Moving to Zambia from Iowa
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Iowa to Zambia — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Iowa to Zambia. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Lusaka averages 80°F vs 60°F in Des Moines, making it significantly warmer.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓Get free moving quotes to Zambia
We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.
- ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
- ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
- ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you
Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from Iowa to Zambia, based on official data.
Who's moving to Zambia?
Top countries of origin for Zambia's foreign-born residents.
- 50,661
- 31,424
- 16,816
- 13,422
- 10,460
- 9,202
- · · ·
-
14.1,169
United States
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Iowa to Zambia.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Zambia performs significantly better than Iowa across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Iowa performs better than Zambia across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
Iowa performs better than Zambia across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Iowa performs better than Zambia across all family life metrics.
Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Des Moines | Lusaka |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 39°/21°F (4°/-6°C) | 80°/62°F (27°/17°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 72°/52°F (22°/11°C) | 77°/55°F (25°/13°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 82°/62°F (28°/17°C) | 79°/55°F (26°/13°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 48°/31°F (9°/-1°C) | 85°/64°F (29°/18°C) |
View all months
| Month | Des Moines | Lusaka |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°/14°F (-0.6°/-9.8°C) | 80°/63°F (26.6°/17.1°C) |
| Feb | 36°/19°F (2.3°/-7.3°C) | 80°/62°F (26.5°/16.8°C) |
| Mar | 49°/30°F (9.4°/-1.3°C) | 81°/62°F (27.0°/16.6°C) |
| Apr | 62°/41°F (16.8°/5.1°C) | 80°/59°F (26.5°/15.1°C) |
| May | 72°/52°F (22.4°/11.2°C) | 78°/55°F (25.3°/12.7°C) |
| Jun | 82°/62°F (27.6°/16.7°C) | 74°/51°F (23.4°/10.6°C) |
| Jul | 86°/67°F (29.8°/19.3°C) | 73°/50°F (23.0°/10.2°C) |
| Aug | 84°/65°F (28.8°/18.2°C) | 79°/54°F (25.9°/12.3°C) |
| Sep | 76°/55°F (24.5°/12.9°C) | 85°/60°F (29.4°/15.3°C) |
| Oct | 63°/43°F (17.3°/6.1°C) | 87°/64°F (30.8°/17.5°C) |
| Nov | 48°/31°F (8.8°/-0.8°C) | 86°/64°F (29.9°/17.9°C) |
| Dec | 34°/18°F (1.1°/-7.8°C) | 81°/63°F (27.2°/17.3°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD)
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States and Zambia. To live, work, or study long-term in Zambia, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Zambia's immigration authority.
United States passport holder visiting Zambia
Visa Free
Zambia passport holder visiting United States
Visa RequiredData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work remotely from Zambia?
Usually fine from major cities in Zambia. The harder questions are legal — digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
How is healthcare in Zambia compared to Iowa?
Zambia performs significantly better than Iowa across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Zambia compared to Iowa?
The average high temperature in Lusaka is 80°F, compared to 60°F in Des Moines. Lusaka receives around 31.4 in of rainfall per year, while Des Moines gets 36.0 in.
What language do they speak in Zambia?
Both Iowa and Zambia share the same official language: English.
