Moving to United Kingdom from Zambia
What to Expect
Considering a move from Zambia to United Kingdom? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Zambia to United Kingdom, you would find that United Kingdom is 2.7 times more expensive than Zambia overall. A ZMW1,500,000 salary in Zambia would need to be roughly £152,000 in United Kingdom to maintain the same lifestyle. Expect a noticeable climate shift — London averages 60°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 ↓Is United Kingdom cheaper than Zambia?
How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 3.2 times more
Groceries
pay 9.1% more
Transportation
pay 2.3 times more
Housing
pay 4.7 times more
Childcare
pay 4.0 times more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 2.3 times 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.
What salary do you need in United Kingdom?
What does your salary buy?
ZMW1,500,000 → £152,000
To maintain the same standard of living in United Kingdom
Calculate with your salary →Get free moving quotes to United Kingdom
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Zambia to United Kingdom.
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in United Kingdom compared to Zambia.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
United Kingdom 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
Zambia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United Kingdom leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
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 United Kingdom 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
United Kingdom 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
United Kingdom generally does better on employment & economy, though Zambia leads in top income tax 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
United Kingdom 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), HM Revenue & Customs (2016). How we calculate this
Weather in United Kingdom vs Zambia
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Lusaka | London |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 80°/62°F (27°/17°C) | 49°/38°F (9°/3°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 77°/55°F (25°/13°C) | 64°/48°F (18°/9°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 79°/55°F (26°/13°C) | 72°/56°F (22°/13°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 85°/64°F (29°/18°C) | 53°/43°F (12°/6°C) |
View all months
| Month | Lusaka | London |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 80°/63°F (26.6°/17.1°C) | 47°/38°F (8.1°/3.1°C) |
| Feb | 80°/62°F (26.5°/16.8°C) | 47°/37°F (8.6°/2.7°C) |
| Mar | 81°/62°F (27.0°/16.6°C) | 53°/40°F (11.6°/4.6°C) |
| Apr | 80°/59°F (26.5°/15.1°C) | 58°/43°F (14.6°/5.9°C) |
| May | 78°/55°F (25.3°/12.7°C) | 65°/48°F (18.1°/8.9°C) |
| Jun | 74°/51°F (23.4°/10.6°C) | 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C) |
| Jul | 73°/50°F (23.0°/10.2°C) | 74°/57°F (23.4°/13.7°C) |
| Aug | 79°/54°F (25.9°/12.3°C) | 74°/57°F (23.1°/13.8°C) |
| Sep | 85°/60°F (29.4°/15.3°C) | 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.4°C) |
| Oct | 87°/64°F (30.8°/17.5°C) | 60°/48°F (15.5°/8.8°C) |
| Nov | 86°/64°F (29.9°/17.9°C) | 52°/42°F (11.3°/5.8°C) |
| Dec | 81°/63°F (27.2°/17.3°C) | 47°/38°F (8.4°/3.4°C) |
Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD)
Met OfficeCan you move from Zambia to United Kingdom?
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Zambia and United Kingdom. To live, work, or study long-term in United Kingdom, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check United Kingdom's immigration authority.
Zambia passport holder visiting United Kingdom
Visa Online (e-Visa)
United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom than Zambia?
On average United Kingdom is around 170% pricier than Zambia, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to United Kingdom?
Budget about £38,000 for 3 months in United Kingdom (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 United Kingdom?
Connectivity is usually fine (United Kingdom: 42.2 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does United Kingdom offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is United Kingdom safe for expats?
United Kingdom performs significantly better than Zambia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in United Kingdom is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 5.2 in Zambia.
How is healthcare in United Kingdom compared to Zambia?
Zambia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United Kingdom leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 33.0 doctors per 10,000 people in United Kingdom, compared to 3.2 in Zambia. United Kingdom scores 88 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Zambia: 56).
What's the weather like in United Kingdom compared to Zambia?
The average high temperature in London is 60°F, compared to 80°F in Lusaka. London receives around 22.0 in of rainfall per year, while Lusaka gets 31.4 in.
What language do they speak in United Kingdom?
Both Zambia and United Kingdom share the same official language: English.
