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 2019

Cost of living: Zambia VS United States

On average, the cost of living in Zambia in 2019 is 42% less than United States.

The graphic below shows the percentage of variation between prices in Zambia in 2019 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	8% more	Travel budget and cost of living in Lusaka
Siavonga	8% less	Travel budget and cost of living in Siavonga

Local prices in Zambia by expense type

Restaurant budget in Zambia

Lunch

$ 3.9/person
($ 2.2 to $ 6.1)

---

73% less than in United States Average price in United States: $ 15

3 course dinner

$ 14/person
($ 8.7 to $ 21)

---

52% less than in United States Average price in United States: $ 28

McDonald's meal

$ 4.3/person
($ 3.1 to $ 5.6)

---

41% less than in United States Average price in United States: $ 7.4

Local beer

$ 1.1 for 500ml
($ 0.7 to $ 1.3)

---

75% less than in United States Average price in United States: $ 4.2

Imported beer

$ 1 for 330ml
($ 0.7 to $ 1.3)

---

68% less than in United States Average price in United States: $ 3.1

Cappuccino

$ 2/cup
($ 1.8 to $ 2.6)

---

52% less than in United States Average price in United States: $ 4.2

Fizzy drink

$ 0.7/can
($ 0.5 to $ 0.8)

---

64% less than in United States Average price in United States: $ 1.9

Bouteille d'eau

$ 0.5/bottle
($ 0.2 to $ 0.5)

---

71% less than in United States Average price in United States: $ 1.5

Hotel and accommodation budget in Zambia

1-star hotel

$ 53/night
($ 49 to $ 55)

---

50% less than in United States Average price in United States: $ 107

2-star hotel

$ 49/night
($ 39 to $ 60)

---

59% less than in United States Average price in United States: $ 120

3-star hotel

$ 96/night
($ 67 to $ 138)

---

45% less than in United States Average price in United States: $ 175

4-star hotel

$ 370/night
($ 161 to $ 714)

---

44% more than United States Average price in United States: $ 259

5-star hotel

$ 447/night
($ 385 to $ 490)

---

9% less than in United States Average price in United States: $ 496

Hotel/Youth Hostel

$ 36/month
($ 17 to $ 58)

---

70% less than in United States Average price in United States: $ 122

Room with kitchen

$ 100/month
($ 65 to $ 141)

---

38% less than in United States Average price in United States: $ 163

Hotel with swimming pool

$ 140/month
($ 63 to $ 272)

---

15% less than in United States Average price in United States: $ 167

Gîte ou maison d'hôte

$ 82/month
($ 48 to $ 186)

---

61% less than in United States Average price in United States: $ 211

Supermarket food budget in Zambia

Milk

$ 1.1/litre
($ 0.8 to $ 1.4)

---

18% more than United States Average price in United States: $ 0.9

Bread

$ 0.8/500g
($ 0.5 to $ 0.8)

---

71% less than in United States Average price in United States: $ 2.7

Rice

$ 1.6/kg
($ 1.4 to $ 1.6)

---

63% less than in United States Average price in United States: $ 4.1

Eggs

$ 1.1/12 eggs
($ 1.1 to $ 1.3)

---

53% less than in United States Average price in United States: $ 2.4

Cheese

$ 6.6/kg
($ 2.6 to $ 13)

---

41% less than in United States Average price in United States: $ 12

Chicken

$ 4.7/kg
($ 3.9 to $ 5.3)

---

48% less than in United States Average price in United States: $ 9

Apples

$ 1.8/kg
($ 1.4 to $ 2.6)

---

60% less than in United States Average price in United States: $ 4.6

Oranges

$ 2.5/kg
($ 1.1 to $ 6)

---

40% less than in United States Average price in United States: $ 4.2

Tomatoes

$ 0.7/kg
($ 0.5 to $ 2.6)

---

83% less than in United States Average price in United States: $ 4.2

Potatoes

$ 0.6/kg
($ 0.5 to $ 1.4)

---

77% less than in United States Average price in United States: $ 2.6

Salad

$ 1/salad
($ 0.6 to $ 2.2)

---

44% less than in United States Average price in United States: $ 1.6

Bouteille d'eau

$ 1
($ 0.6 to $ 1.8)

---

49% less than in United States Average price in United States: $ 1.9

Joint of beef

$ 5.7/kg
($ 3.9 to $ 7.5)

---

52% less than in United States Average price in United States: $ 13

Public and private transport budget in Zambia

Bus ticket

$ 0.6/ticket
($ 0.5 to $ 0.8)

---

74% less than in United States Average price in United States: $ 2.4

Bus pass

$ 28/month
($ 27 to $ 28)

---

65% less than in United States Average price in United States: $ 76

Taxi (per km)

$ 1.3/km
($ 0.8 to $ 1.8)

---

26% less than in United States Average price in United States: $ 1.8

Petrol

$ 1.2/litre
($ 1.1 to $ 1.4)

---

56% more than United States Average price in United States: $ 0.8

Taxi (initial pick-up charge)

$ 2.9
($ 1.8 to $ 4.3)

---

17% less than in United States Average price in United States: $ 3.4

Car hire

$ 79/24hrs
($ 54 to $ 110)

---

100% more than United States Average price in United States: $ 40

Budget for living and housing in Zambia

Electricity, water...

$ 64/month
($ 27 to $ 132)

---

60% less than in United States Average price in United States: $ 162

Mobile phone

$ 0.1/min.
($ 0.1 to $ 0.2)

---

34% more than United States Average price in United States: $ 0.1

Broadband internet

$ 81/month
($ 53 to $ 106)

---

20% more than United States Average price in United States: $ 67

Studio flat (city centre)

$ 357/month
($ 175 to $ 784)

---

73% less than in United States Average price in United States: $ 1342

Studio flat (suburbs)

$ 225/month
($ 88 to $ 420)

---

78% less than in United States Average price in United States: $ 1050

Flat (centre)

$ 819/month
($ 262 to $ 1571)

---

62% less than in United States Average price in United States: $ 2180

Flat (suburbs)

$ 647/month
($ 219 to $ 1743)

---

61% less than in United States Average price in United States: $ 1697

Gym

$ 39/month
($ 27 to $ 66)

---

0% less than in United States Average price in United States: $ 39

Private nursery

$ 189/month
($ 114 to $ 236)

---

79% less than in United States Average price in United States: $ 929

Private primary school

$ 6084/yr
($ 1542 to $ 10449)

---

66% less than in United States Average price in United States: $ 18274

Leisure activity budget in Zambia

Cinema

$ 3.5/ticket
($ 2.6 to $ 6.9)

---

72% less than in United States Average price in United States: $ 13

Tennis

$ 7.6/hr
($ 4.3 to $ 14)

---

52% less than in United States Average price in United States: $ 17

Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes in Zambia

Cigarettes

$ 1.8/pack
($ 1.8 to $ 1.8)

---

76% less than in United States Average price in United States: $ 7.4

Levi's jeans

$ 32
($ 23 to $ 53)

---

33% less than in United States Average price in United States: $ 47

Robe d'été

$ 27
($ 18 to $ 106)

---

29% less than in United States Average price in United States: $ 38

Trainers

$ 59
($ 45 to $ 84)

---

26% less than in United States Average price in United States: $ 79

Leather shoes

$ 65
($ 58 to $ 71)

---

36% less than in United States Average price in United States: $ 101

Plane ticket budget

London → Lusaka

$ 894
(fair price: $ 746)

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