Lusaka vs Queenstown Cost of Living Comparison
Takeaway for Lusaka vs Queenstown: everyday costs favor Lusaka (~117% CPI gap), housing index favors Lusaka, wage stretch favors Queenstown. Use category winners, not a single headline, when the binding constraint is rent or income.
Overall Cost Winner
Lusaka
Lower overall CPI; largest measurable gaps: Purchasing Power (179% gap, Queenstown ahead); Utilities (92% gap, Queenstown ahead).
Monthly Cost Difference
Estimated monthly housing+utilities+internet basket is about $220 lower in Lusaka than in Queenstown (~44% gap; converted via exchange rates).
Estimated monthly difference: $220 (favoring Lusaka).
Category Winners
| Category | Winner | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Overall CPI | Lusaka | CPI 22.4 vs 48.7 (lower is better) |
| Housing | Lusaka | Rent index 13 vs 18.2 (lower is better) |
| Food | Lusaka | Groceries index 31.3 vs 54.1 (lower is better) |
| Transport | Queenstown | One-way ticket 1.65 vs 10.56 (lower is better) |
| Utilities | Queenstown | Utilities (85m²) 54.96 vs 676 (lower is better) |
| Internet | Queenstown | Internet 69.34 vs 471.38 (lower is better) |
| Restaurants | Lusaka | Restaurant index 22 vs 41.7 (lower is better) |
| Salary | Lusaka | Avg net salary 32562.4 vs 5270.81 (higher is better) |
| Purchasing Power | Queenstown | PP index 56.3 vs 20.2 (higher is better) |
Biggest Difference
Purchasing Power: Queenstown leads with a 179% gap.
PP index 56.3 vs 20.2 (higher is better)
Quick Decision
- Students: Lusaka — Lower housing / rent index (40% gap).
- Families: Lusaka — Housing is typically the largest household line; rent index favors Lusaka; purchasing power favors Queenstown.
- Remote Workers: Lusaka — Everyday cost index (CPI) favors Lusaka (~117% gap).
- Budget Living: Lusaka — Lowest overall consumer-price index in this pair.
Key Takeaways
- Lusaka is the overall cost winner on CPI (~117% lower everyday-cost index than Queenstown).
- Housing: Lusaka leads on rent index (40% gap).
- Food / groceries: Lusaka is lower (73% gap).
- Purchasing power: Queenstown scores higher (179% gap).
- Largest category gap: Purchasing Power (179%), favoring Queenstown.
- Sample monthly basket (1BR + utilities + internet) is ~$220 cheaper in Lusaka.
Analysis
Lusaka versus Queenstown is not a single number. With a 117% CPI spread, groceries and services tend to move with Lusaka, while housing follows Lusaka's rent index. Purchasing power (20.2 vs 56.3) decides whether local wages offset local prices.
Trust & data transparency
Last updated: 2026-08-25
Data Sources
This page uses CityCost index inputs. Platform sources (see also Data sources):
- Regional
- Regional
On-page labels for this view: Regional · Regional.
Methodology
Each indexed city is associated with a reference basket of common living costs (for example rent, groceries samples, transport tickets, utilities, restaurant meals, and net salary where available). From those items, the platform derives relative indices such as CPI, rent, groceries, restaurants, and local purchasing power, using New York City = 100 as the familiar baseline convention for relative comparison.