Cost of Living Comparison Between Chilanga and Lusaka Cost of Living Comparison Between Chilanga and Lusaka

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $660 in Chilanga versus $876 in Lusaka.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $978 in Chilanga versus $1,489 in Lusaka.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,297 in Chilanga versus $2,103 in Lusaka.

Living in Chilanga costs roughly 25% less than in Lusaka, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chilanga 51% lower, Lusaka 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.16 ZMW 128

$7.11 ZMW 127

0.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.88 ZMW 444

$24.96 ZMW 446

-0.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.64 ZMW 65.0

$3.63 ZMW 64.8

0.28%

Cappuccino

$2.04 ZMW 36.35

$2.01 ZMW 35.86

1.49%

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

$0.72 ZMW 12.89

$0.73 ZMW 13.05

-1.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 ZMW 6.02

$0.34 ZMW 6.04

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.88 ZMW 15.65

$0.96 ZMW 17.05

-8.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.77 ZMW 31.58

$1.82 ZMW 32.42

-2.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 ZMW 23.48

$1.26 ZMW 22.53

4.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 ZMW 13.14

$0.74 ZMW 13.16

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 ZMW 28.10

$1.58 ZMW 28.26

-0.63%

Eggs

$1.80 ZMW 32.10

$1.77 ZMW 31.65

1.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.87 ZMW 140

$7.86 ZMW 140

0.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.93 ZMW 70.1

$3.83 ZMW 68.4

2.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.72 ZMW 84.2

$4.57 ZMW 81.6

3.28%

Apples (1kg)

$2.58 ZMW 46.06

$2.50 ZMW 44.69

3.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 ZMW 29.65

$1.58 ZMW 28.28

5.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.80 ZMW 49.91

$2.69 ZMW 47.96

4.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.11 ZMW 19.77

$1.17 ZMW 20.91

-5.13%

Potato (1kg)

$1.83 ZMW 32.65

$1.87 ZMW 33.43

-2.14%

Onion (1kg)

$1.32 ZMW 23.63

$1.38 ZMW 24.63

-4.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.87 ZMW 15.54

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ZMW 8.68

$0.52 ZMW 9.30

-5.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.50 ZMW 44.70

$2.54 ZMW 45.39

-1.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.11 ZMW 198

$10.95 ZMW 195

1.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 ZMW 20.18

$1.13 ZMW 20.24

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 ZMW 28.18

$1.50 ZMW 26.75

5.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.96 ZMW 17.11

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.24 ZMW 683

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.80 ZMW 49.93

$2.79 ZMW 49.72

0.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.15 ZMW 20.50

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.34 ZMW 167

$8.92 ZMW 159

4.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ZMW 21.86

$1.19 ZMW 21.29

2.52%

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

$8,111 ZMW 144.8K

$7,968 ZMW 142.2K

1.81%

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

$28.1K ZMW 501.8K

$28.4K ZMW 506.8K

-0.98%

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

$90.4 ZMW 1,614

$90.1 ZMW 1,608

0.40%

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

$52.8 ZMW 943

$53.6 ZMW 956

-1.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$127 ZMW 2,267

$127 ZMW 2,263

0.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.11 ZMW 805

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.99 ZMW 250

Cinema Ticket

$4.19 ZMW 74.8

$4.29 ZMW 76.6

-2.33%

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

$180 ZMW 3,212

$177 ZMW 3,161

1.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,418 ZMW 168.1K

$9,528 ZMW 170.1K

-1.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.96 ZMW 338

$19.25 ZMW 344

-1.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.97 ZMW 303

$17.27 ZMW 308

-1.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.7 ZMW 1,494

$86.0 ZMW 1,535

-2.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.8 ZMW 1,318

$73.7 ZMW 1,316

0.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$224 ZMW 4,007

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$120 ZMW 2,148

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,053 ZMW 18.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$585 ZMW 10.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,973 ZMW 35.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,281 ZMW 76.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$296 ZMW 5,286

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 Lusaka: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $25.00 in Chilanga vs $25.00 in Lusaka. Groceries flip the comparison at $179 vs $177, with Lusaka 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 Lusaka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chilanga and Lusaka differ by about 33% in total monthly costs ($660 vs $876 including rent). Chilanga is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $990 in Chilanga and $1,313 in Lusaka 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.

Childcare runs $180 in Chilanga versus $177 in Lusaka. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Chilanga – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $25.00 in Lusaka. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Chilanga 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 Chilanga gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Lusaka. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.