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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $645 per month in Kabwe vs $113 in Zimba, rent included.

A couple spends around $947 per month in Kabwe vs $173 in Zimba, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,248 per month in Kabwe vs $234 in Zimba, rent included.

Kabwe costs about 473% more than Zimba, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Kabwe and Zimba are more affordable than the global median – Kabwe 52% lower, Zimba 92% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.38 ZMW 139

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.87 ZMW 468

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.63 ZMW 68.3

$2.44 ZMW 45.94

48.77%

Cappuccino

$1.99 ZMW 37.49

$1.28 ZMW 24.02

55.47%

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

$0.69 ZMW 12.94

$0.65 ZMW 12.23

6.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ZMW 6.80

$0.30 ZMW 5.67

20.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.95 ZMW 17.82

$0.63 ZMW 11.93

50.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 ZMW 32.75

$0.82 ZMW 15.42

112.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 ZMW 25.10

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 ZMW 14.70

$0.85 ZMW 15.92

-8.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 ZMW 29.64

$1.21 ZMW 22.85

30.58%

Eggs

$1.01 ZMW 19.02

$1.07 ZMW 20.09

-5.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.88 ZMW 148

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.98 ZMW 74.9

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.48 ZMW 84.4

$2.95 ZMW 55.6

51.86%

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 ZMW 49.00

$1.42 ZMW 26.72

83.10%

Banana (1kg)

$0.79 ZMW 14.84

$1.22 ZMW 22.94

-35.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.69 ZMW 50.7

$2.52 ZMW 47.42

6.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.16 ZMW 21.76

$0.59 ZMW 11.16

96.61%

Potato (1kg)

$1.80 ZMW 33.85

Onion (1kg)

$1.33 ZMW 25.06

$0.63 ZMW 11.92

111.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.94 ZMW 17.70

$0.74 ZMW 13.86

27.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ZMW 8.96

$0.40 ZMW 7.50

20.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.51 ZMW 47.20

Wine (Bottle)

$8.08 ZMW 152

$6.23 ZMW 117

29.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 ZMW 20.39

$0.61 ZMW 11.44

77.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 ZMW 29.82

$0.80 ZMW 15.00

97.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 ZMW 50.3

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.93 ZMW 168

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ZMW 23.25

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

$8,071 ZMW 151.9K

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

$28.7K ZMW 539.8K

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

$90.2 ZMW 1,697

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

$53.0 ZMW 997

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$123 ZMW 2,313

Cinema Ticket

$4.16 ZMW 78.3

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

$176 ZMW 3,322

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,531 ZMW 179.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.97 ZMW 357

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.02 ZMW 320

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.3 ZMW 1,623

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.5 ZMW 1,383

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Kabwe: April 26, 2026

Last update for Zimba: April 27, 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 473% 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 $967 per month in Kabwe and $169 in Zimba. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $645 in Kabwe and $113 in Zimba. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 106% 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 $645 in Kabwe and $113 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.