Cost of Living Comparison Between Kabwe and Lusaka Cost of Living Comparison Between Kabwe and Lusaka

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $584 per month in Kabwe vs $908 in Lusaka, rent included.

A couple spends around $947 per month in Kabwe vs $1,554 in Lusaka, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,310 per month in Kabwe vs $2,201 in Lusaka, rent included.

Kabwe is about 36% cheaper than Lusaka, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Kabwe and Lusaka are more affordable than the global median – Kabwe 58% lower, Lusaka 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.76 ZMW 111

$5.79 ZMW 111

-0.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.68 ZMW 610

$31.89 ZMW 614

-0.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.34 ZMW 103

$5.14 ZMW 99.0

3.89%

Cappuccino

$2.91 ZMW 55.9

$2.85 ZMW 54.8

2.11%

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

$0.76 ZMW 14.55

$0.74 ZMW 14.28

2.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 ZMW 9.03

$0.51 ZMW 9.80

-7.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.27 ZMW 24.40

$1.28 ZMW 24.68

-0.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 ZMW 44.96

$2.31 ZMW 44.49

1.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 ZMW 34.86

$1.75 ZMW 33.65

3.43%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 ZMW 24.42

$1.21 ZMW 23.37

4.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.20 ZMW 42.36

$2.12 ZMW 40.72

3.77%

Eggs

$1.21 ZMW 23.29

$1.95 ZMW 37.56

-37.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.85 ZMW 209

$10.71 ZMW 206

1.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.38 ZMW 123

$6.69 ZMW 129

-4.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.62 ZMW 127

$6.61 ZMW 127

0.15%

Apples (1kg)

$3.58 ZMW 68.9

$3.53 ZMW 67.9

1.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 ZMW 20.62

$2.45 ZMW 47.13

-56.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.83 ZMW 73.8

$3.70 ZMW 71.3

3.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.57 ZMW 30.27

$1.55 ZMW 29.77

1.29%

Potato (1kg)

$2.73 ZMW 52.5

$2.58 ZMW 49.73

5.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.88 ZMW 36.20

$1.95 ZMW 37.59

-3.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 ZMW 22.18

$1.19 ZMW 22.96

-3.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 ZMW 15.56

$0.76 ZMW 14.67

6.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.06 ZMW 58.9

$3.10 ZMW 59.7

-1.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.31 ZMW 198

$10.39 ZMW 200

-0.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 ZMW 28.05

$1.53 ZMW 29.45

-4.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 ZMW 46.61

$2.42 ZMW 46.57

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.02 ZMW 19.67

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$51.7 ZMW 995

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.58 ZMW 49.70

$2.55 ZMW 49.18

1.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 ZMW 29.84

$1.60 ZMW 30.74

-3.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.20 ZMW 100

$5.11 ZMW 98.4

1.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 ZMW 26.67

$1.62 ZMW 31.16

-14.20%

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

$7,707 ZMW 148.4K

$7,970 ZMW 153.4K

-3.30%

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

$27.0K ZMW 520.2K

$27.6K ZMW 530.7K

-1.97%

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

$84.1 ZMW 1,620

$82.2 ZMW 1,581

2.41%

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

$10.73 ZMW 206

$10.81 ZMW 208

-0.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.9 ZMW 1,115

$56.8 ZMW 1,094

1.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.4 ZMW 1,104

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.73 ZMW 303

Cinema Ticket

$6.28 ZMW 121

$6.31 ZMW 121

-0.48%

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

$141 ZMW 2,707

$144 ZMW 2,767

-2.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.7K ZMW 321.5K

$16.6K ZMW 320.1K

0.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.13 ZMW 465

$23.75 ZMW 457

1.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.00 ZMW 308

$15.95 ZMW 307

0.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$47.52 ZMW 915

$47.19 ZMW 908

0.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.3 ZMW 1,431

$75.1 ZMW 1,445

-1.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$384 ZMW 7,389

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$182 ZMW 3,496

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,124 ZMW 21.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$610 ZMW 11.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,905 ZMW 36.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,172 ZMW 99.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$332 ZMW 6,395

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 Lusaka: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Kabwe versus $32.00 in Lusaka. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $235 vs $245 – making Kabwe the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Lusaka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lusaka costs about 55% more than Kabwe, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $876 per month in Kabwe and $1,362 in Lusaka. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Kabwe and $32.00 in Lusaka. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 4% more in Lusaka, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kabwe, where all-in costs run around $584, than in Lusaka at $908. In Kabwe it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lusaka it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Kabwe – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Kabwe. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lusaka makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.