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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $584 per month in Kabwe vs $137 in Zimba, rent included.

A couple spends around $947 per month in Kabwe vs $214 in Zimba, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,310 per month in Kabwe vs $292 in Zimba, rent included.

Kabwe costs about 327% more than Zimba, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Kabwe and Zimba are more affordable than the global median – Kabwe 58% lower, Zimba 90% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.76 ZMW 111

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.68 ZMW 610

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.34 ZMW 103

$3.14 ZMW 60.5

70.06%

Cappuccino

$2.91 ZMW 55.9

$1.61 ZMW 30.93

80.75%

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

$0.76 ZMW 14.55

$0.75 ZMW 14.50

1.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 ZMW 9.03

$0.35 ZMW 6.81

34.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.27 ZMW 24.40

$0.77 ZMW 14.74

64.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 ZMW 44.96

$1.06 ZMW 20.33

120.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 ZMW 34.86

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 ZMW 24.42

$1.07 ZMW 20.61

18.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.20 ZMW 42.36

$1.56 ZMW 29.97

41.03%

Eggs

$1.21 ZMW 23.29

$1.37 ZMW 26.42

-11.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.85 ZMW 209

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.38 ZMW 123

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.62 ZMW 127

$3.58 ZMW 69.0

84.92%

Apples (1kg)

$3.58 ZMW 68.9

$1.80 ZMW 34.67

98.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 ZMW 20.62

$1.52 ZMW 29.35

-29.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.83 ZMW 73.8

$3.04 ZMW 58.5

25.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.57 ZMW 30.27

$0.76 ZMW 14.68

106.58%

Potato (1kg)

$2.73 ZMW 52.5

Onion (1kg)

$1.88 ZMW 36.20

$0.80 ZMW 15.41

135.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 ZMW 22.18

$0.90 ZMW 17.41

27.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 ZMW 15.56

$0.53 ZMW 10.26

52.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.06 ZMW 58.9

Wine (Bottle)

$10.31 ZMW 198

$6.10 ZMW 117

69.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 ZMW 28.05

$0.81 ZMW 15.61

80.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 ZMW 46.61

$1.06 ZMW 20.47

128.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.58 ZMW 49.70

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 ZMW 29.84

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.20 ZMW 100

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 ZMW 26.67

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

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

$10.73 ZMW 206

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.9 ZMW 1,115

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

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.00 ZMW 308

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$47.52 ZMW 915

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.3 ZMW 1,431

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 Zimba: September 7, 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 327% more than Zimba, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 $205 in Zimba. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $584 in Kabwe and $137 in Zimba. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 142% 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 $584 in Kabwe and $137 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.