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

🙂 Solo nomad: Chingola is 53.4% cheaper than Lusaka without rent, and 59.9% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chingola is 42.1% cheaper than Lusaka without rent, and 60.7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chingola
Lusaka
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.55 ZMW 240
$7.23 ZMW 138
73.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.47 ZMW 392
$24.83 ZMW 475
-17.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
-
$3.68 ZMW 70.4
-
Cappuccino
-
$1.99 ZMW 38.11
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42 ZMW 8.09
$0.72 ZMW 13.85
-41.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 ZMW 5.81
$0.34 ZMW 6.50
-11.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.51 ZMW 9.85
$0.92 ZMW 17.66
-44.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07 ZMW 20.48
$1.74 ZMW 33.24
-38.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chingola
Lusaka
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.00 ZMW 19.21
$1.32 ZMW 25.17
-24.24%
White Bread (500g)
$0.82 ZMW 15.63
$0.73 ZMW 14.02
12.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.01 ZMW 38.45
$1.60 ZMW 30.67
25.62%
Eggs
$1.09 ZMW 20.83
$1.84 ZMW 35.25
-40.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$7.70 ZMW 147
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.13 ZMW 40.77
$3.98 ZMW 76.1
-46.48%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$3.72 ZMW 71.2
$4.74 ZMW 90.7
-21.52%
Apples (1kg)
$1.70 ZMW 32.54
$2.48 ZMW 47.52
-31.45%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 ZMW 31.96
$1.67 ZMW 31.91
-
Oranges (1kg)
$1.62 ZMW 31.07
$2.80 ZMW 53.5
-42.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.68 ZMW 32.11
$1.17 ZMW 22.40
43.59%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 ZMW 48.42
$1.89 ZMW 36.17
33.86%
Onion (1kg)
$1.26 ZMW 24.04
$1.36 ZMW 26.09
-7.35%
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$0.94 ZMW 17.92
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 ZMW 13.35
$0.48 ZMW 9.17
45.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.23 ZMW 23.45
$2.53 ZMW 48.34
-51.38%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.36 ZMW 103
$8.07 ZMW 154
-33.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 ZMW 9.16
$1.13 ZMW 21.61
-57.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ZMW 12.27
$1.53 ZMW 29.26
-58.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Chingola
Lusaka
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.00 ZMW 19.17
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$38.65 ZMW 739
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$2.73 ZMW 52.2
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 ZMW 7.99
$1.13 ZMW 21.63
-62.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.52 ZMW 163
$8.99 ZMW 172
-5.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 ZMW 23.51
$1.23 ZMW 23.50
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$8,140 ZMW 155.7K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$28.5K ZMW 544.9K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chingola
Lusaka
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.85 ZMW 781
$92.9 ZMW 1,778
-56.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$53.1 ZMW 1,016
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$126 ZMW 2,402
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chingola
Lusaka
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$8.54 ZMW 163
$45.23 ZMW 865
-81.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.75 ZMW 263
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$4.27 ZMW 81.6
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chingola
Lusaka
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$175 ZMW 3,349
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$9,583 ZMW 183.3K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chingola
Lusaka
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$16.41 ZMW 314
$18.74 ZMW 358
-12.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$10.36 ZMW 198
$17.19 ZMW 329
-39.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$41.35 ZMW 791
$85.8 ZMW 1,642
-51.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$61.0 ZMW 1,168
$73.9 ZMW 1,414
-17.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chingola
Lusaka
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$222 ZMW 4,251
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$120 ZMW 2,299
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,042 ZMW 19.9K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$600 ZMW 11.5K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,997 ZMW 38.2K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$15.6K ZMW 298.3K
$3,895 ZMW 74.5K
300.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chingola
Lusaka
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$115 ZMW 2,205
$344 ZMW 6,576
-66.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
25
-

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

Last update for Chingola: April 14, 2026

Last update for Lusaka: April 13, 2026

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

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