Cost of Living Comparison Between Chilanga and Zimba Cost of Living Comparison Between Chilanga and Zimba

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $660 in Chilanga versus $113 in Zimba.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $978 in Chilanga versus $176 in Zimba.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,297 in Chilanga versus $239 in Zimba.

Living in Chilanga is roughly 482% more expensive than Zimba, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chilanga 51% lower, Zimba 92% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.16 ZMW 128

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.88 ZMW 444

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.64 ZMW 65.0

$2.48 ZMW 44.24

46.77%

Cappuccino

$2.04 ZMW 36.35

$1.25 ZMW 22.33

63.20%

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

$0.72 ZMW 12.89

$0.63 ZMW 11.33

14.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 ZMW 6.02

$0.30 ZMW 5.40

13.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.88 ZMW 15.65

$0.60 ZMW 10.70

46.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.77 ZMW 31.58

$0.80 ZMW 14.27

121.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 ZMW 23.48

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 ZMW 13.14

$0.85 ZMW 15.21

-12.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 ZMW 28.10

$1.27 ZMW 22.73

23.62%

Eggs

$1.80 ZMW 32.10

$1.11 ZMW 19.85

62.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.87 ZMW 140

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.93 ZMW 70.1

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.72 ZMW 84.2

$2.88 ZMW 51.4

63.89%

Apples (1kg)

$2.58 ZMW 46.06

$1.48 ZMW 26.34

74.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 ZMW 29.65

$1.26 ZMW 22.50

31.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.80 ZMW 49.91

$2.42 ZMW 43.16

15.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.11 ZMW 19.77

$0.60 ZMW 10.68

85.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.83 ZMW 32.65

Onion (1kg)

$1.32 ZMW 23.63

$0.61 ZMW 10.89

116.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.87 ZMW 15.54

$0.74 ZMW 13.18

17.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ZMW 8.68

$0.39 ZMW 6.97

25.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.50 ZMW 44.70

Wine (Bottle)

$11.11 ZMW 198

$6.58 ZMW 117

68.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 ZMW 20.18

$0.61 ZMW 10.82

85.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 ZMW 28.18

$0.82 ZMW 14.64

92.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.80 ZMW 49.93

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.34 ZMW 167

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ZMW 21.86

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

$8,111 ZMW 144.8K

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

$28.1K ZMW 501.8K

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

$90.4 ZMW 1,614

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

$52.8 ZMW 943

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$127 ZMW 2,267

Cinema Ticket

$4.19 ZMW 74.8

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

$180 ZMW 3,212

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,418 ZMW 168.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.96 ZMW 338

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.97 ZMW 303

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.7 ZMW 1,494

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.8 ZMW 1,318

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 Zimba: May 30, 2026

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 Zimba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chilanga and Zimba differ by about 482% in total monthly costs ($660 vs $113 including rent). Zimba is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $990 in Chilanga and $170 in Zimba 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 122% higher in Chilanga. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $660 per month in Chilanga versus $113 in Zimba – a 482% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Zimba 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 Zimba gentler on the wallet – expenses run 482% less than in Chilanga. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.