Cost of Living Comparison Between Chingola and Kabwe Cost of Living Comparison Between Chingola and Kabwe

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $343 in Chingola versus $632 in Kabwe.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $580 in Chingola versus $948 in Kabwe.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $817 in Chingola versus $1,264 in Kabwe.

Living in Chingola costs roughly 46% less than in Kabwe, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chingola 74% lower, Kabwe 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.27 ZMW 215

$7.30 ZMW 128

68.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.70 ZMW 362

$25.29 ZMW 442

-18.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.68 ZMW 64.3

Cappuccino

$2.03 ZMW 35.54

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

$0.40 ZMW 6.99

$0.73 ZMW 12.74

-45.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ZMW 5.31

$0.36 ZMW 6.35

-16.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.48 ZMW 8.32

$0.94 ZMW 16.51

-48.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.06 ZMW 18.60

$1.81 ZMW 31.65

-41.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.00 ZMW 17.45

$1.27 ZMW 22.17

-21.26%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 ZMW 14.08

$0.75 ZMW 13.12

8.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.12 ZMW 37.01

$1.67 ZMW 29.11

26.95%

Eggs

$1.10 ZMW 19.20

$0.97 ZMW 16.92

13.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.85 ZMW 137

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.12 ZMW 36.99

$3.80 ZMW 66.5

-44.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.72 ZMW 64.9

$4.55 ZMW 79.6

-18.24%

Apples (1kg)

$1.63 ZMW 28.49

$2.48 ZMW 43.32

-34.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ZMW 28.35

$0.87 ZMW 15.14

86.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ZMW 28.63

$2.79 ZMW 48.73

-41.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.62 ZMW 28.37

$1.16 ZMW 20.28

39.66%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 ZMW 44.72

$1.80 ZMW 31.40

42.22%

Onion (1kg)

$1.22 ZMW 21.36

$1.31 ZMW 22.93

-6.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 ZMW 16.11

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ZMW 12.16

$0.52 ZMW 9.11

34.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.26 ZMW 22.08

$2.42 ZMW 42.26

-47.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.58 ZMW 97.5

$11.19 ZMW 196

-50.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ZMW 9.05

$1.10 ZMW 19.21

-52.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 ZMW 11.14

$1.52 ZMW 26.65

-57.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.77 ZMW 48.37

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 ZMW 7.29

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.06 ZMW 141

$8.94 ZMW 156

-9.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ZMW 21.54

$1.24 ZMW 21.68

-0.81%

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

$8,110 ZMW 141.8K

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

$28.9K ZMW 504.9K

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

$41.81 ZMW 731

$92.3 ZMW 1,614

-54.72%

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

$52.0 ZMW 909

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$126 ZMW 2,194

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$8.51 ZMW 149

Cinema Ticket

$4.09 ZMW 71.6

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

$180 ZMW 3,150

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,441 ZMW 165.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.57 ZMW 290

$19.14 ZMW 334

-13.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$10.29 ZMW 180

$16.66 ZMW 291

-38.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$41.41 ZMW 724

$84.9 ZMW 1,484

-51.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$62.2 ZMW 1,088

$71.7 ZMW 1,253

-13.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$17.3K ZMW 301.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$125 ZMW 2,189

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Chingola: June 7, 2026

Last update for Kabwe: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $21.00 in Chingola vs $25.00 in Kabwe for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $119 vs $170 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 Kabwe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chingola is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 84% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $514 in Chingola and $948 in Kabwe 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 44% higher in Kabwe. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Chingola – a meal for two runs $21.00 versus $25.00 in Kabwe. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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 84% less than in Kabwe. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.