Cost of Living Comparison Between Chingola and Barcelona Cost of Living Comparison Between Chingola and Barcelona

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $338 in Chingola versus $2,320 in Barcelona.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $579 in Chingola versus $3,426 in Barcelona.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $821 in Chingola versus $4,532 in Barcelona.

Living in Chingola costs roughly 85% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Chingola is 75% below, Barcelona is 74% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.20 ZMW 222

$17.66 €15.46

-30.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.15 ZMW 385

$69.7 €61.0

-69.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.16 €12.40

Cappuccino

$2.80 €2.45

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

$0.40 ZMW 7.22

$2.81 €2.46

-85.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ZMW 5.48

$2.06 €1.81

-85.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.48 ZMW 8.66

$4.60 €4.03

-89.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 ZMW 18.50

$4.69 €4.11

-78.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.00 ZMW 18.12

$1.23 €1.08

-18.70%

White Bread (500g)

$0.82 ZMW 14.89

$2.03 €1.78

-59.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.11 ZMW 38.40

$1.98 €1.73

6.57%

Eggs

$1.14 ZMW 20.66

$3.49 €3.05

-67.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.33 €16.05

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.04 ZMW 37.20

$9.83 €8.61

-79.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.65 ZMW 66.4

$19.13 €16.75

-80.92%

Apples (1kg)

$1.68 ZMW 30.53

$2.73 €2.39

-38.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.67 ZMW 30.45

$2.38 €2.09

-29.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ZMW 29.94

$2.08 €1.82

-21.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.69 ZMW 30.79

$2.75 €2.41

-38.55%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 ZMW 46.04

$1.96 €1.72

29.08%

Onion (1kg)

$1.22 ZMW 22.21

$1.79 €1.57

-31.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.48 €1.29

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 ZMW 12.50

$0.91 €0.80

-24.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.27 ZMW 23.05

$7.13 €6.25

-82.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.66 ZMW 103

$7.88 €6.90

-28.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ZMW 8.81

$1.38 €1.21

-65.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.60 ZMW 10.95

$2.39 €2.09

-74.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.01 €2.64

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.35 €25.71

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.36 €3.82

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 ZMW 8.17

$2.13 €1.86

-78.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.31 ZMW 151

$29.60 €25.93

-71.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ZMW 22.13

$1.82 €1.60

-32.97%

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

$37.9K €33.2K

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

$32.4K €28.4K

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

$42.20 ZMW 768

$189 €166

-77.68%

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

$22.29 €19.52

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.16 €32.55

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$8.08 ZMW 147

$58.0 €50.8

-86.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.66 €18.09

Cinema Ticket

$10.87 €9.52

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

$706 €618

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K €13.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.57 ZMW 302

$89.4 €78.3

-81.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$10.28 ZMW 187

$36.60 €32.06

-71.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$40.97 ZMW 746

$104 €91.1

-60.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$62.6 ZMW 1,139

$119 €105

-47.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,579 €1,383

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,238 €1,084

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,712 €2,375

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,039 €1,786

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,527 €6,592

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$16.9K ZMW 306.9K

$5,239 €4,588

221.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$120 ZMW 2,183

$2,364 €2,070

-94.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.39

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chingola: July 11, 2026

Last update for Barcelona: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Barcelona pays 1871% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $21.00 in Chingola vs $70.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $119 vs $320 per month, with Chingola cheaper across the board.

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

Chingola vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chingola and Barcelona differ by about 587% in total monthly costs ($338 vs $2,320 including rent). Chingola is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 1871% lower in Barcelona. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Dining out is cheaper in Chingola – a meal for two runs $21.00 versus $70.0 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $338 per month in Chingola versus $2,320 in Barcelona – a 587% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $338 in Chingola versus $2,320 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Chingola but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Chingola the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Chingola and Barcelona are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Chingola gentler on the wallet – expenses run 587% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.