Living in Ndola, Zambia

Ndola is a mid-sized inland city in Copperbelt, Zambia (250,000 to 1 million people in the city proper). It has a warm climate, averaging 21°C over the year with about 1,162 mm of rain. We estimate a couple needs about €2,206 a month to live centrally. For foreigners, long-term residency in Zambia is possible, with conditions.

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Est. cost: €2,206; a month for a couple
Climate: 21°C; 1,162 mm rain a year
Size: Mid-sized; 250,000 to 1 million people
Safety: 53/100; country-level
Residency: Possible, with conditions; for most foreigners

Limited data for Zambia. Figures for safety, healthcare, cost of living and political stability in Zambia are country-level estimates from World Bank indicators, each named with its year. We have no tax, English, social openness or internet speed figures for Zambia, so the quiz scores those factors conservatively and this page leaves them out.

What stands out about Ndola

More affordable than 85% of the cities we compare

Healthcare

Zambia scores 46 out of 100 for healthcare, stronger than 5% of the cities we compare.

Source: Country-level estimate, the same for every city in Zambia: life expectancy at birth (SP.DYN.LE00.IN, 2024) and current health spending per person in US dollars (SH.XPD.CHEX.PC.CD, 2023), calibrated to the 0 to 100 scale of our reference tables. Source: The World Bank (World Development Indicators, Worldwide Governance Indicators), CC BY 4.0.

Cost of living

We estimate a couple needs about €2,206 a month to live centrally in Ndola, 19% below the €2,729 median across the 900 cities we compare. That makes it more affordable than 85% of them.

Source: OurNextCity model from the price level of GDP relative to the United States, from GDP per person in US dollars and at purchasing power parity (NY.GDP.PCAP.CD/NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD, 2025), calibrated to our country-level cost index (New York = 100) and scaled up for larger cities. An estimate for comparing cities, not a budget. Source: The World Bank (World Development Indicators, Worldwide Governance Indicators), CC BY 4.0.

Safety and stability

Zambia scores 53 out of 100 on safety, safer than 26% of the cities we compare. Its estimated democracy score is 5.3 out of 10.

Source: Country-level estimate, the same for every city in Zambia: Worldwide Governance Indicators Political Stability and Absence of Violence estimate (GOV_WGI_PV.EST, 2025) and life expectancy at birth (SP.DYN.LE00.IN, 2024), calibrated to the 0 to 100 scale of our reference tables (higher is safer). Stability: Worldwide Governance Indicators Voice and Accountability estimate (GOV_WGI_VA.EST, 2025), calibrated to the EIU Democracy Index scale. Source: The World Bank (World Development Indicators, Worldwide Governance Indicators), CC BY 4.0.

Residency and visas

Possible, with conditions. Realistic long-term residency comes through an active investor permit that converts to permanent residence after three years, an employment permit, or a retirement/sufficient-means route, but there is no passive golden visa and processing is slow.

The cheapest self-funded routes we track for Zambia:

Investment: about $150k (Zambia Investor's Permit, US$150,000 to invest in an existing Zambian company (US$250,000 to establish a new business); converts to permanent residence after 3 years; as of June 2026)

For short visits, 83 of 198 passports can enter visa-free and 115 can get an e-visa or visa on arrival.

Source: OurNextCity residency dataset, hand-reviewed approximations researched against published immigration rules, figures as of June 2026. Not legal advice: check the official source before you apply. Short-stay entry from the passport-index dataset (ilyankou, MIT).

Climate

Ndola averages 21°C across the year with about 1,162 mm of rain, which makes it warm and wet. It is warmer than 58% of the 1225 cities we track.

Source: Temperature from the Open-Meteo historical weather archive, daily means for 2019 to 2023; rainfall from TerraClimate (University of Idaho) 1991 to 2020 normals. Annual averages; monthly breakdowns are not in our dataset yet.

Questions couples ask about Ndola

Is Ndola a good place to live for couples?

It depends on what the two of you weigh most. Compared with the other cities we track, Ndola scores well on affordability. It is weaker on safety and healthcare. Our figures for Zambia are partial: no tax, English, social openness or internet speed data, and country-level World Bank estimates for the rest. Expect a warm, wet climate (21°C average). OurNextCity has each partner answer 12 questions privately, then ranks Ndola and 914 other cities for both of you at once.

How much does it cost a couple to live in Ndola?

We estimate about €2,206 a month for a couple living centrally, 19% below the €2,729 median across the cities we compare. It is a model estimate from the World Bank price level of GDP for Zambia, calibrated to our country-level cost index adjusted for city size, so use it to compare cities rather than to set a budget.

Can foreigners live in Zambia long term?

Our assessment: possible, with conditions. Realistic long-term residency comes through an active investor permit that converts to permanent residence after three years, an employment permit, or a retirement/sufficient-means route, but there is no passive golden visa and processing is slow. The cheapest self-funded routes we track: investment, about $150k (as of 2026-06).

What is the weather like in Ndola?

Ndola averages 21°C across the year with about 1,162 mm of rain, which makes it warm and wet. It is warmer than 58% of the cities we track.