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: $708 in Kafue versus $333 in Chingola.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,061 in Kafue versus $575 in Chingola.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,414 in Kafue versus $816 in Chingola.

Living in Kafue is roughly 112% more expensive than in Chingola, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kafue 47% lower, Chingola 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.33 ZMW 137

$12.23 ZMW 228

-40.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.17 ZMW 469

$21.11 ZMW 394

19.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.63 ZMW 67.7

Cappuccino

$1.92 ZMW 35.83

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

$0.67 ZMW 12.53

$0.43 ZMW 7.95

55.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ZMW 6.23

$0.28 ZMW 5.15

17.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.87 ZMW 16.22

$0.48 ZMW 8.98

81.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 ZMW 33.84

$1.06 ZMW 19.73

70.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 ZMW 24.90

$0.99 ZMW 18.55

34.34%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 ZMW 14.04

$0.82 ZMW 15.21

-8.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 ZMW 29.83

$2.03 ZMW 37.86

-21.18%

Eggs

$1.85 ZMW 34.45

$1.14 ZMW 21.18

62.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.62 ZMW 142

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.80 ZMW 70.8

$2.02 ZMW 37.70

88.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.65 ZMW 86.7

$3.81 ZMW 71.0

22.05%

Apples (1kg)

$2.48 ZMW 46.19

$1.62 ZMW 30.12

53.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 ZMW 30.82

$1.69 ZMW 31.46

-2.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.75 ZMW 51.3

$1.61 ZMW 30.11

70.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.15 ZMW 21.54

$1.70 ZMW 31.70

-32.35%

Potato (1kg)

$1.87 ZMW 34.88

$2.53 ZMW 47.16

-26.09%

Onion (1kg)

$1.33 ZMW 24.71

$1.21 ZMW 22.66

9.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 ZMW 17.18

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ZMW 9.62

$0.72 ZMW 13.43

-27.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.54 ZMW 47.40

$1.26 ZMW 23.51

101.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.77 ZMW 201

$5.45 ZMW 102

97.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 ZMW 20.96

$0.52 ZMW 9.74

115.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 ZMW 28.24

$0.60 ZMW 11.15

151.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.64 ZMW 30.61

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.63 ZMW 870

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.69 ZMW 50.1

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 ZMW 8.31

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.29 ZMW 173

$8.32 ZMW 155

11.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ZMW 22.33

$1.17 ZMW 21.91

2.56%

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

$7,897 ZMW 147.3K

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

$28.4K ZMW 528.8K

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

$90.2 ZMW 1,681

$40.96 ZMW 764

120.09%

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

$52.3 ZMW 976

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$125 ZMW 2,336

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$8.54 ZMW 159

Cinema Ticket

$4.23 ZMW 78.9

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

$174 ZMW 3,245

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,500 ZMW 177.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.76 ZMW 350

$16.84 ZMW 314

11.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.29 ZMW 323

$10.53 ZMW 196

64.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.3 ZMW 1,554

$41.66 ZMW 777

99.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.1 ZMW 1,344

$62.8 ZMW 1,171

14.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$16.2K ZMW 302.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$120 ZMW 2,232

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Kafue: July 26, 2026

Last update for Chingola: July 28, 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 $178 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 112% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,061 in Kafue and $500 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 50% 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 112% less than in Kafue. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.