Cost of Living Comparison Between Chingola and Lusaka Cost of Living Comparison Between Chingola and Lusaka

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $455 in Chingola versus $907 in Lusaka.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $776 in Chingola versus $1,534 in Lusaka.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,097 in Chingola versus $2,161 in Lusaka.

Living in Chingola costs roughly 50% less than in Lusaka, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chingola 67% lower, Lusaka 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.07 ZMW 307

$5.70 ZMW 109

181.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.85 ZMW 494

$31.91 ZMW 609

-18.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.31 ZMW 101

Cappuccino

$2.98 ZMW 57.0

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

$0.54 ZMW 10.37

$0.82 ZMW 15.73

-34.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ZMW 7.30

$0.47 ZMW 9.02

-19.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.65 ZMW 12.35

$1.36 ZMW 25.95

-52.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.30 ZMW 24.90

$2.34 ZMW 44.68

-44.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 ZMW 35.94

$1.86 ZMW 35.53

1.08%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 ZMW 24.37

$1.25 ZMW 23.79

2.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.58 ZMW 49.35

$2.19 ZMW 41.74

17.81%

Eggs

$1.93 ZMW 36.95

$2.05 ZMW 39.17

-5.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.75 ZMW 205

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.16 ZMW 98.5

$6.54 ZMW 125

-21.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.85 ZMW 92.7

$6.75 ZMW 129

-28.15%

Apples (1kg)

$2.08 ZMW 39.72

$3.55 ZMW 67.9

-41.41%

Banana (1kg)

$2.15 ZMW 40.98

$2.50 ZMW 47.66

-14.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.07 ZMW 39.60

$3.72 ZMW 71.0

-44.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.15 ZMW 41.11

$1.59 ZMW 30.34

35.22%

Potato (1kg)

$3.13 ZMW 59.8

$2.74 ZMW 52.3

14.23%

Onion (1kg)

$1.59 ZMW 30.44

$1.97 ZMW 37.63

-19.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 ZMW 21.91

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 ZMW 16.85

$0.83 ZMW 15.77

6.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.54 ZMW 29.42

$3.22 ZMW 61.4

-52.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.34 ZMW 102

$10.52 ZMW 201

-49.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 ZMW 12.49

$1.48 ZMW 28.18

-56.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.81 ZMW 15.56

$2.47 ZMW 47.26

-67.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.02 ZMW 19.56

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.1 ZMW 995

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 ZMW 51.1

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.60 ZMW 11.45

$1.56 ZMW 29.78

-61.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.57 ZMW 202

$5.23 ZMW 99.9

102.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ZMW 26.96

$1.58 ZMW 30.13

-10.76%

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

$7,791 ZMW 148.8K

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

$27.7K ZMW 529.1K

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

$53.4 ZMW 1,020

$83.7 ZMW 1,598

-36.17%

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

$11.07 ZMW 211

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$56.7 ZMW 1,083

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.59 ZMW 202

$56.4 ZMW 1,076

-81.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.97 ZMW 305

Cinema Ticket

$6.37 ZMW 122

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

$147 ZMW 2,802

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.6K ZMW 317.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.26 ZMW 406

$24.76 ZMW 473

-14.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.00 ZMW 248

$16.00 ZMW 306

-18.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$53.4 ZMW 1,020

$47.84 ZMW 914

11.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.5 ZMW 1,518

$77.1 ZMW 1,472

3.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$389 ZMW 7,424

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$183 ZMW 3,492

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,118 ZMW 21.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$596 ZMW 11.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,896 ZMW 36.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$15.7K ZMW 299.0K

$5,285 ZMW 100.9K

196.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$115 ZMW 2,192

$336 ZMW 6,414

-65.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Chingola: August 31, 2026

Last update for Lusaka: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Lusaka pays 193% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $26.00 in Chingola vs $32.00 in Lusaka for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $171 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 Lusaka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chingola is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 99% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 193% lower in Lusaka. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Supermarket bills run roughly 45% higher in Lusaka. 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 $32.00 in Lusaka. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $455 in Chingola versus $907 in Lusaka, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Chingola but tight or insufficient in Lusaka. The gap between the two cities makes Chingola the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 99% less than in Lusaka. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.