Moving to Zambia from Panama
What to Expect
Considering a move from Panama to Zambia? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Panama to Zambia, you would find that Zambia is 41.6% cheaper than Panama overall. A PAB75,000 salary in Panama would need to be roughly ZMW871,000 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. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Lusaka averages 80°F vs 93°F in Panama City, making it significantly cooler.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Panama and Zambia.
What does your salary buy?
PAB75,000 → ZMW871,000
To maintain the same standard of living in Zambia
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 44.4% less
Groceries
pay 21.0% less
Transportation
pay 8.0% less
Housing
pay 63.3% less
Childcare
pay 23.4% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 19.0% less
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
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
The numbers behind daily life in Zambia compared to Panama.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Panama generally does better on safety, though Zambia leads in homicide rate.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Panama generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Zambia leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Panama generally does better on environment, though Zambia leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
Panama 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
the highest marginal rate on personal income
share of people below the poverty line
Panama generally does better on employment & economy, though Zambia leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
percentage of adults who can read and write
Panama generally does better on family life, though Zambia leads in education spending.
Sources: World Bank (2015–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), General Directorate of Revenues, Panama (2016), Zambia Revenue Authority (2016). How we calculate this
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Panama City | Lusaka |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 94°/65°F (34°/18°C) | 80°/62°F (27°/17°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 94°/69°F (35°/21°C) | 77°/55°F (25°/13°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 92°/70°F (34°/21°C) | 79°/55°F (26°/13°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 91°/68°F (33°/20°C) | 85°/64°F (29°/18°C) |
View all months
| Month | Panama City | Lusaka |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 92°/65°F (33.4°/18.5°C) | 80°/63°F (26.6°/17.1°C) |
| Feb | 94°/65°F (34.2°/18.4°C) | 80°/62°F (26.5°/16.8°C) |
| Mar | 95°/65°F (34.8°/18.4°C) | 81°/62°F (27.0°/16.6°C) |
| Apr | 96°/67°F (35.4°/19.5°C) | 80°/59°F (26.5°/15.1°C) |
| May | 94°/70°F (34.5°/21.1°C) | 78°/55°F (25.3°/12.7°C) |
| Jun | 93°/70°F (33.8°/21.3°C) | 74°/51°F (23.4°/10.6°C) |
| Jul | 93°/70°F (33.9°/21.0°C) | 73°/50°F (23.0°/10.2°C) |
| Aug | 93°/70°F (33.9°/20.9°C) | 79°/54°F (25.9°/12.3°C) |
| Sep | 91°/70°F (32.9°/21.0°C) | 85°/60°F (29.4°/15.3°C) |
| Oct | 91°/69°F (32.6°/20.8°C) | 87°/64°F (30.8°/17.5°C) |
| Nov | 91°/69°F (32.9°/20.3°C) | 86°/64°F (29.9°/17.9°C) |
| Dec | 92°/67°F (33.3°/19.2°C) | 81°/63°F (27.2°/17.3°C) |
Data:
IMHPA - Instituto de Meteorología e Hidrología de Panamá,
Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD)
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Panama 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.
Panama passport holder visiting Zambia
Visa Free
Zambia passport holder visiting Panama
Visa RequiredData: 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 Panama?
On average Zambia is about 42% less expensive than Panama, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Zambia?
Budget about ZMW217,750 for 3 months in Zambia (based on a PAB75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Zambia?
Connectivity is usually fine (Zambia: 0.8 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Zambia offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Zambia safe for expats?
Panama generally does better on safety, though Zambia leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Zambia is 5.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 11.7 in Panama.
How is healthcare in Zambia compared to Panama?
Panama generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Zambia leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 3.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Zambia, compared to 16.2 in Panama. Zambia scores 56 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Panama: 78).
What's the weather like in Zambia compared to Panama?
The average high temperature in Lusaka is 80°F, compared to 93°F in Panama City. Lusaka receives around 31.4 in of rainfall per year, while Panama City gets 75.1 in.
What language do they speak in Zambia?
The official language in Zambia is English. In Panama, the official language is Spanish.
