Cost of living comparison

compared to

Havana vs. Lusaka Cost of Living Summary

Havana is 50.5% more expensive than Lusaka.

Restaurants
pay 2.2 times more in Havana
Groceries
pay 53.1% more in Havana
Transportation
pay 2.4 times more in Havana
Housing
pay 22.0% more in Havana
Childcare
pay 31.9% less in Havana
Entertainment and Sports
pay 7.7% less in Havana
Clothing
pay 51.0% more in Havana

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

Havana vs. Lusaka Cost Breakdown

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

pay 2.2 times more for restaurants

 
Lusaka
Havana
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $7.48
ZMW172.19
$4.40
CUC4.40
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$3.82
ZMW87.99
$5.00
CUC5.00
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $0.62
ZMW14.25
$2.08
CUC2.08

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pay 53.1% more for groceries

 
Lusaka
Havana
Bread
1 loaf
$0.77
ZMW17.67
$1.22
CUC1.22
Local cheese (8 oz) $3.76
ZMW86.62
$2.89
CUC2.89
Milk (1 gallon) $4.99
ZMW114.88
$10.68
CUC10.68

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pay 2.4 times more for transportation

 
Lusaka
Havana
Gasoline (1 gallon) $4.58
ZMW105.38
$4.77
CUC4.77
Monthly public transit pass $38.52
ZMW886.94
$25.00
CUC25.00
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $8,004.53
ZMW184,318.08
$60,000.00
CUC60,000.00

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pay 22.0% more for housing

 
Lusaka
Havana
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$118.37
ZMW2,725.66
$75.00
CUC75.00
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $226.58
ZMW5,217.38
$251.37
CUC251.37
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $123.07
ZMW2,833.97
$322.73
CUC322.73

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pay 31.9% less for childcare

 
Lusaka
Havana
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $176.79
ZMW4,070.88
$112.00
CUC112.00
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $11,677.88
ZMW268,903.36
$8,500.00
CUC8,500.00

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pay 7.7% less for entertainment and sports

 
Lusaka
Havana
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $0.98
ZMW22.49
$2.00
CUC2.00
Cappuccino in mid-range area $2.05
ZMW47.14
$1.01
CUC1.01
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$3.67
ZMW84.61
$4.00
CUC4.00

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pay 51.0% more for clothing

 
Lusaka
Havana
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$18.93
ZMW435.83
$34.75
CUC34.75
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$16.99
ZMW391.23
$37.75
CUC37.75
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$84.33
ZMW1,941.82
$75.00
CUC75.00

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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: December 2025
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