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

Lusaka travel budget

Lusaka: calculate your travel budget

Sample budgets for a trip to Lusaka

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

* estimated local budget for 2 people for 2 weeks (excluding plane tickets).

Cost of living in Lusaka compared to United States in 2026

On average, the cost of living in Lusaka in 2026 is 51% less than the average cost of living in the United States (USA).

See the graphic below for the price variation percentage by type of expense in Lusaka in 2026 compared to average prices in the United States (USA):

Local prices in Lusaka by expense type

Restaurant budget in Lusaka

Lunch

$ 7.3/person
($ 3.8 to $ 15)

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62% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 20

3 course dinner

$ 12/person
($ 9.8 to $ 25)

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70% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 38

McDonald's meal

$ 3.8/person
($ 3.6 to $ 7.3)

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68% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 12

Local beer

$ 1.1 for 500ml
($ 0.7 to $ 1.8)

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83% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.9

Imported beer

$ 1.7 for 330ml
($ 0.9 to $ 2.6)

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53% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.6

Cappuccino

$ 2/cup
($ 0.9 to $ 3.3)

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61% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.3

Fizzy drink

$ 0.6/can
($ 0.5 to $ 0.9)

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76% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.6

Water bottle

$ 0.4/bottle
($ 0.2 to $ 0.5)

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82% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.1

Hotel and accommodation budget in Lusaka

1-star hotel

$ 48/night
($ 28 to $ 155)

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72% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 171

2-star hotel

$ 91/night
($ 33 to $ 232)

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46% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 169

3-star hotel

$ 100/night
($ 22 to $ 496)

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59% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 247

4-star hotel

$ 165/night
($ 60 to $ 411)

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53% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 353

5-star hotel

$ 202/night
($ 74 to $ 393)

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65% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 591

Hostel/Youth Hostel

$ 55/month
($ 31 to $ 112)

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69% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 178

Room with kitchen

$ 145/month
($ 31 to $ 733)

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46% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 270

Hotel with swimming pool

$ 133/month
($ 25 to $ 594)

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41% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 226

Cottage or guest house

$ 102/month
($ 89 to $ 113)

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60% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 260

Family room

$ 190/month
($ 33 to $ 1110)

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13% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 220

Supermarket food budget in Lusaka

Milk

$ 1.3/litre
($ 0.7 to $ 1.7)

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22% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.1

Bread

$ 1.5/500g
($ 0.9 to $ 3)

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79% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 7.2

Rice

$ 1.8/kg
($ 0.9 to $ 2.7)

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59% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.6

Eggs

$ 1.8/12 eggs
($ 0.9 to $ 3.4)

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59% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.4

Chicken

$ 4/kg
($ 1.8 to $ 6.4)

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66% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 13

Apples

$ 3.1/kg
($ 1.1 to $ 3.8)

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41% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.2

Tomatoes

$ 1.2/kg
($ 0.4 to $ 2)

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74% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.8

Potatoes

$ 2/kg
($ 0.5 to $ 3.9)

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32% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.9

Water bottle

$ 0.7
($ 0.4 to $ 1.2)

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70% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.3

Public and private transport budget in Lusaka

Bus ticket

$ 0.9/ticket
($ 0.6 to $ 1.8)

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60% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.5

Taxi (per km)

$ 1.2/km
($ 0.5 to $ 1.7)

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34% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.7

Petrol

$ 1.2/litre
($ 1.2 to $ 1.3)

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37% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 0.9

Taxi (initial pick-up charge)

$ 2.7
($ 1.8 to $ 3)

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21% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.5

Car hire

$ 89/24hrs
($ 86 to $ 101)

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8% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 83

Leisure activity budget in Lusaka

Cinema

$ 4.1/ticket
($ 2.3 to $ 5.3)

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72% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 15

Tennis

$ 16/hr
($ 14 to $ 19)

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31% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 23

Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes in Lusaka

Cigarettes

$ 3/pack
($ 2 to $ 4.7)

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70% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 10.3

Levi's jeans

$ 19
($ 14 to $ 23)

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65% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 54

Summer dress

$ 17
($ 7.9 to $ 37)

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60% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 43

Plane ticket budget

Montreal → Lusaka

$ 1521
(fair price: $ 1404)

London → Lusaka

$ 1001
(fair price: $ 865)

Manchester → Lusaka

$ 1072
(fair price: $ 936)

Dublin → Lusaka

$ 1162
(fair price: $ 1028)

Edinburgh → Lusaka

$ 1141
(fair price: $ 989)

New York City → Lusaka

$ 1447
(fair price: $ 1243)

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