Cost of Living Comparison Between Chingola and Chilanga Cost of Living Comparison Between Chingola and Chilanga

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $455 in Chingola versus $623 in Chilanga.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $776 in Chingola versus $989 in Chilanga.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,097 in Chingola versus $1,355 in Chilanga.

Living in Chingola costs roughly 27% less than in Chilanga, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chingola 67% lower, Chilanga 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.07 ZMW 307

$5.68 ZMW 109

182.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.85 ZMW 494

$31.47 ZMW 601

-17.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.41 ZMW 103

Cappuccino

$2.92 ZMW 55.7

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

$0.54 ZMW 10.37

$0.79 ZMW 15.18

-31.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ZMW 7.30

$0.52 ZMW 9.87

-26.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.65 ZMW 12.35

$1.34 ZMW 25.58

-51.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.30 ZMW 24.90

$2.33 ZMW 44.58

-44.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 ZMW 35.94

$1.75 ZMW 33.33

7.43%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 ZMW 24.37

$1.27 ZMW 24.23

0.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.58 ZMW 49.35

$2.19 ZMW 41.81

17.81%

Eggs

$1.93 ZMW 36.95

$2.02 ZMW 38.53

-4.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.60 ZMW 203

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.16 ZMW 98.5

$6.33 ZMW 121

-18.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.85 ZMW 92.7

$6.82 ZMW 130

-28.89%

Apples (1kg)

$2.08 ZMW 39.72

$3.95 ZMW 75.4

-47.34%

Banana (1kg)

$2.15 ZMW 40.98

$2.55 ZMW 48.78

-15.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.07 ZMW 39.60

$3.95 ZMW 75.5

-47.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.15 ZMW 41.11

$1.63 ZMW 31.11

31.90%

Potato (1kg)

$3.13 ZMW 59.8

$2.73 ZMW 52.1

14.65%

Onion (1kg)

$1.59 ZMW 30.44

$2.10 ZMW 40.03

-24.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 ZMW 21.94

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 ZMW 16.85

$0.76 ZMW 14.60

15.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.54 ZMW 29.42

$3.12 ZMW 59.5

-50.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.34 ZMW 102

$10.64 ZMW 203

-49.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 ZMW 12.49

$1.55 ZMW 29.63

-58.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.81 ZMW 15.56

$2.48 ZMW 47.40

-67.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.61 ZMW 49.88

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.60 ZMW 11.45

$1.43 ZMW 27.34

-58.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.57 ZMW 202

$5.37 ZMW 103

96.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ZMW 26.96

$1.63 ZMW 31.04

-13.50%

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

$7,864 ZMW 150.2K

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

$33.9K ZMW 647.2K

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

$53.4 ZMW 1,020

$84.1 ZMW 1,605

-36.48%

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

$10.88 ZMW 208

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.5 ZMW 1,097

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.59 ZMW 202

Cinema Ticket

$6.28 ZMW 120

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

$142 ZMW 2,721

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.5K ZMW 315.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.26 ZMW 406

$25.60 ZMW 489

-16.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.00 ZMW 248

$15.43 ZMW 295

-15.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$53.4 ZMW 1,020

$45.59 ZMW 871

17.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.5 ZMW 1,518

$77.3 ZMW 1,476

2.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$15.7K ZMW 299.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$115 ZMW 2,192

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Chingola: August 31, 2026

Last update for Chilanga: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $26.00 in Chingola vs $31.00 in Chilanga for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $171 vs $250 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 Chilanga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chingola and Chilanga differ by about 37% in total monthly costs ($455 vs $623 including rent). Chingola is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $682 in Chingola and $934 in Chilanga 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 Chingola – a meal for two runs $26.00 versus $31.00 in Chilanga. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $455 per month in Chingola versus $623 in Chilanga – a 37% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Chingola 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 Chingola gentler on the wallet – expenses run 37% less than in Chilanga. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.