Cost of Living Comparison Between Kabwe and Chingola Cost of Living Comparison Between Kabwe and Chingola

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $652 in Kabwe versus $333 in Chingola.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $965 in Kabwe versus $575 in Chingola.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,278 in Kabwe versus $816 in Chingola.

Living in Kabwe is roughly 96% more expensive than in Chingola, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kabwe 51% lower, Chingola 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.24 ZMW 136

$12.23 ZMW 229

-40.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.49 ZMW 459

$21.11 ZMW 396

16.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.63 ZMW 68.0

Cappuccino

$1.93 ZMW 36.26

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

$0.73 ZMW 13.73

$0.43 ZMW 8.00

69.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ZMW 6.26

$0.28 ZMW 5.18

17.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.94 ZMW 17.67

$0.48 ZMW 9.02

95.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 ZMW 32.96

$1.06 ZMW 19.83

66.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 ZMW 25.02

$0.99 ZMW 18.65

34.34%

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 ZMW 14.65

$0.82 ZMW 15.29

-4.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 ZMW 30.08

$2.03 ZMW 38.07

-21.18%

Eggs

$0.95 ZMW 17.81

$1.14 ZMW 21.30

-16.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.88 ZMW 148

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.99 ZMW 74.8

$2.02 ZMW 37.91

97.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.51 ZMW 84.5

$3.81 ZMW 71.4

18.37%

Apples (1kg)

$2.52 ZMW 47.16

$1.62 ZMW 30.28

55.56%

Banana (1kg)

$0.87 ZMW 16.24

$1.69 ZMW 31.63

-48.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.66 ZMW 49.94

$1.61 ZMW 30.27

65.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.15 ZMW 21.58

$1.70 ZMW 31.87

-32.35%

Potato (1kg)

$1.87 ZMW 35.08

$2.53 ZMW 47.42

-26.09%

Onion (1kg)

$1.38 ZMW 25.86

$1.21 ZMW 22.78

14.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 ZMW 17.29

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ZMW 9.57

$0.72 ZMW 13.50

-29.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.52 ZMW 47.34

$1.26 ZMW 23.63

100.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.60 ZMW 199

$5.45 ZMW 102

94.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 ZMW 21.39

$0.52 ZMW 9.79

119.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 ZMW 28.56

$0.60 ZMW 11.21

153.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.80 ZMW 52.5

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 ZMW 8.35

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.09 ZMW 170

$8.32 ZMW 156

9.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ZMW 23.26

$1.17 ZMW 22.02

5.98%

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

$8,130 ZMW 152.4K

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

$28.0K ZMW 525.2K

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

$92.7 ZMW 1,739

$40.96 ZMW 768

126.42%

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

$52.5 ZMW 985

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$123 ZMW 2,309

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$8.54 ZMW 160

Cinema Ticket

$4.28 ZMW 80.3

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

$174 ZMW 3,260

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,643 ZMW 180.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.14 ZMW 359

$16.84 ZMW 316

13.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.04 ZMW 320

$10.53 ZMW 197

61.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.0 ZMW 1,575

$41.66 ZMW 781

101.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.2 ZMW 1,392

$62.8 ZMW 1,177

18.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$16.2K ZMW 304.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$120 ZMW 2,244

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Kabwe: July 27, 2026

Last update for Chingola: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $24.00 in Kabwe vs $21.00 in Chingola for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $171 vs $119 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

Kabwe vs Chingola: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chingola is cheaper overall, especially in Monthly Utilities & Internet, Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 96% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $977 in Kabwe and $500 in Chingola to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 44% higher in Kabwe. 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 Kabwe. 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 96% less than in Kabwe. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.