Cost of Living Comparison Between Kafue and Chingola Cost of Living Comparison Between Kafue and Chingola

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $702 in Kafue versus $338 in Chingola.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,039 in Kafue versus $569 in Chingola.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,375 in Kafue versus $800 in Chingola.

Living in Kafue is roughly 108% more expensive than Chingola, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kafue 48% lower, Chingola 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.05 ZMW 133

$12.36 ZMW 233

-42.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.14 ZMW 473

$20.38 ZMW 384

23.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.64 ZMW 68.6

Cappuccino

$1.92 ZMW 36.20

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

$0.69 ZMW 12.89

$0.42 ZMW 7.98

64.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ZMW 6.79

$0.30 ZMW 5.67

20.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.95 ZMW 17.87

$0.48 ZMW 9.00

97.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.80 ZMW 33.94

$1.06 ZMW 19.87

69.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 ZMW 25.16

$1.05 ZMW 19.74

27.62%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 ZMW 14.10

$0.77 ZMW 14.57

-2.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.59 ZMW 29.95

$2.01 ZMW 37.90

-20.90%

Eggs

$1.83 ZMW 34.42

$1.14 ZMW 21.40

60.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.67 ZMW 144

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.96 ZMW 74.6

$2.08 ZMW 39.20

90.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.67 ZMW 87.8

$3.75 ZMW 70.5

24.53%

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 ZMW 48.96

$1.71 ZMW 32.10

52.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ZMW 30.25

$1.65 ZMW 30.98

-2.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.71 ZMW 50.9

$1.63 ZMW 30.70

66.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.11 ZMW 20.93

$1.64 ZMW 30.80

-32.32%

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 ZMW 34.08

$2.44 ZMW 45.99

-25.82%

Onion (1kg)

$1.37 ZMW 25.78

$1.27 ZMW 23.89

7.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.87 ZMW 16.31

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ZMW 9.60

$0.74 ZMW 13.91

-31.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.43 ZMW 45.76

$1.22 ZMW 22.98

99.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.85 ZMW 148

$5.16 ZMW 97.0

52.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 ZMW 21.48

$0.52 ZMW 9.78

119.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 ZMW 29.28

$0.61 ZMW 11.46

155.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.62 ZMW 30.53

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$47.22 ZMW 889

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.72 ZMW 51.2

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 ZMW 8.44

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.43 ZMW 177

$8.48 ZMW 160

11.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ZMW 22.52

$1.19 ZMW 22.38

0.84%

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

$7,881 ZMW 148.3K

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

$28.9K ZMW 543.6K

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

$89.9 ZMW 1,692

$41.69 ZMW 785

115.64%

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

$53.0 ZMW 997

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$124 ZMW 2,335

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$8.24 ZMW 155

Cinema Ticket

$4.07 ZMW 76.7

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

$177 ZMW 3,322

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,736 ZMW 183.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.66 ZMW 351

$16.35 ZMW 308

14.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.33 ZMW 326

$10.35 ZMW 195

67.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.9 ZMW 1,616

$41.97 ZMW 790

104.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ZMW 1,382

$62.3 ZMW 1,172

17.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$15.9K ZMW 299.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$117 ZMW 2,206

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Kafue: April 26, 2026

Last update for Chingola: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $25.00 in Kafue vs $20.00 in Chingola for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $173 vs $118 per month, with Chingola cheaper across the board.

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

Kafue vs Chingola: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chingola is cheaper overall, especially in Monthly Utilities & Internet, Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 108% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,053 in Kafue and $508 in Chingola to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 46% higher in Kafue. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Chingola – a meal for two runs $20.00 versus $25.00 in Kafue. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Chingola gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Chingola gentler on the wallet – expenses run 108% less than in Kafue. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.