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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $652 per month in Kabwe vs $110 in Zimba, rent included.

A couple spends around $965 per month in Kabwe vs $172 in Zimba, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,278 per month in Kabwe vs $234 in Zimba, rent included.

Kabwe costs about 494% more than Zimba, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Kabwe and Zimba are more affordable than the global median – Kabwe 51% lower, Zimba 92% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.24 ZMW 136

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.49 ZMW 459

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.63 ZMW 68.0

$2.45 ZMW 45.98

48.16%

Cappuccino

$1.93 ZMW 36.26

$1.26 ZMW 23.55

53.17%

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

$0.73 ZMW 13.73

$0.64 ZMW 12.04

14.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ZMW 6.26

$0.28 ZMW 5.23

17.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.94 ZMW 17.67

$0.60 ZMW 11.29

56.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 ZMW 32.96

$0.85 ZMW 15.87

107.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 ZMW 25.02

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 ZMW 14.65

$0.81 ZMW 15.20

-3.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 ZMW 30.08

$1.26 ZMW 23.61

26.98%

Eggs

$0.95 ZMW 17.81

$1.05 ZMW 19.77

-9.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.88 ZMW 148

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.99 ZMW 74.8

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.51 ZMW 84.5

$2.95 ZMW 55.3

52.88%

Apples (1kg)

$2.52 ZMW 47.16

$1.42 ZMW 26.66

77.46%

Banana (1kg)

$0.87 ZMW 16.24

$1.20 ZMW 22.59

-27.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.66 ZMW 49.94

$2.56 ZMW 47.97

3.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.15 ZMW 21.58

$0.64 ZMW 11.94

79.69%

Potato (1kg)

$1.87 ZMW 35.08

Onion (1kg)

$1.38 ZMW 25.86

$0.60 ZMW 11.33

130.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 ZMW 17.29

$0.72 ZMW 13.53

27.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ZMW 9.57

$0.43 ZMW 8.02

18.60%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.52 ZMW 47.34

Wine (Bottle)

$10.60 ZMW 199

$6.38 ZMW 120

66.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 ZMW 21.39

$0.63 ZMW 11.85

80.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 ZMW 28.56

$0.82 ZMW 15.36

85.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.80 ZMW 52.5

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.09 ZMW 170

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ZMW 23.26

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

$8,130 ZMW 152.4K

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

$28.0K ZMW 525.2K

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

$92.7 ZMW 1,739

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

$52.5 ZMW 985

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$123 ZMW 2,309

Cinema Ticket

$4.28 ZMW 80.3

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

$174 ZMW 3,260

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,643 ZMW 180.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.14 ZMW 359

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.04 ZMW 320

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.0 ZMW 1,575

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.2 ZMW 1,392

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Kabwe: July 27, 2026

Last update for Zimba: July 28, 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 494% 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 $977 per month in Kabwe and $165 in Zimba. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $652 in Kabwe and $110 in Zimba. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 111% 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 $652 in Kabwe and $110 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.