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: $648 in Chilanga versus $176 in Livingstone.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $962 in Chilanga versus $316 in Livingstone.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,275 in Chilanga versus $456 in Livingstone.

Living in Chilanga is roughly 269% more expensive than in Livingstone, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chilanga 51% lower, Livingstone 87% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.18 ZMW 134

$6.19 ZMW 116

15.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.89 ZMW 466

$25.36 ZMW 474

-1.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.68 ZMW 68.9

$7.32 ZMW 137

-49.73%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ZMW 37.89

$4.11 ZMW 76.9

-50.85%

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

$0.73 ZMW 13.58

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ZMW 6.84

$0.30 ZMW 5.66

23.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.95 ZMW 17.79

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 ZMW 32.67

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 ZMW 24.76

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 ZMW 14.06

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 ZMW 30.03

Eggs

$1.86 ZMW 34.87

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.89 ZMW 148

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.92 ZMW 73.3

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.70 ZMW 87.9

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 ZMW 48.71

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 ZMW 30.89

Oranges (1kg)

$2.78 ZMW 52.1

Tomato (1kg)

$1.12 ZMW 20.87

Potato (1kg)

$1.89 ZMW 35.32

Onion (1kg)

$1.37 ZMW 25.58

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.86 ZMW 16.00

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ZMW 9.07

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.46 ZMW 46.08

Wine (Bottle)

$10.74 ZMW 201

$21.43 ZMW 401

-49.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.10 ZMW 20.51

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 ZMW 29.31

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.78 ZMW 51.9

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.83 ZMW 34.27

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.39 ZMW 176

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 ZMW 22.35

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

$8,103 ZMW 151.6K

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

$28.6K ZMW 534.3K

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

$92.1 ZMW 1,724

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

$51.8 ZMW 970

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$126 ZMW 2,365

Cinema Ticket

$4.09 ZMW 76.5

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

$180 ZMW 3,370

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,425 ZMW 176.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.30 ZMW 361

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.72 ZMW 313

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.6 ZMW 1,582

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.4 ZMW 1,392

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 26, 2026

Last update for Livingstone: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $25.00 in Chilanga vs $25.00 in Livingstone. Groceries flip the comparison at $179 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 269% in total monthly costs ($648 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 $972 in Chilanga and $263 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 $648 per month in Chilanga versus $176 in Livingstone – a 269% 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 269% less than in Chilanga. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.