Moving to Italy from Zambia
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Zambia to Italy — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Zambia to Italy, you would find that Italy is 2.0 times more expensive than Zambia overall. A ZMW1,500,000 salary in Zambia would need to be roughly €137,000 in Italy to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Catalan and Italian. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Rome averages 69°F vs 80°F in Lusaka, 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?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from Zambia to Italy.
What does your salary buy?
ZMW1,500,000 → €137,000
To maintain the same standard of living in Italy
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 3.1 times more
Groceries
pay 25.7% more
Transportation
pay 78.0% more
Housing
pay 2.7 times more
Childcare
pay 57.6% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 56.2% more
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 Italy
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 Zambia to Italy, based on official data.
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Zambia to Italy.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Italy performs significantly better than Zambia across all safety metrics.
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
Italy 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
Zambia generally does better on environment, though Italy leads in air pollution deaths.
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
Italy generally does better on infrastructure, though Zambia leads in water stress level.
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
Zambia generally does better on employment & economy, though Italy leads in gdp per capita.
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
Italy 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), Zambia Revenue Authority (2016), Italian Revenue Agency (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 | Lusaka | Rome |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 80°/62°F (27°/17°C) | 56°/39°F (13°/4°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 77°/55°F (25°/13°C) | 72°/53°F (22°/11°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 79°/55°F (26°/13°C) | 85°/63°F (29°/17°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 85°/64°F (29°/18°C) | 62°/45°F (17°/7°C) |
View all months
| Month | Lusaka | Rome |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 80°/63°F (26.6°/17.1°C) | 53°/38°F (11.9°/3.1°C) |
| Feb | 80°/62°F (26.5°/16.8°C) | 55°/38°F (13.0°/3.5°C) |
| Mar | 81°/62°F (27.0°/16.6°C) | 59°/41°F (15.2°/5.2°C) |
| Apr | 80°/59°F (26.5°/15.1°C) | 64°/46°F (17.7°/7.5°C) |
| May | 78°/55°F (25.3°/12.7°C) | 73°/53°F (22.8°/11.6°C) |
| Jun | 74°/51°F (23.4°/10.6°C) | 80°/60°F (26.9°/15.3°C) |
| Jul | 73°/50°F (23.0°/10.2°C) | 87°/64°F (30.3°/18.0°C) |
| Aug | 79°/54°F (25.9°/12.3°C) | 87°/65°F (30.6°/18.3°C) |
| Sep | 85°/60°F (29.4°/15.3°C) | 80°/59°F (26.5°/15.2°C) |
| Oct | 87°/64°F (30.8°/17.5°C) | 71°/52°F (21.4°/11.3°C) |
| Nov | 86°/64°F (29.9°/17.9°C) | 61°/44°F (15.9°/6.9°C) |
| Dec | 81°/63°F (27.2°/17.3°C) | 55°/40°F (12.6°/4.2°C) |
Data:
Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD),
Italian Air Force- Department of Meteorology
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Zambia and Italy. To live, work, or study long-term in Italy, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Italy's immigration authority.
Zambia passport holder visiting Italy
Visa Required
Italy passport holder visiting Zambia
Visa FreeData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Italy than Zambia?
No — Italy is on average about 104% more expensive than Zambia. City-level variation matters.
How much money do I need to move to Italy?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly €34,250 in Italy on a ZMW1,500,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Italy?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Italy has 31.8 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 Italy safe for expats?
Italy performs significantly better than Zambia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Italy is 0.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 5.2 in Zambia.
How is healthcare in Italy compared to Zambia?
Italy generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Zambia leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 41.9 doctors per 10,000 people in Italy, compared to 3.2 in Zambia. Italy scores 84 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Zambia: 56).
What's the weather like in Italy compared to Zambia?
The average high temperature in Rome is 69°F, compared to 80°F in Lusaka. Rome receives around 31.7 in of rainfall per year, while Lusaka gets 31.4 in.
What language do they speak in Italy?
The official languages in Italy are Catalan and Italian. In Zambia, the official language is English.
