Moving to Saudi Arabia from Zambia
What to Expect
Considering a move from Zambia to Saudi Arabia? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Zambia to Saudi Arabia, you would find that Saudi Arabia is 47.6% more expensive than Zambia overall. A ZMW1,500,000 salary in Zambia would need to be roughly SAR418,000 in Saudi Arabia to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Arabic. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Riyadh averages 92°F vs 80°F in Lusaka, making it significantly warmer.
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 Zambia and Saudi Arabia.
What does your salary buy?
ZMW1,500,000 → SAR418,000
To maintain the same standard of living in Saudi Arabia
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 21.8% more
Groceries
pay 16.1% less
Transportation
pay 20.7% more
Housing
pay 2.2 times more
Childcare
pay 25.0% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 79.3% 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 Saudi Arabia
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 Saudi Arabia compared to Zambia.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Zambia generally does better on safety, though Saudi Arabia 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
Saudi Arabia 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 performs better than Saudi Arabia across all environment metrics.
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
Saudi Arabia 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
Saudi Arabia performs significantly better than Zambia across all employment & economy metrics.
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
Saudi Arabia performs significantly better than Zambia across all family life metrics.
Sources: World Bank (2015–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), Zambia Revenue Authority (2016), Department of Zakat and Income Tax (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 | Riyadh |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 80°/62°F (27°/17°C) | 75°/50°F (24°/10°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 77°/55°F (25°/13°C) | 101°/72°F (38°/22°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 79°/55°F (26°/13°C) | 109°/77°F (43°/25°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 85°/64°F (29°/18°C) | 84°/56°F (29°/13°C) |
View all months
| Month | Lusaka | Riyadh |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 80°/63°F (26.6°/17.1°C) | 68°/44°F (20.1°/6.9°C) |
| Feb | 80°/62°F (26.5°/16.8°C) | 74°/49°F (23.3°/9.3°C) |
| Mar | 81°/62°F (27.0°/16.6°C) | 82°/56°F (27.7°/13.2°C) |
| Apr | 80°/59°F (26.5°/15.1°C) | 92°/65°F (33.3°/18.4°C) |
| May | 78°/55°F (25.3°/12.7°C) | 103°/74°F (39.4°/23.4°C) |
| Jun | 74°/51°F (23.4°/10.6°C) | 109°/78°F (42.6°/25.3°C) |
| Jul | 73°/50°F (23.0°/10.2°C) | 111°/80°F (43.7°/26.4°C) |
| Aug | 79°/54°F (25.9°/12.3°C) | 111°/79°F (43.7°/26.3°C) |
| Sep | 85°/60°F (29.4°/15.3°C) | 105°/73°F (40.6°/22.9°C) |
| Oct | 87°/64°F (30.8°/17.5°C) | 96°/65°F (35.5°/18.2°C) |
| Nov | 86°/64°F (29.9°/17.9°C) | 83°/56°F (28.1°/13.3°C) |
| Dec | 81°/63°F (27.2°/17.3°C) | 72°/47°F (22.1°/8.4°C) |
Data:
Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD),
National Center for Meteorology
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Zambia and Saudi Arabia. To live, work, or study long-term in Saudi Arabia, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Saudi Arabia's immigration authority.
Zambia passport holder visiting Saudi Arabia
Visa Required
Saudi Arabia 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 Saudi Arabia than Zambia?
On average Saudi Arabia is around 48% pricier than Zambia, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Saudi Arabia?
Budget about SAR104,500 for 3 months in Saudi Arabia (based on a ZMW1,500,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Saudi Arabia?
Connectivity is usually fine (Saudi Arabia: 44.1 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Saudi Arabia offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Saudi Arabia safe for expats?
Zambia generally does better on safety, though Saudi Arabia leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Saudi Arabia is 0.9 per 100,000 people, compared to 5.2 in Zambia.
How is healthcare in Saudi Arabia compared to Zambia?
Saudi Arabia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Zambia leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 34.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Saudi Arabia, compared to 3.2 in Zambia. Saudi Arabia scores 74 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Zambia: 56).
What's the weather like in Saudi Arabia compared to Zambia?
The average high temperature in Riyadh is 92°F, compared to 80°F in Lusaka. Riyadh receives around 4.4 in of rainfall per year, while Lusaka gets 31.4 in.
What language do they speak in Saudi Arabia?
The official language in Saudi Arabia is Arabic. In Zambia, the official language is English.
