gasoline (1 liter) 3.43$ 4.24$ – 2.6$
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) 12374.75$ 9189.57$ – 15559.94$
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) 28558.57$ 6126.38$ – 32003$

Utilities (Monthly) in Zambia

Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment 139.69$ 64.23$ – 202$
Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data 101$ 101$ – 103$
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) 182.32$ 63.23$ – 202$

Sports And Leisure in Zambia

Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult 26.46$ 11$ – 39.34$
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) 7.18$ 7$ – 15.21$
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat 4.17$ 6.06$ – 7$

Childcare in Zambia

Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child 189.93$ 63$ – 308.22$
International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child 11442.37$ 5513.94$ – 20003$

Clothing And Shoes in Zambia

1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) 42.74$ 18.31$ – 63.23$
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, …) 41.9$ 17$ – 63.23$
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) 92.18$ 73$ – 113.63$
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes 101.51$ 75.67$ – 155.66$

Rent Per Month in Zambia

Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre 259.01$ 155.11$ – 375.37$
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre 160.83$ 79.96$ – 249.91$
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre 910.64$ 613.44$ – 1202$
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre 440.96$ 243$ – 751$

Buy Apartment Price in Zambia

Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment in City Centre 2003$ 2001$ – 10766.91$
Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre 1997$ 2001$ – 39214.94$

Salaries And Financing in Zambia

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) 386.44$ 3$ – 3$
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate 20.25$ 7.5$ – 32$

These data are based on 2578 entries in the past 30 months from 356 different contributors.

Last update: August 2023

Our data for each country is based on all entries from all cities in that country.

Cost Of Living in Zambia in 2023

The cost of living in Zambia has been on the rise in recent years. Housing costs in major cities like Lusaka are quite high, with the average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment being around 155$ – 375$. Food prices have also increased, with a standard basket of groceries for a family of four now costing about 700$ per month. Transportation can take a bite out of the average household’s budget too, with bus and metro tickets costing 31$ – 47$ per ride on average. However, some costs are more affordable in Zambia, like healthcare which is heavily subsidized. The monthly energy bill for an average sized house comes out to only 64$ – 202$. While salaries have increased moderately, the overall cost of living in Zambia still remains relatively high compared to other places. People moving here should factor the rising cost of living into their budgets.

Lusaka Weather

Lusaka Map

Cost Of Living Rates & Safety Index in Zambia