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: $584 in Kabwe versus $435 in Chingola.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $947 in Kabwe versus $744 in Chingola.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,310 in Kabwe versus $1,052 in Chingola.

Living in Kabwe is roughly 34% more expensive than in Chingola, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kabwe 58% lower, Chingola 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.76 ZMW 111

$15.80 ZMW 304

-63.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.68 ZMW 610

$25.58 ZMW 493

23.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.34 ZMW 103

Cappuccino

$2.91 ZMW 55.9

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

$0.76 ZMW 14.55

$0.54 ZMW 10.31

40.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 ZMW 9.03

$0.36 ZMW 6.90

30.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.27 ZMW 24.40

$0.65 ZMW 12.49

95.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 ZMW 44.96

$1.32 ZMW 25.46

77.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 ZMW 34.86

$1.87 ZMW 36.05

-3.21%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 ZMW 24.42

$1.25 ZMW 24.00

1.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.20 ZMW 42.36

$2.56 ZMW 49.20

-14.06%

Eggs

$1.21 ZMW 23.29

$1.84 ZMW 35.37

-34.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.85 ZMW 209

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.38 ZMW 123

$5.27 ZMW 101

21.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.62 ZMW 127

$4.56 ZMW 87.8

45.18%

Apples (1kg)

$3.58 ZMW 68.9

$2.07 ZMW 39.81

72.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 ZMW 20.62

$2.08 ZMW 40.02

-48.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.83 ZMW 73.8

$2.12 ZMW 40.85

80.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.57 ZMW 30.27

$2.04 ZMW 39.24

-23.04%

Potato (1kg)

$2.73 ZMW 52.5

$3.18 ZMW 61.2

-14.15%

Onion (1kg)

$1.88 ZMW 36.20

$1.58 ZMW 30.45

18.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 ZMW 22.18

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 ZMW 15.56

$0.92 ZMW 17.76

-11.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.06 ZMW 58.9

$1.55 ZMW 29.91

97.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.31 ZMW 198

$5.10 ZMW 98.2

102.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 ZMW 28.05

$0.64 ZMW 12.33

128.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 ZMW 46.61

$0.81 ZMW 15.61

198.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.58 ZMW 49.70

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 ZMW 29.84

$0.66 ZMW 12.64

134.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.20 ZMW 100

$10.61 ZMW 204

-50.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 ZMW 26.67

$1.41 ZMW 27.10

-1.42%

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

$7,707 ZMW 148.4K

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

$27.0K ZMW 520.2K

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

$84.1 ZMW 1,620

$52.2 ZMW 1,005

61.14%

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

$10.73 ZMW 206

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.9 ZMW 1,115

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.32 ZMW 199

Cinema Ticket

$6.28 ZMW 121

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

$141 ZMW 2,707

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.7K ZMW 321.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.13 ZMW 465

$20.85 ZMW 401

15.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.00 ZMW 308

$12.98 ZMW 250

23.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$47.52 ZMW 915

$51.3 ZMW 988

-7.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.3 ZMW 1,431

$78.0 ZMW 1,502

-4.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$15.8K ZMW 304.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$116 ZMW 2,234

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Kabwe: September 5, 2026

Last update for Chingola: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $32.00 in Kabwe vs $26.00 in Chingola for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $235 vs $169 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 Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 34% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $876 in Kabwe and $653 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 39% 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 $26.00 versus $32.00 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 34% less than in Kabwe. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.