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: $660 in Chilanga versus $340 in Chingola.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $978 in Chilanga versus $580 in Chingola.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,297 in Chilanga versus $820 in Chingola.

Living in Chilanga is roughly 94% more expensive than Chingola, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chilanga 51% lower, Chingola 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.16 ZMW 128

$12.64 ZMW 226

-43.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.88 ZMW 444

$20.63 ZMW 368

20.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.64 ZMW 65.0

Cappuccino

$2.04 ZMW 36.35

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

$0.72 ZMW 12.89

$0.39 ZMW 6.99

84.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 ZMW 6.02

$0.30 ZMW 5.37

13.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.88 ZMW 15.65

$0.52 ZMW 9.23

69.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.77 ZMW 31.58

$1.03 ZMW 18.38

71.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 ZMW 23.48

$1.03 ZMW 18.41

28.16%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 ZMW 13.14

$0.83 ZMW 14.76

-10.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 ZMW 28.10

$2.13 ZMW 38.01

-26.29%

Eggs

$1.80 ZMW 32.10

$1.09 ZMW 19.39

65.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.87 ZMW 140

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.93 ZMW 70.1

$2.02 ZMW 36.09

94.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.72 ZMW 84.2

$3.74 ZMW 66.8

26.20%

Apples (1kg)

$2.58 ZMW 46.06

$1.62 ZMW 28.83

59.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 ZMW 29.65

$1.63 ZMW 29.17

1.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.80 ZMW 49.91

$1.70 ZMW 30.39

64.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.11 ZMW 19.77

$1.61 ZMW 28.77

-31.06%

Potato (1kg)

$1.83 ZMW 32.65

$2.43 ZMW 43.30

-24.69%

Onion (1kg)

$1.32 ZMW 23.63

$1.20 ZMW 21.50

10.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.87 ZMW 15.54

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ZMW 8.68

$0.74 ZMW 13.13

-33.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.50 ZMW 44.70

$1.26 ZMW 22.47

98.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.11 ZMW 198

$5.43 ZMW 97.0

104.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 ZMW 20.18

$0.51 ZMW 9.17

121.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 ZMW 28.18

$0.60 ZMW 10.63

163.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.80 ZMW 49.93

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 ZMW 7.91

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.34 ZMW 167

$8.40 ZMW 150

11.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ZMW 21.86

$1.22 ZMW 21.77

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

$8,111 ZMW 144.8K

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

$28.1K ZMW 501.8K

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

$90.4 ZMW 1,614

$42.04 ZMW 750

115.13%

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

$52.8 ZMW 943

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$127 ZMW 2,267

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$8.23 ZMW 147

Cinema Ticket

$4.19 ZMW 74.8

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

$180 ZMW 3,212

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,418 ZMW 168.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.96 ZMW 338

$16.28 ZMW 291

16.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.97 ZMW 303

$10.28 ZMW 184

65.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.7 ZMW 1,494

$41.08 ZMW 733

103.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.8 ZMW 1,318

$62.3 ZMW 1,111

18.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$16.2K ZMW 289.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$121 ZMW 2,161

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Chilanga: June 1, 2026

Last update for Chingola: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $25.00 in Chilanga vs $21.00 in Chingola for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $179 vs $119 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 94% in total monthly costs ($660 vs $340 including rent). Chingola is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $990 in Chilanga and $511 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 $21.00 versus $25.00 in Chilanga. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $660 per month in Chilanga versus $340 in Chingola – a 94% 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 94% less than in Chilanga. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.