Travel budget and cost of living in Zambia how much does a trip cost?

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.

* 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 2021

Cost of living: Zambia VS United States

On average, the cost of living in Zambia in 2021 is 51% 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.

Local prices in Zambia by expense type

Zambia: Restaurant budget

Lunch

$ 2.3/person
($ 1.4 to $ 3.9)

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84% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 15

3 course dinner

$ 8.7/person
($ 6.9 to $ 22)

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69% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 29

McDonald's meal

$ 1.9/person
($ 1.7 to $ 2.7)

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76% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 7.9

Local beer

$ 0.6 for 500ml
($ 0.5 to $ 1)

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86% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.9

Imported beer

$ 1 for 330ml
($ 0.6 to $ 1.2)

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65% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.8

Cappuccino

$ 1.6/cup
($ 1 to $ 2.3)

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64% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.2

Fizzy drink

$ 0.5/can
($ 0.2 to $ 0.7)

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77% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.9

Water bottle

$ 0.2/bottle
($ 0.2 to $ 0.5)

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81% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.5

Zambia: Hotel and accommodation budget

1-star hotel

$ 49/night
($ 46 to $ 53)

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54% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 109

2-star hotel

$ 51/night
($ 40 to $ 61)

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60% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 126

3-star hotel

$ 100/night
($ 67 to $ 147)

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44% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 180

4-star hotel

$ 309/night
($ 168 to $ 537)

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18% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 262

5-star hotel

$ 459/night
($ 397 to $ 511)

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9% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 510

Hotel/Youth Hostel

$ 38/month
($ 20 to $ 55)

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69% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 122

Room with kitchen

$ 102/month
($ 71 to $ 139)

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39% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 169

Hotel with swimming pool

$ 124/month
($ 63 to $ 206)

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25% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 165

Cottage or guest house

$ 55/month
($ 44 to $ 70)

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75% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 223

Family room

$ 292/month
($ 183 to $ 451)

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68% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 175

Zambia: Supermarket food budget

Milk

$ 0.8/litre
($ 0.6 to $ 1.1)

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5% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 0.8

Bread

$ 0.6/500g
($ 0.4 to $ 0.8)

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79% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.7

Rice

$ 1.3/kg
($ 0.8 to $ 2.3)

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65% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.9

Eggs

$ 0.8/12 eggs
($ 0.6 to $ 2)

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61% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.3

Cheese

$ 10/kg
($ 6.1 to $ 17)

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7% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 11

Chicken

$ 2.7/kg
($ 1.6 to $ 3.7)

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68% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 8.9

Apples

$ 2.3/kg
($ 0.8 to $ 3.6)

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50% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.5

Oranges

$ 1.7/kg
($ 0.8 to $ 5.3)

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58% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.9

Tomatoes

$ 0.6/kg
($ 0.2 to $ 1.1)

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86% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.2

Potatoes

$ 0.6/kg
($ 0.4 to $ 1.1)

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74% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.6

Salad

$ 1/salad
($ 0.2 to $ 1.7)

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42% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.6

Water bottle

$ 0.6
($ 0.4 to $ 1.2)

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67% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.8

Joint of beef

$ 3.1/kg
($ 2 to $ 4.7)

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74% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 13

Zambia: Public and private transport budget

Bus ticket

$ 0.7/ticket
($ 0.4 to $ 1)

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68% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.2

Bus pass

$ 24/month
($ 6.9 to $ 29)

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66% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 70

Taxi (per km)

$ 0.8/km
($ 0.5 to $ 1.2)

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50% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.6

Petrol

$ 0.8/litre
($ 0.7 to $ 0.8)

---

22% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 0.7

Taxi (initial pick-up charge)

$ 1.9
($ 1 to $ 2.7)

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42% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.2

Car hire

$ 77/24hrs
($ 40 to $ 126)

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94% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 40

Zambia: Budget for living and housing

Electricity, water...

$ 85/month
($ 71 to $ 144)

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47% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 162

Mobile phone

$ 0.1/min.
($ 0 to $ 0.1)

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45% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 0.1

Broadband internet

$ 41/month
($ 24 to $ 52)

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37% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 65

Studio flat (city centre)

$ 137/month
($ 84 to $ 256)

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89% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1328

Studio flat (suburbs)

$ 118/month
($ 71 to $ 256)

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89% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1069

Flat (centre)

$ 510/month
($ 280 to $ 995)

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76% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2126

Flat (suburbs)

$ 274/month
($ 210 to $ 696)

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83% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1698

Gym

$ 22/month
($ 14 to $ 38)

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42% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 38

Private nursery

$ 133/month
($ 71 to $ 311)

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85% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 924

Private primary school

$ 14031/yr
($ 7946 to $ 18575)

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10% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 15684

Zambia: Leisure activity budget

Cinema

$ 3/ticket
($ 2.3 to $ 4.5)

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74% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 12

Tennis

$ 10.3/hr
($ 6.9 to $ 9.8)

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34% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 16

Zambia: Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes

Cigarettes

$ 1.9/pack
($ 1.9 to $ 2.6)

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76% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 7.9

Levi's jeans

$ 12
($ 8.4 to $ 17)

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74% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 45

Summer dress

$ 15
($ 6.9 to $ 34)

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59% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 36

Trainers

$ 36
($ 17 to $ 79)

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52% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 76

Leather shoes

$ 53
($ 24 to $ 98)

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44% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 95

Plane ticket budget

London → Lusaka

$ 901
(fair price: $ 750)

Manchester → Lusaka

$ 953
(fair price: $ 812)

Edinburgh → Lusaka

$ 1034
(fair price: $ 886)

Dublin → Lusaka

$ 1048
(fair price: $ 924)

New York City → Lusaka

$ 1494
(fair price: $ 1307)

Perth → Lusaka

$ 1718
(fair price: $ 1525)

Melbourne → Lusaka

$ 1804
(fair price: $ 1583)

Toronto (Ontario) → Lusaka

$ 1648
(fair price: $ 1384)