Cost of Living Comparison Between Kabwe and Zimba Cost of Living Comparison Between Kabwe and Zimba

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $632 per month in Kabwe vs $111 in Zimba, rent included.

A couple spends around $948 per month in Kabwe vs $173 in Zimba, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,264 per month in Kabwe vs $235 in Zimba, rent included.

Kabwe costs about 472% more than Zimba, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Kabwe and Zimba are more affordable than the global median – Kabwe 53% lower, Zimba 92% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.30 ZMW 128

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.29 ZMW 442

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.68 ZMW 64.3

$2.43 ZMW 42.52

51.44%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ZMW 35.54

$1.22 ZMW 21.39

66.39%

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

$0.73 ZMW 12.74

$0.60 ZMW 10.42

21.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ZMW 6.35

$0.28 ZMW 4.85

28.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.94 ZMW 16.51

$0.63 ZMW 11.05

49.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 ZMW 31.65

$0.85 ZMW 14.86

112.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 ZMW 22.17

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 ZMW 13.12

$0.84 ZMW 14.68

-10.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.67 ZMW 29.11

$1.26 ZMW 21.99

32.54%

Eggs

$0.97 ZMW 16.92

$1.06 ZMW 18.44

-8.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.85 ZMW 137

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.80 ZMW 66.5

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.55 ZMW 79.6

$2.88 ZMW 50.4

57.99%

Apples (1kg)

$2.48 ZMW 43.32

$1.49 ZMW 26.02

66.44%

Banana (1kg)

$0.87 ZMW 15.14

$1.22 ZMW 21.39

-28.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.79 ZMW 48.73

$2.56 ZMW 44.80

8.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.16 ZMW 20.28

$0.64 ZMW 11.26

81.25%

Potato (1kg)

$1.80 ZMW 31.40

Onion (1kg)

$1.31 ZMW 22.93

$0.59 ZMW 10.37

122.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 ZMW 16.11

$0.73 ZMW 12.75

26.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ZMW 9.11

$0.42 ZMW 7.35

23.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.42 ZMW 42.26

Wine (Bottle)

$11.19 ZMW 196

$6.87 ZMW 120

62.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.10 ZMW 19.21

$0.64 ZMW 11.20

71.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 ZMW 26.65

$0.86 ZMW 15.09

76.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.77 ZMW 48.37

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.94 ZMW 156

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ZMW 21.68

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

$8,110 ZMW 141.8K

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

$28.9K ZMW 504.9K

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

$92.3 ZMW 1,614

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

$52.0 ZMW 909

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$126 ZMW 2,194

Cinema Ticket

$4.09 ZMW 71.6

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

$180 ZMW 3,150

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,441 ZMW 165.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.14 ZMW 334

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.66 ZMW 291

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.9 ZMW 1,484

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.7 ZMW 1,253

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Kabwe: June 7, 2026

Last update for Zimba: June 8, 2026

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 Zimba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kabwe costs about 472% more than Zimba, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $948 per month in Kabwe and $166 in Zimba. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $632 in Kabwe and $111 in Zimba. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 107% more in Kabwe, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $632 in Kabwe and $111 in Zimba, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Zimba – 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 Zimba. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kabwe makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.