Cost of living comparison

 Kenya
compared to
 Zambia
Zambia vs. Kenya Cost of Living Summary

Zambia is 40.1% more expensive than Kenya overall.

Restaurants
pay 23.1% more in Zambia
Groceries
pay 56.5% more in Zambia
Transportation
pay 9.8% less in Zambia
Housing
pay 2.3 times more in Zambia
Childcare
pay 14.8% more in Zambia
Entertainment and Sports
pay 14.6% less in Zambia
Clothing
pay 84.8% more in Zambia

The cost of housing, clothing, groceries, restaurants, and childcare in Zambia are more expensive than in Kenya. Expenses including entertainment and sports and transportation are lower in Zambia. Notably, housing and clothing are significantly more expensive in Zambia.

Zambia vs. Kenya Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Zambia instead of Kenya, you would:

pay 23.1% more for restaurants

 
Kenya
Zambia
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $3.25
KES419.78
$7.21
ZMW207.16
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$5.64
KES729.28
$3.82
ZMW109.78
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $0.55
KES71.07
$0.71
ZMW20.50

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pay 56.5% more for groceries

 
Kenya
Zambia
Bread
1 loaf
$0.50
KES64.84
$0.74
ZMW21.25
Local cheese (8 oz) $3.85
KES498.15
$3.64
ZMW104.44
Milk (1 gallon) $2.73
KES352.76
$4.85
ZMW139.39

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pay 9.8% less for transportation

 
Kenya
Zambia
Gasoline (1 gallon) $5.65
KES730.77
$4.77
ZMW136.90
Monthly public transit pass $32.71
KES4,227.98
$37.04
ZMW1,063.96
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $16,627.25
KES2,149,071.93
$8,004.53
ZMW229,954.14

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pay 2.3 times more for housing

 
Kenya
Zambia
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$38.26
KES4,944.62
$125.92
ZMW3,617.41
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $175.35
KES22,664.14
$214.42
ZMW6,159.94
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $99.93
KES12,915.47
$114.96
ZMW3,302.53

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pay 14.8% more for childcare

 
Kenya
Zambia
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $135.79
KES17,551.47
$176.79
ZMW5,078.81
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $6,611.54
KES854,541.38
$6,570.42
ZMW188,755.18

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pay 14.6% less for entertainment and sports

 
Kenya
Zambia
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $1.99
KES257.56
$0.97
ZMW27.78
Cappuccino in mid-range area $2.16
KES279.45
$2.07
ZMW59.57
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$2.93
KES378.52
$2.49
ZMW71.51

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pay 84.8% more for clothing

 
Kenya
Zambia
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$12.19
KES1,575.39
$18.43
ZMW529.60
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$19.75
KES2,552.69
$18.78
ZMW539.63
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$35.28
KES4,560.35
$90.18
ZMW2,590.59

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The statistics used to build this comparison are calculated using data from users just like you. We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Learn more about our data sources. Page last updated: April 2025
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