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: $646 in Chilanga versus $175 in Livingstone.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $973 in Chilanga versus $318 in Livingstone.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,299 in Chilanga versus $461 in Livingstone.

Living in Chilanga is roughly 270% 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

$7.25 ZMW 127

$6.29 ZMW 110

15.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.14 ZMW 439

$24.95 ZMW 436

0.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.77 ZMW 65.9

$7.07 ZMW 124

-46.68%

Cappuccino

$1.93 ZMW 33.66

$4.19 ZMW 73.3

-53.94%

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

$0.69 ZMW 11.99

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ZMW 5.82

$0.28 ZMW 4.85

17.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.95 ZMW 16.61

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 ZMW 31.77

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 ZMW 23.00

White Bread (500g)

$0.76 ZMW 13.22

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 ZMW 28.01

Eggs

$1.80 ZMW 31.46

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.93 ZMW 139

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.80 ZMW 66.4

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.56 ZMW 79.8

Apples (1kg)

$2.56 ZMW 44.71

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 ZMW 27.61

Oranges (1kg)

$2.77 ZMW 48.49

Tomato (1kg)

$1.16 ZMW 20.30

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 ZMW 32.55

Onion (1kg)

$1.33 ZMW 23.30

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.94 ZMW 16.45

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ZMW 8.35

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.56 ZMW 44.67

Wine (Bottle)

$11.59 ZMW 203

$22.51 ZMW 394

-48.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 ZMW 19.04

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 ZMW 27.54

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.68 ZMW 46.88

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.76 ZMW 30.84

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.04 ZMW 158

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 ZMW 20.72

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

$8,085 ZMW 141.3K

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

$28.9K ZMW 505.5K

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

$92.2 ZMW 1,611

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

$52.8 ZMW 922

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$123 ZMW 2,149

Cinema Ticket

$4.11 ZMW 71.9

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

$179 ZMW 3,130

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,430 ZMW 164.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.68 ZMW 326

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.93 ZMW 296

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.0 ZMW 1,469

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.5 ZMW 1,285

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 7, 2026

Last update for Livingstone: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $25.00 in Chilanga vs $25.00 in Livingstone. Groceries flip the comparison at $179 vs $45.00, 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 270% in total monthly costs ($646 vs $175 including rent). Livingstone is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $969 in Chilanga and $262 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 $646 per month in Chilanga versus $175 in Livingstone – a 270% 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 270% less than in Chilanga. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.