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: $338 in Chingola versus $652 in Chilanga.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $579 in Chingola versus $976 in Chilanga.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $821 in Chingola versus $1,301 in Chilanga.

Living in Chingola costs roughly 48% less than in Chilanga, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chingola 75% lower, Chilanga 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.20 ZMW 222

$7.14 ZMW 130

70.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.15 ZMW 385

$25.30 ZMW 460

-16.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.69 ZMW 67.1

Cappuccino

$2.03 ZMW 37.01

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

$0.40 ZMW 7.22

$0.73 ZMW 13.28

-45.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ZMW 5.48

$0.36 ZMW 6.60

-16.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.48 ZMW 8.66

$0.92 ZMW 16.80

-47.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 ZMW 18.50

$1.75 ZMW 31.94

-41.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.00 ZMW 18.12

$1.28 ZMW 23.30

-21.88%

White Bread (500g)

$0.82 ZMW 14.89

$0.75 ZMW 13.74

9.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.11 ZMW 38.40

$1.60 ZMW 29.09

31.87%

Eggs

$1.14 ZMW 20.66

$1.76 ZMW 32.11

-35.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.64 ZMW 139

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.04 ZMW 37.20

$3.79 ZMW 68.9

-46.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.65 ZMW 66.4

$4.64 ZMW 84.4

-21.34%

Apples (1kg)

$1.68 ZMW 30.53

$2.59 ZMW 47.14

-35.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.67 ZMW 30.45

$1.60 ZMW 29.09

4.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ZMW 29.94

$2.82 ZMW 51.3

-41.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.69 ZMW 30.79

$1.13 ZMW 20.55

49.56%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 ZMW 46.04

$1.84 ZMW 33.45

37.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.22 ZMW 22.21

$1.32 ZMW 24.08

-7.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.86 ZMW 15.66

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 ZMW 12.50

$0.52 ZMW 9.40

32.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.27 ZMW 23.05

$2.47 ZMW 44.87

-48.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.66 ZMW 103

$10.74 ZMW 195

-47.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ZMW 8.81

$1.13 ZMW 20.52

-57.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.60 ZMW 10.95

$1.52 ZMW 27.70

-60.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.69 ZMW 48.92

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 ZMW 8.17

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.31 ZMW 151

$9.41 ZMW 171

-11.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ZMW 22.13

$1.24 ZMW 22.52

-1.61%

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)

$42.20 ZMW 768

$91.9 ZMW 1,672

-54.06%

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

$52.2 ZMW 950

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$127 ZMW 2,311

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$8.08 ZMW 147

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)

$16.57 ZMW 302

$18.57 ZMW 338

-10.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$10.28 ZMW 187

$16.71 ZMW 304

-38.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$40.97 ZMW 746

$83.6 ZMW 1,521

-50.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$62.6 ZMW 1,139

$71.9 ZMW 1,308

-12.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$16.9K ZMW 306.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$120 ZMW 2,183

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Chingola: July 11, 2026

Last update for Chilanga: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $21.00 in Chingola vs $25.00 in Chilanga for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $119 vs $177 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 93% in total monthly costs ($338 vs $652 including rent). Chingola is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $506 in Chingola and $977 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 $21.00 versus $25.00 in Chilanga. 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 $652 in Chilanga – a 93% 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 93% less than in Chilanga. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.