Cost of Living in Lusaka

Summary of cost of living in Lusaka, Zambia:

  • The estimated monthly costs for a family of four are 1,981.1$, excluding rent (using our estimator).
  • The estimated monthly costs for a single person are 584.2$, excluding rent.
  • Lusaka is 69.1% less expensive than New York (excluding rent, see our cost of living index).
  • Rent in Lusaka is, on average, 89.9% lower than in New York.
Restaurants
Edit Range
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant 6.94 $ 3.81-14.32
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course 24.95 $ 20.48-49.18
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) 3.71 $ 3.58-3.88
Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) 0.97 $ 0.69-1.82
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) 1.79 $ 1.16-2.32
Cappuccino (regular) 2.07 $ 0.96-3.34
Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle) 0.68 $ 0.45-1.08
Water (12 oz small bottle) 0.35 $ 0.26-0.51
Markets
Edit
Milk (regular), (1 gallon) 4.83 $ 2.92-6.87
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) 0.70 $ 0.45-0.97
Rice (white), (1 lb) 0.71 $ 0.45-1.96
Eggs (regular) (12) 1.79 $ 1.01-3.54
Local Cheese (1 lb) 3.21 $ 1.65-5.20
Chicken Fillets (1 lb) 1.66 $ 0.82-2.91
Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) 2.09 $ 1.47-2.93
Apples (1 lb) 1.13 $ 0.49-1.67
Banana (1 lb) 0.73 $ 0.34-1.56
Oranges (1 lb) 1.23 $ 0.41-3.09
Tomato (1 lb) 0.50 $ 0.14-0.91
Potato (1 lb) 0.89 $ 0.19-2.35
Onion (1 lb) 0.64 $ 0.33-1.56
Lettuce (1 head) 0.93 $ 0.39-1.32
Water (1.5 liter bottle) 0.52 $ 0.31-1.13
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) 6.82 $ 5.35-8.88
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) 0.97 $ 0.68-1.34
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) 1.63 $ 0.91-2.59
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) 3.08 $ 2.05-4.81
Transportation
Edit
One-way Ticket (Local Transport) 0.99 $ 0.56-3.06
Monthly Pass (Regular Price) 38.52 $ 30.62-53.47
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) 2.74 $ 1.82-3.06
Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) 1.86 $ 0.80-2.71
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) 9.19 $ 4.63-10.97
Gasoline (1 gallon) 4.55 $ 4.35-4.83
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) 8,004.53 $ 6,822.49-9,186.57
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) 28,559.57 $ 6,124.38-32,000.00
Utilities (Monthly)
Edit
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment 73.05 $ 38.29-138.88
Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data 10.67 $ 5.67-18.19
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) 125.24 $ 43.56-200.00
Sports And Leisure
Edit
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult 43.91 $ 24.06-57.44
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) 13.82 $ 9.33-18.92
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat 4.18 $ 2.27-5.45
Childcare
Edit
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child 176.79 $ 60.00-306.22
International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child 9,585.47 $ 4,000.00-20,000.00
Clothing And Shoes
Edit
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) 18.93 $ 13.64-22.74
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) 16.99 $ 8.02-36.38
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) 84.33 $ 45.48-110.63
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes 73.12 $ 32.41-90.97
Rent Per Month
Edit
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre 226.58 $ 191.66-800.00
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre 123.07 $ 76.59-400.00
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre 1,060.00 $ 500.00-2,000.00
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre 618.66 $ 268.32-1,500.00
Buy Apartment Price
Edit
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre 185.80 $ 185.80-999.99
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre 449.70 $ 185.80-2,312.35
Salaries And Financing
Edit
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) 312.64 $
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate 25.00 6.50-30.00

Prices in Lusaka

This city had 333 entries in the past 12 months by 23 different contributors.
Last update: 3 July 2025
Sources and References
Distribution of Expenses Using Our Statistical Model:
  
  
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