Travel budget and cost of living in Zambia how much does a trip cost?
Are you planning to go to Zambia and need to budget for your trip? On this page you can see sample prices. This enables you to get to grips with actual prices and the cost of living in Zambia. Then, why not use our free tool to calculate your Zambia travel budget.
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:
- $ 29 for 2 ppl.
- $ 5.3 per person
- $ 2.9 per person
- Free activities
Total budget:
$ 622* (5453084 ZMK)
Average budget
(traveller)
Daily budget:
- $ 75 for 2 ppl.
- $ 10.5 per person
- $ 7.7 per person
- $ 3.9 per person
Total budget:
$ 1666* (14616434 ZMK)
High budget
(tourist)
Daily budget:
- $ 204 for 2 ppl.
- $ 19 per person
- $ 16 per person
- $ 7.9 per person
Total budget:
$ 4035* (35414190 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 2021
Cost of living: Zambia VS United States
On average, the cost of living in Zambia in 2021 is 42% 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:
Explore each type of expense in detail:
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Siavonga | 20% more | Travel budget and cost of living in Siavonga |
| Lusaka | 9% less | Travel 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 68% less than in the United States (USA).
Lunch
$ 2.9/person
($ 1.6 to $ 7)
($ 1.6 to $ 7)
81% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 163 course dinner
$ 13/person
($ 7 to $ 33)
($ 7 to $ 33)
59% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 32McDonald's meal
$ 3.1/person
($ 2.9 to $ 4.1)
($ 2.9 to $ 4.1)
61% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 8.2Local beer
$ 1 for 500ml
($ 0.6 to $ 1.3)
($ 0.6 to $ 1.3)
81% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.1Imported beer
$ 1.2 for 330ml
($ 0.8 to $ 1.4)
($ 0.8 to $ 1.4)
60% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.9Cappuccino
$ 2/cup
($ 1.2 to $ 2.7)
($ 1.2 to $ 2.7)
55% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.4Fizzy drink
$ 0.6/can
($ 0.4 to $ 1.1)
($ 0.4 to $ 1.1)
68% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2Water bottle
$ 0.4/bottle
($ 0.2 to $ 0.6)
($ 0.2 to $ 0.6)
77% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.6Zambia: Hotel and accommodation budget
On average, hotel and accommodation budget in Zambia costs 29% less than in the United States (USA).
1-star hotel
$ 49/night
($ 46 to $ 53)
($ 46 to $ 53)
54% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1092-star hotel
$ 51/night
($ 40 to $ 61)
($ 40 to $ 61)
60% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1263-star hotel
$ 100/night
($ 67 to $ 147)
($ 67 to $ 147)
44% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1804-star hotel
$ 309/night
($ 168 to $ 537)
($ 168 to $ 537)
18% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2625-star hotel
$ 459/night
($ 397 to $ 511)
($ 397 to $ 511)
9% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 510Hotel/Youth Hostel
$ 38/month
($ 20 to $ 55)
($ 20 to $ 55)
69% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 122Room with kitchen
$ 102/month
($ 71 to $ 139)
($ 71 to $ 139)
39% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 169Hotel with swimming pool
$ 124/month
($ 63 to $ 206)
($ 63 to $ 206)
25% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 165Cottage or guest house
$ 55/month
($ 44 to $ 70)
($ 44 to $ 70)
75% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 223Family room
$ 292/month
($ 183 to $ 451)
($ 183 to $ 451)
68% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 175Zambia: Supermarket food budget
On average, the price of supermarket food in Zambia costs 55% less than in the United States (USA).
Milk
$ 1/litre
($ 0.7 to $ 1.3)
($ 0.7 to $ 1.3)
13% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 0.9Bread
$ 0.7/500g
($ 0.5 to $ 1)
($ 0.5 to $ 1)
76% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.8Rice
$ 1.6/kg
($ 1 to $ 2.7)
($ 1 to $ 2.7)
61% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.1Eggs
$ 1.1/12 eggs
($ 0.8 to $ 1.9)
($ 0.8 to $ 1.9)
56% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.4Chicken
$ 3.5/kg
($ 1.8 to $ 5.1)
($ 1.8 to $ 5.1)
63% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 9.5Apples
$ 2.7/kg
($ 1 to $ 4.3)
($ 1 to $ 4.3)
41% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.6Tomatoes
$ 0.7/kg
($ 0.4 to $ 1.1)
($ 0.4 to $ 1.1)
84% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.4Potatoes
$ 0.8/kg
($ 0.6 to $ 1.9)
($ 0.6 to $ 1.9)
68% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.6Water bottle
$ 0.7
($ 0.4 to $ 1.2)
($ 0.4 to $ 1.2)
58% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.8Zambia: Public and private transport budget
On average, the price of transport in Zambia is 4% more expensive than in the United States (USA).
Bus ticket
$ 0.7/ticket
($ 0.5 to $ 1.1)
($ 0.5 to $ 1.1)
67% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.2Taxi (per km)
$ 0.8/km
($ 0.7 to $ 1.6)
($ 0.7 to $ 1.6)
53% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.7Petrol
$ 1.1/litre
($ 0.8 to $ 1.2)
($ 0.8 to $ 1.2)
60% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 0.7Taxi (initial pick-up charge)
$ 2.7
($ 1.4 to $ 3.1)
($ 1.4 to $ 3.1)
16% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.3Car hire
$ 78/24hrs
($ 40 to $ 126)
($ 40 to $ 126)
97% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 40Zambia: Leisure activity budget
On average, budget for leisure activities in Zambia costs 42% less than in the United States (USA).
Cinema
$ 3.9/ticket
($ 3 to $ 5.9)
($ 3 to $ 5.9)
68% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 13Tennis
$ 14/hr
($ 2.4 to $ 18)
($ 2.4 to $ 18)
15% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 17Zambia: Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes
On average, shopping budget in Zambia costs 64% less than in the United States (USA).
Cigarettes
$ 2.9/pack
($ 2.3 to $ 3.8)
($ 2.3 to $ 3.8)
65% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 8.2Levi's jeans
$ 17
($ 9.4 to $ 22)
($ 9.4 to $ 22)
64% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 46Summer dress
$ 14
($ 7 to $ 23)
($ 7 to $ 23)
62% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 38Plane ticket budget
London → Lusaka
$ 893
(fair price: $ 748)
(fair price: $ 748)
Manchester → Lusaka
$ 967
(fair price: $ 817)
(fair price: $ 817)
Edinburgh → Lusaka
$ 1052
(fair price: $ 901)
(fair price: $ 901)
Dublin → Lusaka
$ 1065
(fair price: $ 925)
(fair price: $ 925)
New York City → Lusaka
$ 1464
(fair price: $ 1248)
(fair price: $ 1248)
Perth → Lusaka
$ 1720
(fair price: $ 1528)
(fair price: $ 1528)
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, Easyvoyage and Hotels.com.
Information about cost of living in Zambia updated on 29-09-2021.