Moving to United States from Zambia
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Zambia to United States — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Zambia to United States, you would find that United States is 2.9 times more expensive than Zambia overall. A ZMW1,500,000 salary in Zambia would need to be roughly $216,000 in United States to maintain the same lifestyle. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — New York City averages 62°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 States cheaper than Zambia?
Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 3.3 times more
Groceries
pay 55.3% more
Transportation
pay 54.8% more
Housing
pay 5.6 times more
Childcare
pay 3.9 times more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 2.1 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 States?
What does your salary buy?
ZMW1,500,000 → $216,000
To maintain the same standard of living in United States
Calculate with your salary →Get free moving quotes to United States
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from Zambia to United States, based on official data.
people moved from Zambia to United States · OECD (latest data available)
Who's moving to United States?
Top countries of origin for United States's foreign-born residents.
- 10,853,105
- 2,723,764
- 2,184,110
- 2,061,178
- 1,829,251
- 1,410,659
- · · ·
-
108.36,122
Zambia
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Zambia to United States.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Zambia generally does better on safety, though United States leads in road traffic deaths.
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 States 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 States 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 States 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 States 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 States 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), Internal Revenue Service (2016), The World Factbook (2010). How we calculate this
Weather in United States vs Zambia
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Lusaka | New York City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 80°/62°F (27°/17°C) | 43°/30°F (6°/-1°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 77°/55°F (25°/13°C) | 70°/54°F (21°/12°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 79°/55°F (26°/13°C) | 81°/66°F (27°/19°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 85°/64°F (29°/18°C) | 54°/41°F (12°/5°C) |
View all months
| Month | Lusaka | New York City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 80°/63°F (26.6°/17.1°C) | 38°/27°F (3.5°/-2.8°C) |
| Feb | 80°/62°F (26.5°/16.8°C) | 42°/29°F (5.3°/-1.7°C) |
| Mar | 81°/62°F (27.0°/16.6°C) | 50°/35°F (9.8°/1.8°C) |
| Apr | 80°/59°F (26.5°/15.1°C) | 61°/45°F (16.2°/7.1°C) |
| May | 78°/55°F (25.3°/12.7°C) | 71°/54°F (21.6°/12.2°C) |
| Jun | 74°/51°F (23.4°/10.6°C) | 79°/64°F (26.3°/17.6°C) |
| Jul | 73°/50°F (23.0°/10.2°C) | 84°/69°F (28.9°/20.4°C) |
| Aug | 79°/54°F (25.9°/12.3°C) | 83°/68°F (28.1°/19.9°C) |
| Sep | 85°/60°F (29.4°/15.3°C) | 75°/61°F (24.0°/16.0°C) |
| Oct | 87°/64°F (30.8°/17.5°C) | 64°/50°F (17.7°/10.0°C) |
| Nov | 86°/64°F (29.9°/17.9°C) | 54°/42°F (12.1°/5.3°C) |
| Dec | 81°/63°F (27.2°/17.3°C) | 43°/32°F (6.1°/0.0°C) |
Data:
Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD),
National Weather Service
Can you move from Zambia to United States?
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Zambia and United States. To live, work, or study long-term in United States, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check United States's immigration authority.
Zambia passport holder visiting United States
Visa Required
United States 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 States than Zambia?
No — United States is on average about 188% more expensive than Zambia. City-level variation matters.
How much money do I need to move to United States?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly $54,000 in United States 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 United States?
Internet is rarely the blocker — United States has 38.9 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 United States safe for expats?
Zambia generally does better on safety, though United States leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in United States is 5.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 5.2 in Zambia.
How is healthcare in United States compared to Zambia?
Zambia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United States leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 36.8 doctors per 10,000 people in United States, compared to 3.2 in Zambia. United States scores 86 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Zambia: 56).
What's the weather like in United States compared to Zambia?
The average high temperature in New York City is 62°F, compared to 80°F in Lusaka. New York City receives around 49.9 in of rainfall per year, while Lusaka gets 31.4 in.
What language do they speak in United States?
Both Zambia and United States share the same official language: English.
