Cost of Living Comparison Between Chilanga and Chingola Cost of Living Comparison Between Chilanga and Chingola

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $623 in Chilanga versus $455 in Chingola.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $989 in Chilanga versus $776 in Chingola.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,355 in Chilanga versus $1,097 in Chingola.

Living in Chilanga is roughly 37% more expensive than in Chingola, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chilanga 55% lower, Chingola 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.68 ZMW 109

$16.07 ZMW 307

-64.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.47 ZMW 601

$25.85 ZMW 494

21.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.41 ZMW 103

Cappuccino

$2.92 ZMW 55.7

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.79 ZMW 15.18

$0.54 ZMW 10.37

46.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 ZMW 9.87

$0.38 ZMW 7.30

36.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.34 ZMW 25.58

$0.65 ZMW 12.35

106.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 ZMW 44.58

$1.30 ZMW 24.90

79.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 ZMW 33.33

$1.88 ZMW 35.94

-6.91%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 ZMW 24.23

$1.28 ZMW 24.37

-0.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.19 ZMW 41.81

$2.58 ZMW 49.35

-15.12%

Eggs

$2.02 ZMW 38.53

$1.93 ZMW 36.95

4.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.60 ZMW 203

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.33 ZMW 121

$5.16 ZMW 98.5

22.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.82 ZMW 130

$4.85 ZMW 92.7

40.62%

Apples (1kg)

$3.95 ZMW 75.4

$2.08 ZMW 39.72

89.90%

Banana (1kg)

$2.55 ZMW 48.78

$2.15 ZMW 40.98

18.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.95 ZMW 75.5

$2.07 ZMW 39.60

90.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.63 ZMW 31.11

$2.15 ZMW 41.11

-24.19%

Potato (1kg)

$2.73 ZMW 52.1

$3.13 ZMW 59.8

-12.78%

Onion (1kg)

$2.10 ZMW 40.03

$1.59 ZMW 30.44

32.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 ZMW 21.94

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 ZMW 14.60

$0.88 ZMW 16.85

-13.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.12 ZMW 59.5

$1.54 ZMW 29.42

102.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 ZMW 203

$5.34 ZMW 102

99.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 ZMW 29.63

$0.65 ZMW 12.49

138.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 ZMW 47.40

$0.81 ZMW 15.56

206.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.61 ZMW 49.88

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 ZMW 27.34

$0.60 ZMW 11.45

138.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.37 ZMW 103

$10.57 ZMW 202

-49.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.63 ZMW 31.04

$1.41 ZMW 26.96

15.60%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$7,864 ZMW 150.2K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$33.9K ZMW 647.2K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$84.1 ZMW 1,605

$53.4 ZMW 1,020

57.43%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$10.88 ZMW 208

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.5 ZMW 1,097

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.59 ZMW 202

Cinema Ticket

$6.28 ZMW 120

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$142 ZMW 2,721

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.5K ZMW 315.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.60 ZMW 489

$21.26 ZMW 406

20.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$15.43 ZMW 295

$13.00 ZMW 248

18.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.59 ZMW 871

$53.4 ZMW 1,020

-14.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.3 ZMW 1,476

$79.5 ZMW 1,518

-2.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$15.7K ZMW 299.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$115 ZMW 2,192

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chilanga: August 29, 2026

Last update for Chingola: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $31.00 in Chilanga vs $26.00 in Chingola for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $250 vs $171 per month, with Chingola cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Chilanga vs Chingola: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chilanga and Chingola differ by about 37% in total monthly costs ($623 vs $455 including rent). Chingola is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $934 in Chilanga and $682 in Chingola to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Dining out is cheaper in Chingola – a meal for two runs $26.00 versus $31.00 in Chilanga. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $623 per month in Chilanga versus $455 in Chingola – a 37% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Chingola gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Chingola gentler on the wallet – expenses run 37% less than in Chilanga. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.