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: $455 in Chingola versus $751 in Ndola.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $776 in Chingola versus $1,768 in Ndola.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,097 in Chingola versus $2,784 in Ndola.

Living in Chingola costs roughly 39% less than in Ndola, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chingola 67% lower, Ndola 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.07 ZMW 308

$5.75 ZMW 110

179.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.85 ZMW 495

$31.73 ZMW 608

-18.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.13 ZMW 98.2

Cappuccino

$2.89 ZMW 55.4

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

$0.54 ZMW 10.40

$0.56 ZMW 10.63

-3.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ZMW 7.31

$0.25 ZMW 4.75

52.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.65 ZMW 12.38

$1.29 ZMW 24.64

-49.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.30 ZMW 24.97

$2.35 ZMW 45.02

-44.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 ZMW 36.03

$1.74 ZMW 33.29

8.05%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 ZMW 24.44

$1.19 ZMW 22.76

7.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.58 ZMW 49.48

$2.14 ZMW 41.01

20.56%

Eggs

$1.93 ZMW 37.04

$1.65 ZMW 31.56

16.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.73 ZMW 205

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.16 ZMW 98.8

$6.47 ZMW 124

-20.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.85 ZMW 92.9

$6.81 ZMW 130

-28.78%

Apples (1kg)

$2.08 ZMW 39.83

$1.59 ZMW 30.49

30.82%

Banana (1kg)

$2.15 ZMW 41.09

$2.51 ZMW 48.00

-14.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.07 ZMW 39.70

$3.76 ZMW 72.0

-44.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.15 ZMW 41.22

$1.65 ZMW 31.61

30.30%

Potato (1kg)

$3.13 ZMW 59.9

$2.61 ZMW 49.89

19.92%

Onion (1kg)

$1.59 ZMW 30.52

$1.95 ZMW 37.32

-18.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.16 ZMW 22.22

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 ZMW 16.89

$0.66 ZMW 12.54

33.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.54 ZMW 29.49

$3.12 ZMW 59.7

-50.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.34 ZMW 102

$10.45 ZMW 200

-48.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 ZMW 12.52

$1.52 ZMW 29.17

-57.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.81 ZMW 15.60

$2.42 ZMW 46.43

-66.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.75 ZMW 14.41

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 ZMW 49.81

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.60 ZMW 11.48

$1.56 ZMW 29.85

-61.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.57 ZMW 202

$5.22 ZMW 99.9

102.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ZMW 27.03

$1.47 ZMW 28.20

-4.08%

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

$7,874 ZMW 150.8K

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

$27.2K ZMW 520.4K

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

$53.4 ZMW 1,022

$84.6 ZMW 1,620

-36.88%

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

$10.89 ZMW 209

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.9 ZMW 1,109

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.59 ZMW 203

Cinema Ticket

$6.17 ZMW 118

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

$143 ZMW 2,732

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.7K ZMW 320.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.26 ZMW 407

$24.07 ZMW 461

-11.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.00 ZMW 249

$16.45 ZMW 315

-20.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$53.4 ZMW 1,023

$47.47 ZMW 909

12.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.5 ZMW 1,522

$75.9 ZMW 1,453

4.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$181 ZMW 3,474

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$157 ZMW 3,009

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$388 ZMW 7,439

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,519 ZMW 29.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$15.7K ZMW 299.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$115 ZMW 2,198

$591 ZMW 11.3K

-80.57%

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 Ndola: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Ndola pays 415% 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 Ndola for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $171 vs $233 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, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 65% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 415% lower in Ndola. 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 36% 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 $26.00 versus $32.00 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 65% less than in Ndola. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.