Cost of Living Comparison Between Chilanga and Livingstone Cost of Living Comparison Between Chilanga and Livingstone

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $638 in Chilanga versus $176 in Livingstone.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $958 in Chilanga versus $316 in Livingstone.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,278 in Chilanga versus $456 in Livingstone.

Living in Chilanga is roughly 262% more expensive than Livingstone, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chilanga 52% lower, Livingstone 87% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.35 ZMW 138

$6.31 ZMW 119

16.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.59 ZMW 463

$24.79 ZMW 467

-0.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.62 ZMW 68.2

$7.38 ZMW 139

-50.95%

Cappuccino

$2.00 ZMW 37.57

$4.17 ZMW 78.5

-52.04%

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

$0.68 ZMW 12.75

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ZMW 6.79

$0.28 ZMW 5.24

28.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.94 ZMW 17.75

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 ZMW 32.72

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 ZMW 24.19

White Bread (500g)

$0.80 ZMW 15.07

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 ZMW 29.71

Eggs

$1.79 ZMW 33.71

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.72 ZMW 145

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.92 ZMW 73.7

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.64 ZMW 87.4

Apples (1kg)

$2.56 ZMW 48.26

Banana (1kg)

$1.67 ZMW 31.38

Oranges (1kg)

$2.77 ZMW 52.0

Tomato (1kg)

$1.16 ZMW 21.87

Potato (1kg)

$1.90 ZMW 35.84

Onion (1kg)

$1.37 ZMW 25.75

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.93 ZMW 17.47

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ZMW 9.61

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.54 ZMW 47.85

Wine (Bottle)

$8.02 ZMW 151

$21.35 ZMW 402

-62.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 ZMW 21.27

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 ZMW 28.12

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.76 ZMW 52.0

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.75 ZMW 33.01

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.43 ZMW 177

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ZMW 23.34

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

$7,908 ZMW 148.8K

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

$28.9K ZMW 543.1K

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

$89.6 ZMW 1,687

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

$53.3 ZMW 1,004

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$123 ZMW 2,321

Cinema Ticket

$4.28 ZMW 80.6

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

$174 ZMW 3,273

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,494 ZMW 178.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.67 ZMW 351

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.11 ZMW 322

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.1 ZMW 1,601

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.5 ZMW 1,382

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Chilanga: April 26, 2026

Last update for Livingstone: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $25.00 in Chilanga vs $25.00 in Livingstone. Groceries flip the comparison at $174 vs $43.00, with Livingstone cheaper for home cooking.

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 Livingstone: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chilanga and Livingstone differ by about 262% in total monthly costs ($638 vs $176 including rent). Livingstone is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $957 in Chilanga and $265 in Livingstone 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 Livingstone – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $25.00 in Chilanga. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $638 per month in Chilanga versus $176 in Livingstone – a 262% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Livingstone 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 Livingstone gentler on the wallet – expenses run 262% less than in Chilanga. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.