Cost of Living Comparison Between Chingola and Kafue Cost of Living Comparison Between Chingola and Kafue

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $444 in Chingola versus $605 in Kafue.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $742 in Chingola versus $953 in Kafue.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,040 in Chingola versus $1,302 in Kafue.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Chingola 68% lower, Kafue 56% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.75 ZMW 309

$5.73 ZMW 112

174.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.01 ZMW 510

$30.86 ZMW 605

-15.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.16 ZMW 101

Cappuccino

$2.85 ZMW 55.9

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

$0.54 ZMW 10.61

$0.75 ZMW 14.63

-28.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ZMW 7.36

$0.50 ZMW 9.81

-24.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.61 ZMW 11.89

$1.28 ZMW 25.08

-52.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.31 ZMW 25.59

$2.30 ZMW 45.11

-43.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 ZMW 35.67

$1.83 ZMW 35.96

-0.55%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 ZMW 24.54

$1.26 ZMW 24.71

-0.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.63 ZMW 51.5

$2.13 ZMW 41.74

23.47%

Eggs

$1.81 ZMW 35.43

$1.97 ZMW 38.63

-8.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.78 ZMW 211

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.13 ZMW 101

$6.75 ZMW 132

-24.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.59 ZMW 90.0

$6.72 ZMW 132

-31.70%

Apples (1kg)

$2.05 ZMW 40.09

$3.57 ZMW 69.9

-42.58%

Banana (1kg)

$2.02 ZMW 39.64

$2.55 ZMW 50.0

-20.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.03 ZMW 39.78

$3.79 ZMW 74.4

-46.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.13 ZMW 41.71

$1.56 ZMW 30.63

36.54%

Potato (1kg)

$3.05 ZMW 59.7

$2.60 ZMW 51.0

17.31%

Onion (1kg)

$1.52 ZMW 29.81

$1.94 ZMW 38.05

-21.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 ZMW 23.59

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 ZMW 17.76

$0.81 ZMW 15.88

12.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.57 ZMW 30.73

$3.19 ZMW 62.5

-50.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.21 ZMW 102

$10.60 ZMW 208

-50.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 ZMW 12.71

$1.52 ZMW 29.83

-57.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.79 ZMW 15.50

$2.34 ZMW 45.90

-66.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.59 ZMW 50.8

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.64 ZMW 12.49

$1.62 ZMW 31.67

-60.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.53 ZMW 206

$5.13 ZMW 100

105.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 ZMW 26.81

$1.61 ZMW 31.55

-14.91%

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

$7,734 ZMW 151.6K

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

$27.2K ZMW 532.7K

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

$52.6 ZMW 1,031

$82.0 ZMW 1,607

-35.83%

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

$10.99 ZMW 215

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.5 ZMW 1,127

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.37 ZMW 203

Cinema Ticket

$6.38 ZMW 125

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

$146 ZMW 2,868

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.8K ZMW 328.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.47 ZMW 401

$23.80 ZMW 466

-13.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.12 ZMW 257

$15.75 ZMW 309

-16.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$51.2 ZMW 1,003

$46.80 ZMW 917

9.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.6 ZMW 1,521

$74.4 ZMW 1,458

4.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$15.3K ZMW 300.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$113 ZMW 2,216

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Chingola: September 15, 2026

Last update for Kafue: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $26.00 in Chingola vs $31.00 in Kafue for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $167 vs $249 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 Kafue: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chingola is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 36% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $667 in Chingola and $907 in Kafue 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 49% higher in Kafue. 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 $26.00 versus $31.00 in Kafue. 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 36% less than in Kafue. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.