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: $340 in Chingola versus $660 in Chilanga.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $580 in Chingola versus $978 in Chilanga.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $820 in Chingola versus $1,297 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

$12.64 ZMW 226

$7.16 ZMW 128

76.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.63 ZMW 368

$24.88 ZMW 444

-17.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.64 ZMW 65.0

Cappuccino

$2.04 ZMW 36.35

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

$0.39 ZMW 6.99

$0.72 ZMW 12.89

-45.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ZMW 5.37

$0.34 ZMW 6.02

-11.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.52 ZMW 9.23

$0.88 ZMW 15.65

-40.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.03 ZMW 18.38

$1.77 ZMW 31.58

-41.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 ZMW 18.41

$1.32 ZMW 23.48

-21.97%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 ZMW 14.76

$0.74 ZMW 13.14

12.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.13 ZMW 38.01

$1.57 ZMW 28.10

35.67%

Eggs

$1.09 ZMW 19.39

$1.80 ZMW 32.10

-39.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.87 ZMW 140

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.02 ZMW 36.09

$3.93 ZMW 70.1

-48.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.74 ZMW 66.8

$4.72 ZMW 84.2

-20.76%

Apples (1kg)

$1.62 ZMW 28.83

$2.58 ZMW 46.06

-37.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 ZMW 29.17

$1.66 ZMW 29.65

-1.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ZMW 30.39

$2.80 ZMW 49.91

-39.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.61 ZMW 28.77

$1.11 ZMW 19.77

45.05%

Potato (1kg)

$2.43 ZMW 43.30

$1.83 ZMW 32.65

32.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ZMW 21.50

$1.32 ZMW 23.63

-9.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.87 ZMW 15.54

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 ZMW 13.13

$0.49 ZMW 8.68

51.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.26 ZMW 22.47

$2.50 ZMW 44.70

-49.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.43 ZMW 97.0

$11.11 ZMW 198

-51.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ZMW 9.17

$1.13 ZMW 20.18

-54.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.60 ZMW 10.63

$1.58 ZMW 28.18

-62.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.80 ZMW 49.93

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 ZMW 7.91

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.40 ZMW 150

$9.34 ZMW 167

-10.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ZMW 21.77

$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)

$42.04 ZMW 750

$90.4 ZMW 1,614

-53.52%

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

$52.8 ZMW 943

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$127 ZMW 2,267

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$8.23 ZMW 147

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)

$16.28 ZMW 291

$18.96 ZMW 338

-14.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$10.28 ZMW 184

$16.97 ZMW 303

-39.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$41.08 ZMW 733

$83.7 ZMW 1,494

-50.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$62.3 ZMW 1,111

$73.8 ZMW 1,318

-15.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$16.2K ZMW 289.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$121 ZMW 2,161

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Chingola: May 31, 2026

Last update for Chilanga: June 1, 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 $179 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 94% in total monthly costs ($340 vs $660 including rent). Chingola is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $511 in Chingola and $990 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 $340 per month in Chingola versus $660 in Chilanga – a 94% 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 94% less than in Chilanga. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.