Travel budget in Zambia

Zambia: calculate your travel budget

Zambia: sample budgets by traveller type

These example budgets assume a 2-week holiday in Zambia for 2 people.

Low budget
(backpacker)

Daily budget:

  • $ 57 for 2 ppl.
  • $ 6.2 per person
  • $ 5.7 per person
  • Free activities

Total budget:

$ 1125* (10118570 ZMK)

Average budget
(traveller)

Daily budget:

  • $ 125 for 2 ppl.
  • $ 12 per person
  • $ 12 per person
  • $ 3.2 per person

Total budget:

$ 2472* (22228724 ZMK)

High budget
(tourist)

Daily budget:

  • $ 233 for 2 ppl.
  • $ 22 per person
  • $ 21 per person
  • $ 6.3 per person

Total budget:

$ 4607* (41437802 ZMK)

* Estimated local budget for 2 people for 2 weeks. This represents an average across the country (budget may vary depending on the city or region visited).



Cost of living in Zambia in 2024

Cost of living: Zambia VS United States

Compare with the average cost of living in:

On average, the cost of living in Zambia in 2024 is 37% less than in the United States (USA).

The graphic below shows the percentage of variation between prices United States in in the United States (USA) and United States by types of expenses:

Cost of living in Zambia by city

See the table below for the variation in the cost of living in different cities in Zambia compared to the national average.

Cities /Zambia View Details
Lusaka 4% lessTravel budget and cost of living in Lusaka



Local prices in Zambia by expense type

Zambia: Restaurant budget

On average, budget for eating in a restaurant in Zambia costs 71% less than in the United States (USA).
Lunch
Lunch
$ 3.8/person
($ 2.1 to $ 9.2)

81% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 21
3 course dinner
3 course dinner
$ 15/person
($ 9.2 to $ 41)

62% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 39
McDonald's meal
McDonald's meal
$ 3.5/person
($ 3.2 to $ 4.1)

66% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 11
Local beer
Local beer
$ 1 for 500ml
($ 0.7 to $ 2.6)

83% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 6
Imported beer
Imported beer
$ 1.2 for 330ml
($ 0.8 to $ 2.6)

66% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.5
Cappuccino
Cappuccino
$ 2.2/cup
($ 1 to $ 4)

57% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.1
Fizzy drink
Fizzy drink
$ 0.8/can
($ 0.4 to $ 2)

67% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.5
Water bottle
Water bottle
$ 0.3/bottle
($ 0.2 to $ 1)

82% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2

Zambia: Hotel and accommodation budget

On average, hotel and accommodation budget in Zambia is essentially the same as in the United States (USA).
1-star hotel
1-star hotel
$ 99/night
($ 16 to $ 334)

28% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 138
2-star hotel
2-star hotel
$ 121/night
($ 35 to $ 343)

15% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 143
3-star hotel
3-star hotel
$ 128/night
($ 63 to $ 295)

38% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 206
4-star hotel
4-star hotel
$ 338/night
($ 216 to $ 572)

15% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 295
5-star hotel
5-star hotel
$ 444/night
($ 320 to $ 645)

15% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 524
Hostel/Youth Hostel
Hostel/Youth Hostel
$ 169/month
($ 14 to $ 477)

20% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 142
Room with kitchen
Room with kitchen
$ 204/month
($ 63 to $ 491)

1% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 206
Hotel with swimming pool
Hotel with swimming pool
$ 266/month
($ 164 to $ 520)

42% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 189
Cottage or guest house
Cottage or guest house
$ 180/month
($ 23 to $ 485)

20% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 227
Family room
Family room
$ 268/month
($ 137 to $ 608)

40% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 192

Zambia: Supermarket food budget

On average, the price of supermarket food in Zambia costs 52% less than in the United States (USA).
Milk
Milk
$ 1.3/litre
($ 0.9 to $ 1.6)

21% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.1
Bread
Bread
$ 0.9/500g
($ 0.7 to $ 2.4)

74% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.6
Rice
Rice
$ 2.3/kg
($ 1.1 to $ 5.9)

49% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.6
Eggs
Eggs
$ 1.9/12 eggs
($ 1.1 to $ 3.6)

51% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.7
Chicken
Chicken
$ 3.9/kg
($ 2.3 to $ 6)

68% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 13
Apples
Apples
$ 2.2/kg
($ 1.2 to $ 3.1)

60% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.3
Tomatoes
Tomatoes
$ 1.2/kg
($ 0.3 to $ 2)

75% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.9
Potatoes
Potatoes
$ 1.7/kg
($ 0.4 to $ 3.1)

43% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3
Water bottle
Water bottle
$ 0.7
($ 0.3 to $ 1.2)

69% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.2

Zambia: Public and private transport budget

On average, the price of transport in Zambia is 21% more expensive than in the United States (USA).
Bus ticket
Bus ticket
$ 1.4/ticket
($ 0.9 to $ 2)

42% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.5
Taxi (per km)
Taxi (per km)
$ 1.1/km
($ 0.5 to $ 1.7)

40% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.7
Petrol
Petrol
$ 1.3/litre
($ 1.2 to $ 1.5)

38% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1
Taxi (initial pick-up charge)
Taxi (initial pick-up charge)
$ 2.8
($ 2.3 to $ 3.1)

23% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.8
Car hire
Car hire
$ 86/24hrs
($ 77 to $ 94)

169% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 32

Zambia: Leisure activity budget

On average, budget for leisure activities in Zambia costs 64% less than in the United States (USA).
Cinema
Cinema
$ 3.2/ticket
($ 2.3 to $ 5)

77% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 15
Tennis
Tennis
$ 12/hr
($ 9.4 to $ 14)

50% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 23

Zambia: Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes

On average, shopping budget in Zambia costs 58% less than in the United States (USA).
Cigarettes
Cigarettes
$ 2.3/pack
($ 1.7 to $ 3.7)

77% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 11
Levi's jeans
Levi's jeans
$ 27
($ 14 to $ 56)

52% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 54
Summer dress
Summer dress
$ 26
($ 12 to $ 46)

44% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 44

Plane ticket budget

London → Lusaka
London → Lusaka
London → Lusaka
$ 883
(fair price: $ 760)
Manchester → Lusaka
Manchester → Lusaka
Manchester → Lusaka
$ 968
(fair price: $ 828)
Dublin → Lusaka
Dublin → Lusaka
Dublin → Lusaka
$ 1039
(fair price: $ 906)
Montreal → Lusaka
Montreal → Lusaka
Montreal → Lusaka
$ 1343
(fair price: $ 1204)
Edinburgh → Lusaka
Edinburgh → Lusaka
Edinburgh → Lusaka
$ 1027
(fair price: $ 879)
New York City → Lusaka
New York City → Lusaka
New York City → Lusaka
$ 1351
(fair price: $ 1140)

Book a flight Flight prices to Zambia





About the information on the cost of living in Zambia

The information about the cost of living in Zambia shown on this page comes from multiple sources, including : Numbeo, Skyscanner and Hotels.com.

Information about cost of living in Zambia updated on 18-03-2024.

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