Cost of living comparison

Zambia

compared to

Cuba

Havana vs. Lusaka Cost of Living Summary

Havana is 5.3% cheaper than Lusaka.

Restaurants: pay 2.5% less in Havana
Groceries: pay 19.1% more in Havana
Transportation: pay 31.5% more in Havana
Housing: pay 13.9% less in Havana
Childcare: pay 41.6% less in Havana
Entertainment and Sports: pay 60.7% less in Havana
Clothing: pay 45.4% more in Havana

The cost of clothing, transportation, and groceries in Havana are more expensive than in Lusaka. Expenses including entertainment and sports, childcare, housing, and restaurants are lower in Havana.

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Havana vs. Lusaka Cost Breakdown

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

Display currency: USD

pay 2.5% less for restaurants

	Lusaka	Havana
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant	$5.53 ZMW110.20	$3.71 CUC3.71	-33.0%
Fast food combo meal McDonalds, or similar	$5.03 ZMW100.18	$5.00 CUC5.00	-0.5%
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz)	$0.75 ZMW15.03	$1.70 CUC1.70	+125.4%
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz)	$0.47 ZMW9.39	$1.00 CUC1.00	+112.2%
Average			-2.5%

Lusaka vs. Havana - Cost of restaurants

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pay 19.1% more for groceries

	Lusaka	Havana
Bread 1 loaf	$1.20 ZMW23.92	$1.49 CUC1.49	+24.2%
Local cheese (8 oz)	$5.15 ZMW102.63	$2.22 CUC2.22	-56.9%
Milk (1 gallon)	$6.52 ZMW129.88	$14.20 CUC14.20	+117.8%
Eggs 1 dozen	$1.94 ZMW38.66	$3.71 CUC3.71	+91.5%
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb)	$2.87 ZMW57.22	$2.07 CUC2.07	-27.9%
Apples (1 lb)	$1.53 ZMW30.42	$2.75 CUC2.75	+79.9%
Bananas (1 lb)	$1.10 ZMW21.94	$0.48 CUC0.48	-56.1%
Oranges (1 lb)	$1.65 ZMW32.94	$1.79 CUC1.79	+8.1%
Tomatoes (1 lb)	$0.70 ZMW13.88	$1.04 CUC1.04	+49.9%
Potatoes (1 lb)	$1.16 ZMW23.20	$1.73 CUC1.73	+48.2%
Onions (1 lb)	$0.83 ZMW16.51	$1.85 CUC1.85	+123.2%
Average			+19.1%

Lusaka vs. Havana - Cost of groceries

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pay 31.5% more for transportation

	Lusaka	Havana
Gasoline (1 gallon)	$5.77 ZMW115.01	$4.83 CUC4.83	-16.4%
Monthly public transit pass	$50.15 ZMW999.41	$22.50 CUC22.50	-55.1%
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition)	$7,541.11 ZMW150K	$60,000.00 CUC60,000.00	+695.6%
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles)	$14.58 ZMW290.52	$6.20 CUC6.20	-57.5%
Average			+31.5%

Lusaka vs. Havana - Cost of transportation

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pay 13.9% less for housing

	Lusaka	Havana
Internet connection 50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl	$54.99 ZMW1,095.72	$90.21 CUC90.21	+64.1%
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area	$384.95 ZMW7,670.79	$254.03 CUC254.03	-34.0%
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center	$179.40 ZMW3,574.79	$214.40 CUC214.40	+19.5%
Utilities for two (700 sq ft apartment) including electric, gas, water, heating	$61.51 ZMW1,225.74	$36.20 CUC36.20	-41.2%
Average			-13.9%

Lusaka vs. Havana - Cost of housing

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pay 41.6% less for childcare

	Lusaka	Havana
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly	$138.25 ZMW2,754.96	$112.00 CUC112.00	-19.0%
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters	$16,638.36 ZMW332K	$7,000.00 CUC7,000.00	-57.9%
Average			-41.6%

Lusaka vs. Havana - Cost of childcare

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pay 60.7% less for entertainment and sports

	Lusaka	Havana
Domestic/local beer (1 pint)	$1.26 ZMW25.05	$1.60 CUC1.60	+27.5%
Cappuccino in mid-range area	$2.82 ZMW56.21	$1.11 CUC1.11	-60.7%
Pack of cigarettes Marlboro or similar	$3.02 ZMW60.11	$2.00 CUC2.00	-33.7%
Monthly membership at local gym	$54.67 ZMW1,089.46	$19.00 CUC19.00	-65.2%
Movie ticket to theater/cinema	$6.03 ZMW120.22	$0.85 CUC0.85	-85.9%
Average			-60.7%

Lusaka vs. Havana - Cost of entertainment and sports

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pay 45.4% more for clothing

	Lusaka	Havana
Regular jeans Levi's brand	$23.28 ZMW463.85	$37.00 CUC37.00	+59.0%
Regular dress from H&M or similar store	$15.45 ZMW307.88	$37.00 CUC37.00	+139.5%
Running shoes Nike or Adidas	$45.19 ZMW900.42	$68.67 CUC68.67	+52.0%
Men's business shoes (leather)	$72.53 ZMW1,445.30	$56.00 CUC56.00	-22.8%
Average			+45.4%

Lusaka vs. Havana - Cost of clothing

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We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Sources: MyLifeElsewhere's cost-of-living dataset (prices updated October 2026). How we calculate this

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