Moving to Zambia from South Carolina

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from South Carolina to Zambia. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Lusaka averages 80°F vs 66°F in Columbia, making it significantly warmer.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

Real numbers on people moving from South Carolina to Zambia, and how the trend has changed.

Living there in 2020
1,169 ↑ 40% vs 2015

people born in United States live in Zambia · UN DESA

Who's moving to Zambia?

Top countries of origin for Zambia's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

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

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2022

share of adults with obesity

SC
35.4%
ZM
8.1%

Zambia performs significantly better than South Carolina across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of households with internet

SC
87.0%
ZM
21.0%

South Carolina performs better than Zambia across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

SC
4.9%
ZM
5.9%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

SC
$49,914
ZM
$3,700

South Carolina performs better than Zambia across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

SC
74.8 yrs
ZM
66.3 yrs

South Carolina 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.

Columbia Rain: 46.3 in/yr (1175 mm)
66° / 46°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Columbia Lusaka
Jan–Mar 47°/28°F (8°/-2°C) 80°/62°F (27°/17°C)
Apr–Jun 76°/55°F (24°/13°C) 77°/55°F (25°/13°C)
Jul–Sep 86°/65°F (30°/18°C) 79°/55°F (26°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 55°/36°F (13°/2°C) 85°/64°F (29°/18°C)
View all months
Month Columbia Lusaka
Jan 40°/22°F (4.3°/-5.3°C) 80°/63°F (26.6°/17.1°C)
Feb 45°/26°F (7.2°/-3.3°C) 80°/62°F (26.5°/16.8°C)
Mar 56°/35°F (13.3°/1.7°C) 81°/62°F (27.0°/16.6°C)
Apr 67°/46°F (19.3°/7.6°C) 80°/59°F (26.5°/15.1°C)
May 75°/55°F (24.0°/12.9°C) 78°/55°F (25.3°/12.7°C)
Jun 85°/65°F (29.2°/18.1°C) 74°/51°F (23.4°/10.6°C)
Jul 90°/69°F (32.0°/20.4°C) 73°/50°F (23.0°/10.2°C)
Aug 88°/67°F (31.3°/19.6°C) 79°/54°F (25.9°/12.3°C)
Sep 80°/58°F (26.6°/14.5°C) 85°/60°F (29.4°/15.3°C)
Oct 68°/47°F (20.0°/8.1°C) 87°/64°F (30.8°/17.5°C)
Nov 55°/37°F (12.7°/2.6°C) 86°/64°F (29.9°/17.9°C)
Dec 42°/25°F (5.6°/-3.8°C) 81°/63°F (27.2°/17.3°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD) 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

United States passport holder visiting Zambia

Visa Free
United States passport holders can enter Zambia without a visa.
Zambia passport

Zambia passport holder visiting United States

Visa Required
Zambia passport holders need a visa to enter United States.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Zambia?

Working remotely from Zambia's major cities is generally feasible. The legal layer matters more — visa category, employer policy on overseas employees, and tax residency in South Carolina and Zambia.

How is healthcare in Zambia compared to South Carolina?

Zambia performs significantly better than South Carolina across all health & wellbeing metrics.

What's the weather like in Zambia compared to South Carolina?

The average high temperature in Lusaka is 80°F, compared to 66°F in Columbia. Lusaka receives around 31.4 in of rainfall per year, while Columbia gets 46.3 in.

What language do they speak in Zambia?

Both South Carolina and Zambia share the same official language: English.

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At a Glance

ZM
Population 4,625,364 19,642,123
Currency United States Dollar ($) Zambian Kwacha (ZMW)
Languages English English
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +1 +260
Time zones 11 1
Emergency number 911