Cost of living comparison

 Lusaka, Zambia
compared to
 Reykjavik, Iceland
Reykjavik vs. Lusaka Cost of Living Summary

Reykjavik is 3.7 times more expensive than Lusaka.

Restaurants
pay 4.6 times more in Reykjavik
Groceries
pay 2.5 times more in Reykjavik
Transportation
pay 2.8 times more in Reykjavik
Housing
pay 6.5 times more in Reykjavik
Childcare
pay 16.9% more in Reykjavik
Entertainment and Sports
pay 4.9 times more in Reykjavik
Clothing
pay 3.1 times more in Reykjavik

The cost of housing, entertainment and sports, restaurants, clothing, transportation, and groceries in Reykjavik are more expensive than in Lusaka. Notably, housing, entertainment and sports, and restaurants are significantly more expensive in Reykjavik.

Reykjavik vs. Lusaka Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Reykjavik instead of Lusaka, you would:

pay 4.6 times more for restaurants

 
Lusaka
Reykjavik
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $7.21
ZMW201.36
$20.00
ISK2,557
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$3.82
ZMW106.71
$18.02
ISK2,304
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $0.71
ZMW19.93
$3.15
ISK403

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pay 2.5 times more for groceries

 
Lusaka
Reykjavik
Bread
1 loaf
$0.74
ZMW20.65
$3.61
ISK462
Local cheese (8 oz) $3.64
ZMW101.52
$7.76
ISK992
Milk (1 gallon) $4.85
ZMW135.49
$6.40
ISK819

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pay 2.8 times more for transportation

 
Lusaka
Reykjavik
Gasoline (1 gallon) $4.77
ZMW133.07
$8.50
ISK1,087
Monthly public transit pass $37.04
ZMW1,034.17
$74.95
ISK9,583
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $8,004.53
ZMW223,515.14
$42,450.45
ISK5,427,290

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pay 6.5 times more for housing

 
Lusaka
Reykjavik
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$125.92
ZMW3,516.12
$69.87
ISK8,932
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $214.42
ZMW5,987.45
$1,971.17
ISK252,014
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $114.96
ZMW3,210.06
$1,803.44
ISK230,570

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pay 16.9% more for childcare

 
Lusaka
Reykjavik
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $176.79
ZMW4,936.59
$252.14
ISK32,236
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $6,570.42
ZMW183,469.81
$5,993.99
ISK766,332

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pay 4.9 times more for entertainment and sports

 
Lusaka
Reykjavik
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $0.97
ZMW27.00
$10.81
ISK1,382
Cappuccino in mid-range area $2.07
ZMW57.90
$5.31
ISK678
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$2.49
ZMW69.50
$12.25
ISK1,566

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pay 3.1 times more for clothing

 
Lusaka
Reykjavik
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$18.43
ZMW514.77
$108.97
ISK13,932
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$18.78
ZMW524.52
$49.72
ISK6,357
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$90.18
ZMW2,518.05
$151.85
ISK19,415

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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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