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: $699 in Kafue versus $343 in Chingola.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,058 in Kafue versus $580 in Chingola.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,416 in Kafue versus $817 in Chingola.

Living in Kafue is roughly 104% more expensive than Chingola, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kafue 48% lower, Chingola 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.05 ZMW 123

$12.27 ZMW 215

-42.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.10 ZMW 439

$20.70 ZMW 362

21.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.77 ZMW 65.8

Cappuccino

$1.97 ZMW 34.38

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

$0.68 ZMW 11.84

$0.40 ZMW 6.99

70.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ZMW 6.37

$0.30 ZMW 5.31

20.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.95 ZMW 16.60

$0.48 ZMW 8.32

97.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 ZMW 31.64

$1.06 ZMW 18.60

70.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 ZMW 22.13

$1.00 ZMW 17.45

27.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.80 ZMW 13.90

$0.81 ZMW 14.08

-1.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 ZMW 27.65

$2.12 ZMW 37.01

-25.47%

Eggs

$1.83 ZMW 31.93

$1.10 ZMW 19.20

66.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.69 ZMW 134

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.97 ZMW 69.5

$2.12 ZMW 36.99

87.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.63 ZMW 80.9

$3.72 ZMW 64.9

24.46%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ZMW 44.91

$1.63 ZMW 28.49

57.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 ZMW 28.52

$1.62 ZMW 28.35

0.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.70 ZMW 47.24

$1.64 ZMW 28.63

64.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.13 ZMW 19.74

$1.62 ZMW 28.37

-30.25%

Potato (1kg)

$1.88 ZMW 32.87

$2.56 ZMW 44.72

-26.56%

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 ZMW 23.82

$1.22 ZMW 21.36

11.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.88 ZMW 15.37

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ZMW 8.51

$0.70 ZMW 12.16

-30.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.42 ZMW 42.24

$1.26 ZMW 22.08

92.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.34 ZMW 198

$5.58 ZMW 97.5

103.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 ZMW 18.89

$0.52 ZMW 9.05

107.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 ZMW 26.54

$0.64 ZMW 11.14

137.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.61 ZMW 28.22

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.10 ZMW 806

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 ZMW 49.17

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 ZMW 7.29

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.37 ZMW 164

$8.06 ZMW 141

16.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ZMW 20.97

$1.23 ZMW 21.54

-2.44%

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

$8,105 ZMW 141.7K

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

$28.4K ZMW 496.4K

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

$91.0 ZMW 1,590

$41.81 ZMW 731

117.60%

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

$52.2 ZMW 912

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$126 ZMW 2,210

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$8.51 ZMW 149

Cinema Ticket

$4.25 ZMW 74.2

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

$174 ZMW 3,035

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,402 ZMW 164.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.99 ZMW 332

$16.57 ZMW 290

14.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.28 ZMW 302

$10.29 ZMW 180

67.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.4 ZMW 1,457

$41.41 ZMW 724

101.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.6 ZMW 1,287

$62.2 ZMW 1,088

18.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$17.3K ZMW 301.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$125 ZMW 2,189

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Kafue: June 8, 2026

Last update for Chingola: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $25.00 in Kafue vs $21.00 in Chingola for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $179 vs $119 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 Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 104% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,049 in Kafue and $514 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 51% 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 $21.00 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 104% less than in Kafue. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.