Moving to Zambia from Moldova

moving to

What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Moldova to Zambia — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Moldova to Zambia, you would find that Zambia is 12.4% cheaper than Moldova overall. A MDL1,400,000 salary in Moldova would need to be roughly ZMW1,370,000 in Zambia to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

Is Zambia cheaper than Moldova?

The biggest cost differences at a glance

Restaurants

pay 41.7% less

Groceries

pay 63.1% more

Transportation

pay 8.2% less

Housing

pay 35.1% less

Childcare

pay 38.8% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 18.2% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 MDL = 1.11 ZMW (October 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

What salary do you need in Zambia?

What does your salary buy?

MDL1,400,000 → ZMW1,370,000

To maintain the same standard of living in Zambia

Calculate with your salary →

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

Key Indicator Comparison

How Moldova and Zambia stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

MD
2.5
ZM
5.2
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

MD
9.1
ZM
17.1

Moldova performs better than Zambia across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

MD
$1,181
ZM
$244
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2023

affects wait times and access to care

MD
40.2
ZM
3.2

Zambia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Moldova leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

MD
58.0
ZM
50.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

MD
3.4t
ZM
0.5t

Zambia performs significantly better than Moldova across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

MD
29.6
ZM
0.8
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

MD
12.6%
ZM
2.8%

Moldova generally does better on infrastructure, though Zambia leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

MD
1.5%
ZM
5.9%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

MD
$8,622
ZM
$1,318

Moldova performs better than Zambia across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

MD
71.3 yrs
ZM
66.5 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

MD
15.1
ZM
34.6

Moldova performs better than Zambia across all family life metrics.

Sources: World Bank (2015–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), State tax Service (2016), Zambia Revenue Authority (2016), The World Factbook (2021). How we calculate this

Can you move from Moldova to Zambia?

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Moldova 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.

Moldova passport

Moldova passport holder visiting Zambia

Visa Free
Moldova passport holders can enter Zambia without a visa.
Zambia passport

Zambia passport holder visiting Moldova

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Zambia passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Moldova.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Zambia than Moldova?

Generally yes: Zambia runs about 12% cheaper than Moldova on average, though it depends heavily on the city.

How much money do I need to move to Zambia?

A safe rule of thumb is 3 months of local expenses plus relocation costs. On a MDL1,400,000 comparable salary, that's around ZMW342,500 in Zambia for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Zambia?

With 0.8 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Zambia can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Moldova and Zambia.

Is Zambia safe for expats?

Moldova performs better than Zambia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Zambia is 5.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 2.5 in Moldova.

How is healthcare in Zambia compared to Moldova?

Zambia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Moldova leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 3.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Zambia, compared to 40.2 in Moldova. Zambia scores 56 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Moldova: 71).

What language do they speak in Zambia?

The official language in Zambia is English. In Moldova, the official language is Romanian.

Share this

At a Glance

MD ZM
Population 2,360,527 21,913,874
Currency Moldovan Leu (MDL) Zambian Kwacha (ZMW)
Languages Romanian English
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +373 +260
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 —