Cost of Living Comparison Between Chingola and Ndola Cost of Living Comparison Between Chingola and Ndola

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $340 in Chingola versus $722 in Ndola.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $580 in Chingola versus $1,700 in Ndola.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $820 in Chingola versus $2,678 in Ndola.

Living in Chingola costs roughly 53% less than in Ndola, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chingola 75% lower, Ndola 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.64 ZMW 226

$7.10 ZMW 127

78.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.63 ZMW 368

$24.46 ZMW 437

-15.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.66 ZMW 65.3

Cappuccino

$1.94 ZMW 34.61

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

$0.39 ZMW 6.99

$0.38 ZMW 6.70

2.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ZMW 5.37

$0.17 ZMW 3.09

76.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.52 ZMW 9.23

$0.94 ZMW 16.76

-44.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.03 ZMW 18.38

$1.84 ZMW 32.88

-44.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 ZMW 18.41

$1.24 ZMW 22.15

-16.94%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 ZMW 14.76

$0.79 ZMW 14.08

5.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.13 ZMW 38.01

$1.57 ZMW 28.09

35.67%

Eggs

$1.09 ZMW 19.39

$1.26 ZMW 22.58

-13.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.55 ZMW 135

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.02 ZMW 36.09

$3.95 ZMW 70.5

-48.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.74 ZMW 66.8

$4.69 ZMW 83.8

-20.26%

Apples (1kg)

$1.62 ZMW 28.83

$1.23 ZMW 21.87

31.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 ZMW 29.17

$1.65 ZMW 29.45

-1.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ZMW 30.39

$2.78 ZMW 49.57

-38.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.61 ZMW 28.77

$1.17 ZMW 20.94

37.61%

Potato (1kg)

$2.43 ZMW 43.30

$1.80 ZMW 32.20

35.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ZMW 21.50

$1.32 ZMW 23.49

-9.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 ZMW 16.36

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 ZMW 13.13

$0.51 ZMW 9.12

45.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.26 ZMW 22.47

$2.50 ZMW 44.66

-49.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.43 ZMW 97.0

$10.85 ZMW 194

-49.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ZMW 9.17

$1.14 ZMW 20.36

-55.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.60 ZMW 10.63

$1.56 ZMW 27.88

-61.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 ZMW 9.90

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.83 ZMW 32.63

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 ZMW 7.91

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.40 ZMW 150

$9.44 ZMW 168

-11.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ZMW 21.77

$1.19 ZMW 21.31

2.52%

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

$8,120 ZMW 144.9K

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

$28.0K ZMW 500.4K

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

$42.04 ZMW 750

$91.8 ZMW 1,638

-54.20%

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

$36.35 ZMW 649

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$124 ZMW 2,206

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$8.23 ZMW 147

Cinema Ticket

$4.06 ZMW 72.5

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

$173 ZMW 3,095

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,711 ZMW 173.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.28 ZMW 291

$19.00 ZMW 339

-14.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$10.28 ZMW 184

$17.14 ZMW 306

-40.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$41.08 ZMW 733

$84.6 ZMW 1,510

-51.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$62.3 ZMW 1,111

$73.2 ZMW 1,307

-14.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$126 ZMW 2,253

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$109 ZMW 1,953

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$266 ZMW 4,753

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,481 ZMW 26.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$16.2K ZMW 289.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$121 ZMW 2,161

$610 ZMW 10.9K

-80.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Chingola: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ndola: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Ndola pays 404% 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: $21.00 in Chingola vs $24.00 in Ndola for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $119 vs $170 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 Ndola: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chingola is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 112% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Ndola earns 404% less. 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 43% higher in Ndola. 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 $21.00 versus $24.00 in Ndola. 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 112% less than in Ndola. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.