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: $338 in Chingola versus $742 in Ndola.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $579 in Chingola versus $1,740 in Ndola.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $821 in Chingola versus $2,738 in Ndola.

Living in Chingola costs roughly 54% less than in Ndola, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chingola 75% lower, Ndola 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.20 ZMW 222

$7.08 ZMW 129

72.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.15 ZMW 385

$25.36 ZMW 462

-16.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.68 ZMW 67.0

Cappuccino

$1.96 ZMW 35.69

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

$0.40 ZMW 7.22

$0.35 ZMW 6.34

14.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ZMW 5.48

$0.18 ZMW 3.25

66.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.48 ZMW 8.66

$0.88 ZMW 15.98

-45.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 ZMW 18.50

$1.74 ZMW 31.67

-41.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.00 ZMW 18.12

$1.30 ZMW 23.62

-23.08%

White Bread (500g)

$0.82 ZMW 14.89

$0.79 ZMW 14.39

3.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.11 ZMW 38.40

$1.65 ZMW 29.99

27.88%

Eggs

$1.14 ZMW 20.66

$1.32 ZMW 24.09

-13.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.82 ZMW 142

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.04 ZMW 37.20

$3.95 ZMW 71.9

-48.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.65 ZMW 66.4

$4.67 ZMW 85.0

-21.84%

Apples (1kg)

$1.68 ZMW 30.53

$1.23 ZMW 22.38

36.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.67 ZMW 30.45

$1.60 ZMW 29.19

4.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ZMW 29.94

$2.67 ZMW 48.58

-38.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.69 ZMW 30.79

$1.17 ZMW 21.31

44.44%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 ZMW 46.04

$1.82 ZMW 33.14

39.01%

Onion (1kg)

$1.22 ZMW 22.21

$1.32 ZMW 24.10

-7.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.86 ZMW 15.57

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 ZMW 12.50

$0.52 ZMW 9.46

32.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.27 ZMW 23.05

$2.55 ZMW 46.49

-50.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.66 ZMW 103

$10.79 ZMW 196

-47.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ZMW 8.81

$1.09 ZMW 19.93

-55.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.60 ZMW 10.95

$1.58 ZMW 28.83

-62.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.56 ZMW 10.19

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.85 ZMW 33.69

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 ZMW 8.17

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.31 ZMW 151

$9.45 ZMW 172

-12.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ZMW 22.13

$1.23 ZMW 22.37

-0.81%

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

$7,861 ZMW 143.1K

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

$28.0K ZMW 510.0K

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

$42.20 ZMW 768

$91.3 ZMW 1,662

-53.78%

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

$36.46 ZMW 664

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$123 ZMW 2,241

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$8.08 ZMW 147

Cinema Ticket

$4.25 ZMW 77.3

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

$178 ZMW 3,240

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,526 ZMW 173.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.57 ZMW 302

$18.59 ZMW 338

-10.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$10.28 ZMW 187

$17.17 ZMW 312

-40.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$40.97 ZMW 746

$84.8 ZMW 1,543

-51.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$62.6 ZMW 1,139

$73.2 ZMW 1,333

-14.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$126 ZMW 2,295

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$109 ZMW 1,979

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$276 ZMW 5,020

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,485 ZMW 27.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$16.9K ZMW 306.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$120 ZMW 2,183

$608 ZMW 11.1K

-80.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Chingola: July 11, 2026

Last update for Ndola: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Ndola pays 407% 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 $25.00 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, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 120% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 407% 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 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 $25.00 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 120% less than in Ndola. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.