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: $652 in Chilanga versus $338 in Chingola.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $976 in Chilanga versus $579 in Chingola.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,301 in Chilanga versus $821 in Chingola.

Living in Chilanga is roughly 93% more expensive than in Chingola, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.14 ZMW 130

$12.20 ZMW 222

-41.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.30 ZMW 460

$21.15 ZMW 385

19.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.69 ZMW 67.1

Cappuccino

$2.03 ZMW 37.01

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

$0.73 ZMW 13.28

$0.40 ZMW 7.22

82.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ZMW 6.60

$0.30 ZMW 5.48

20.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.92 ZMW 16.80

$0.48 ZMW 8.66

91.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 ZMW 31.94

$1.02 ZMW 18.50

71.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.28 ZMW 23.30

$1.00 ZMW 18.12

28.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 ZMW 13.74

$0.82 ZMW 14.89

-8.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 ZMW 29.09

$2.11 ZMW 38.40

-24.17%

Eggs

$1.76 ZMW 32.11

$1.14 ZMW 20.66

54.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.64 ZMW 139

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.79 ZMW 68.9

$2.04 ZMW 37.20

85.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.64 ZMW 84.4

$3.65 ZMW 66.4

27.12%

Apples (1kg)

$2.59 ZMW 47.14

$1.68 ZMW 30.53

54.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.60 ZMW 29.09

$1.67 ZMW 30.45

-4.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.82 ZMW 51.3

$1.64 ZMW 29.94

71.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.13 ZMW 20.55

$1.69 ZMW 30.79

-33.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.84 ZMW 33.45

$2.53 ZMW 46.04

-27.27%

Onion (1kg)

$1.32 ZMW 24.08

$1.22 ZMW 22.21

8.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.86 ZMW 15.66

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ZMW 9.40

$0.69 ZMW 12.50

-24.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.47 ZMW 44.87

$1.27 ZMW 23.05

94.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.74 ZMW 195

$5.66 ZMW 103

89.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 ZMW 20.52

$0.48 ZMW 8.81

135.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 ZMW 27.70

$0.60 ZMW 10.95

153.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.69 ZMW 48.92

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 ZMW 8.17

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.41 ZMW 171

$8.31 ZMW 151

13.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ZMW 22.52

$1.22 ZMW 22.13

1.64%

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

$8,084 ZMW 147.1K

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

$28.3K ZMW 514.7K

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

$91.9 ZMW 1,672

$42.20 ZMW 768

117.68%

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

$52.2 ZMW 950

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$127 ZMW 2,311

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$8.08 ZMW 147

Cinema Ticket

$4.23 ZMW 77.0

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

$180 ZMW 3,271

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,457 ZMW 172.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.57 ZMW 338

$16.57 ZMW 302

12.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.71 ZMW 304

$10.28 ZMW 187

62.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.6 ZMW 1,521

$40.97 ZMW 746

103.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.9 ZMW 1,308

$62.6 ZMW 1,139

14.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$16.9K ZMW 306.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$120 ZMW 2,183

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Chilanga: July 13, 2026

Last update for Chingola: July 11, 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 $177 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 93% in total monthly costs ($652 vs $338 including rent). Chingola is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $977 in Chilanga and $506 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 $652 per month in Chilanga versus $338 in Chingola – a 93% 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 93% less than in Chilanga. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.