Moving to Zambia from Peru

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Peru to Zambia — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Peru to Zambia, you would find that Zambia is 3.5% cheaper than Peru overall. A PEN260,000 salary in Peru would need to be roughly ZMW1,450,000 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 Peru?

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 5.0% more

Groceries

pay 42.4% more

Transportation

pay 12.8% less

Housing

pay 21.7% less

Childcare

pay 52.5% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 1.5% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 PEN = 5.78 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?

PEN260,000 → ZMW1,450,000

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.

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Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Peru to Zambia.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

PE
8.6
ZM
5.2
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

PE
12.7
ZM
17.1

Peru generally does better on safety, though Zambia leads in homicide rate.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

PE
$956
ZM
$244
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2023

affects wait times and access to care

PE
16.9
ZM
3.2

Peru generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Zambia leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

PE
26.0
ZM
50.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

PE
2.0t
ZM
0.5t

Peru generally does better on environment, though Zambia leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

PE
11.7
ZM
0.8
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

PE
4.8%
ZM
2.8%

Peru 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

PE
5.1%
ZM
5.9%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

PE
$9,684
ZM
$1,318

Peru 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

PE
77.9 yrs
ZM
66.5 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

PE
11.0
ZM
34.6

Peru performs better than Zambia across all family life metrics.

Sources: World Bank (2015–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), Superintendencia Nacional de Aduanas y de Administración Tributaria (2016), Zambia Revenue Authority (2016). How we calculate this

Weather in Zambia vs Peru

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Lima Rain: 0.5 in/yr (13 mm)
72° / 62°F

Avg. annual high / low

Lusaka Rain: 31.4 in/yr (798 mm)
80° / 59°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Lima Lusaka
Jan–Mar 79°/67°F (26°/19°C) 80°/62°F (27°/17°C)
Apr–Jun 71°/62°F (22°/16°C) 77°/55°F (25°/13°C)
Jul–Sep 66°/58°F (19°/15°C) 79°/55°F (26°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 71°/62°F (22°/16°C) 85°/64°F (29°/18°C)
View all months
Month Lima Lusaka
Jan 78°/66°F (25.8°/19.1°C) 80°/63°F (26.6°/17.1°C)
Feb 80°/67°F (26.5°/19.4°C) 80°/62°F (26.5°/16.8°C)
Mar 79°/67°F (26.0°/19.2°C) 81°/62°F (27.0°/16.6°C)
Apr 76°/64°F (24.3°/17.6°C) 80°/59°F (26.5°/15.1°C)
May 71°/61°F (21.7°/16.1°C) 78°/55°F (25.3°/12.7°C)
Jun 67°/60°F (19.7°/15.3°C) 74°/51°F (23.4°/10.6°C)
Jul 66°/59°F (18.7°/15.0°C) 73°/50°F (23.0°/10.2°C)
Aug 65°/58°F (18.4°/14.6°C) 79°/54°F (25.9°/12.3°C)
Sep 66°/58°F (18.7°/14.6°C) 85°/60°F (29.4°/15.3°C)
Oct 68°/59°F (19.9°/15.2°C) 87°/64°F (30.8°/17.5°C)
Nov 71°/62°F (21.9°/16.4°C) 86°/64°F (29.9°/17.9°C)
Dec 75°/64°F (23.9°/17.7°C) 81°/63°F (27.2°/17.3°C)

Data: Servicio Nacional de Meteorología e Hidrología del Perú Servicio Nacional de Meteorología e Hidrología del Perú, Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD) Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD)

Can you move from Peru to Zambia?

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Peru 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.

Peru passport

Peru passport holder visiting Zambia

Visa on Arrival
Peru passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Zambia.
Zambia passport

Zambia passport holder visiting Peru

Visa Required
Zambia passport holders need a visa to enter Peru.

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 Peru?

Yes — Zambia is on average about 3% cheaper than Peru. City-level variation can be significant.

How much money do I need to move to Zambia?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly ZMW362,500 in Zambia on a PEN260,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Zambia?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Zambia has 0.8 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Zambia safe for expats?

Peru 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 8.6 in Peru.

How is healthcare in Zambia compared to Peru?

Peru 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 16.9 in Peru. Zambia scores 56 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Peru: 71).

What's the weather like in Zambia compared to Peru?

The average high temperature in Lusaka is 80°F, compared to 72°F in Lima. Lusaka receives around 31.4 in of rainfall per year, while Lima gets 0.5 in.

What language do they speak in Zambia?

The official language in Zambia is English. In Peru, the official languages are Aymara, Quechua and Spanish.

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At a Glance

PE ZM
Population 34,576,665 21,913,874
Currency Peruvian Nuevo Sol (PEN) Zambian Kwacha (ZMW)
Languages Aymara, Quechua, Spanish English
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +51 +260
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 105 —