Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chingola and Kitwe

For one person, living is cheaper in Kitwe: $186 a month against $421 in Chingola, rent and utilities included – about $2,800 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Jump to prices

Chingola

🇿🇲 Zambia

$421

/mo nomad

Kitwe

🇿🇲 Zambia

$186

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chingola and in Kitwe

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chingola and in Kitwe actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $421 in Chingola versus $186 in Kitwe.

Chingola $421
Kitwe $186

Estimated couple costs with rent: $718 in Chingola versus $1,228 in Kitwe.

Chingola $718
Kitwe $1,228

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,015 in Chingola versus $2,270 in Kitwe.

Chingola $1,015
Kitwe $2,270

Living in Chingola is roughly 127% more expensive than in Kitwe, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chingola 69% lower, Kitwe 86% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.08 ZMW 305

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.63 ZMW 499

Cappuccino

$2.56 ZMW 51.9

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

$0.48 ZMW 9.64

$0.58 ZMW 11.71

-17.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 ZMW 6.79

$0.76 ZMW 15.42

-55.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.56 ZMW 11.40

$2.02 ZMW 40.98

-72.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.23 ZMW 24.88

$2.46 ZMW 49.76

-50.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.76 ZMW 35.56

White Bread (500g)

$1.13 ZMW 22.89

$1.02 ZMW 20.58

10.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.45 ZMW 49.55

Eggs

$1.76 ZMW 35.61

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.19 ZMW 105

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.38 ZMW 88.8

Apples (1kg)

$1.94 ZMW 39.30

Banana (1kg)

$1.99 ZMW 40.33

Oranges (1kg)

$1.93 ZMW 39.07

Tomato (1kg)

$1.94 ZMW 39.27

Potato (1kg)

$2.99 ZMW 60.6

Onion (1kg)

$1.51 ZMW 30.53

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 ZMW 17.30

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.51 ZMW 30.60

$2.48 ZMW 50.3

-39.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.86 ZMW 98.4

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 ZMW 12.19

$1.13 ZMW 22.83

-46.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 ZMW 14.57

$0.98 ZMW 19.93

-26.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.60 ZMW 12.21

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.81 ZMW 199

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 ZMW 26.81

$1.42 ZMW 28.72

-7.04%

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

$30.4K ZMW 615.0K

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

$48.53 ZMW 983

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$102 ZMW 2,056

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.03 ZMW 203

$15.11 ZMW 306

-33.62%

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

$609 ZMW 12.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K ZMW 241.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.11 ZMW 407

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$12.32 ZMW 249

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$48.63 ZMW 985

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.0 ZMW 1,518

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,205 ZMW 24.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,451 ZMW 49.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,010 ZMW 40.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$14.7K ZMW 296.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$110 ZMW 2,219

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Chingola: November 1, 2026

Last update for Kitwe: November 2, 2026

Good to know

🇿🇲 Chingola

🇿🇲 Kitwe

🕒 Local time

20:42 8:42 PM

Same time as Chingola

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

210,073

522,092

💱 Currency

Zambian Kwacha ZMW ZK

📈 Exchange rate

100 ZMW = 4.94 USD

100 ZMW = 4.41 EUR

100 ZMW = 4.94 USD

100 ZMW = 4.41 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chingola Kitwe 49 km

From you

Chingola
Kitwe

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Kitwe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kitwe is about 56% cheaper overall, especially in groceries and eating out. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You’d need roughly $632 in Chingola and $278 in Kitwe 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 802% higher in Chingola. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you’ll spend $421 per month in Chingola versus $186 in Kitwe – Kitwe is about 56% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Kitwe gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.