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: $652 in Chilanga versus $113 in Zimba.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $976 in Chilanga versus $174 in Zimba.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,301 in Chilanga versus $235 in Zimba.

Living in Chilanga is roughly 474% more expensive than in Zimba, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.14 ZMW 130

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.30 ZMW 460

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.69 ZMW 67.1

$2.43 ZMW 44.19

51.85%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ZMW 37.01

$1.28 ZMW 23.22

58.59%

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

$0.73 ZMW 13.28

$0.64 ZMW 11.74

14.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ZMW 6.60

$0.30 ZMW 5.52

20.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.92 ZMW 16.80

$0.63 ZMW 11.47

46.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 ZMW 31.94

$0.85 ZMW 15.44

105.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.28 ZMW 23.30

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 ZMW 13.74

$0.80 ZMW 14.54

-6.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 ZMW 29.09

$1.20 ZMW 21.90

33.33%

Eggs

$1.76 ZMW 32.11

$1.05 ZMW 19.18

67.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.64 ZMW 139

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.79 ZMW 68.9

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.64 ZMW 84.4

$2.93 ZMW 53.4

58.36%

Apples (1kg)

$2.59 ZMW 47.14

$1.43 ZMW 25.98

81.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.60 ZMW 29.09

$1.27 ZMW 23.04

25.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.82 ZMW 51.3

$2.43 ZMW 44.15

16.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.13 ZMW 20.55

$0.63 ZMW 11.48

79.37%

Potato (1kg)

$1.84 ZMW 33.45

Onion (1kg)

$1.32 ZMW 24.08

$0.63 ZMW 11.53

109.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.86 ZMW 15.66

$0.69 ZMW 12.47

24.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ZMW 9.40

$0.39 ZMW 7.13

33.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.47 ZMW 44.87

Wine (Bottle)

$10.74 ZMW 195

$6.62 ZMW 121

62.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 ZMW 20.52

$0.64 ZMW 11.63

76.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 ZMW 27.70

$0.85 ZMW 15.45

78.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.69 ZMW 48.92

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.41 ZMW 171

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ZMW 22.52

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

$8,084 ZMW 147.1K

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

$28.3K ZMW 514.7K

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

$91.9 ZMW 1,672

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

$52.2 ZMW 950

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$127 ZMW 2,311

Cinema Ticket

$4.23 ZMW 77.0

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

$180 ZMW 3,271

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,457 ZMW 172.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.57 ZMW 338

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.71 ZMW 304

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.6 ZMW 1,521

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.9 ZMW 1,308

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 13, 2026

Last update for Zimba: July 11, 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 474% in total monthly costs ($652 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 $977 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 121% higher in Chilanga. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $652 per month in Chilanga versus $113 in Zimba – a 474% 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 474% less than in Chilanga. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.