Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chingola and Livingstone

For one person, living is cheaper in Livingstone: $202 a month against $428 in Chingola, rent and utilities included – about $2,700 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Jump to prices

Chingola

🇿🇲 Zambia

$428

/mo nomad

Livingstone

🇿🇲 Zambia

$202

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chingola and in Livingstone

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 Livingstone actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $428 in Chingola versus $202 in Livingstone.

Chingola $428
Livingstone $202

Estimated couple costs with rent: $731 in Chingola versus $369 in Livingstone.

Chingola $731
Livingstone $369

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,033 in Chingola versus $536 in Livingstone.

Chingola $1,033
Livingstone $536

Living in Chingola is roughly 112% more expensive than in Livingstone, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chingola 68% lower, Livingstone 85% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.26 ZMW 304

$7.42 ZMW 148

105.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.50 ZMW 507

$29.48 ZMW 586

-13.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.92 ZMW 177

Cappuccino

$5.10 ZMW 101

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

$0.52 ZMW 10.33

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ZMW 7.29

$0.34 ZMW 6.67

8.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.61 ZMW 12.20

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.23 ZMW 24.41

Milk (1 liter)

$1.76 ZMW 35.04

White Bread (500g)

$1.20 ZMW 23.79

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.48 ZMW 49.29

Eggs

$1.84 ZMW 36.67

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.11 ZMW 102

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.53 ZMW 90.1

Apples (1kg)

$1.98 ZMW 39.48

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 ZMW 39.37

Oranges (1kg)

$2.01 ZMW 40.05

Tomato (1kg)

$1.99 ZMW 39.49

Potato (1kg)

$3.03 ZMW 60.2

Onion (1kg)

$1.54 ZMW 30.68

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 ZMW 17.59

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.54 ZMW 30.63

Wine (Bottle)

$4.96 ZMW 98.6

$20.14 ZMW 401

-75.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 ZMW 12.34

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 ZMW 15.60

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ZMW 11.61

$2.58 ZMW 51.3

-77.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.17 ZMW 202

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ZMW 26.68

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

$49.29 ZMW 980

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.97 ZMW 198

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.29 ZMW 404

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$12.36 ZMW 246

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$50.3 ZMW 1,001

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.9 ZMW 1,509

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$15.1K ZMW 300.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$112 ZMW 2,223

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

Last update for Chingola: October 19, 2026

Last update for Livingstone: October 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $26.00 in Chingola vs $29.00 in Livingstone. Groceries flip the comparison at $163 vs $40.00, with Livingstone cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know

🇿🇲 Chingola

🇿🇲 Livingstone

🕒 Local time

17:16 5:16 PM

Same time as Chingola

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

210,073

136,897

💱 Currency

Zambian Kwacha ZMW ZK

📈 Exchange rate

100 ZMW = 5.03 USD

100 ZMW = 4.47 EUR

100 ZMW = 5.03 USD

100 ZMW = 4.47 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chingola Livingstone 630 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Chingola
Livingstone

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 Livingstone: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Livingstone is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and leisure. The 112% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $642 in Chingola and $303 in Livingstone 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 305% higher in Chingola. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Livingstone – a meal for two runs $29.00 versus $26.00 in Chingola. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Livingstone 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 Livingstone gentler on the wallet – expenses run 112% less than in Chingola. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.