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: $605 in Kafue versus $444 in Chingola.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $953 in Kafue versus $742 in Chingola.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,302 in Kafue versus $1,040 in Chingola.

Living in Kafue is roughly 36% more expensive than in Chingola, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kafue 56% lower, Chingola 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.73 ZMW 112

$15.75 ZMW 309

-63.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.86 ZMW 605

$26.01 ZMW 510

18.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.16 ZMW 101

Cappuccino

$2.85 ZMW 55.9

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

$0.75 ZMW 14.63

$0.54 ZMW 10.61

38.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ZMW 9.81

$0.38 ZMW 7.36

31.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.28 ZMW 25.08

$0.61 ZMW 11.89

109.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.30 ZMW 45.11

$1.31 ZMW 25.59

75.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.83 ZMW 35.96

$1.82 ZMW 35.67

0.55%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 ZMW 24.71

$1.25 ZMW 24.54

0.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.13 ZMW 41.74

$2.63 ZMW 51.5

-19.01%

Eggs

$1.97 ZMW 38.63

$1.81 ZMW 35.43

8.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.78 ZMW 211

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.75 ZMW 132

$5.13 ZMW 101

31.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.72 ZMW 132

$4.59 ZMW 90.0

46.41%

Apples (1kg)

$3.57 ZMW 69.9

$2.05 ZMW 40.09

74.15%

Banana (1kg)

$2.55 ZMW 50.0

$2.02 ZMW 39.64

26.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.79 ZMW 74.4

$2.03 ZMW 39.78

86.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 ZMW 30.63

$2.13 ZMW 41.71

-26.76%

Potato (1kg)

$2.60 ZMW 51.0

$3.05 ZMW 59.7

-14.75%

Onion (1kg)

$1.94 ZMW 38.05

$1.52 ZMW 29.81

27.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 ZMW 23.59

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 ZMW 15.88

$0.91 ZMW 17.76

-10.99%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.19 ZMW 62.5

$1.57 ZMW 30.73

103.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.60 ZMW 208

$5.21 ZMW 102

103.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 ZMW 29.83

$0.65 ZMW 12.71

133.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 ZMW 45.90

$0.79 ZMW 15.50

196.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.59 ZMW 50.8

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.62 ZMW 31.67

$0.64 ZMW 12.49

153.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.13 ZMW 100

$10.53 ZMW 206

-51.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.61 ZMW 31.55

$1.37 ZMW 26.81

17.52%

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

$7,734 ZMW 151.6K

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

$27.2K ZMW 532.7K

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

$82.0 ZMW 1,607

$52.6 ZMW 1,031

55.83%

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

$10.99 ZMW 215

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.5 ZMW 1,127

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.37 ZMW 203

Cinema Ticket

$6.38 ZMW 125

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

$146 ZMW 2,868

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.8K ZMW 328.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.80 ZMW 466

$20.47 ZMW 401

16.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$15.75 ZMW 309

$13.12 ZMW 257

20.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$46.80 ZMW 917

$51.2 ZMW 1,003

-8.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.4 ZMW 1,458

$77.6 ZMW 1,521

-4.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$15.3K ZMW 300.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$113 ZMW 2,216

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Kafue: September 12, 2026

Last update for Chingola: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $31.00 in Kafue vs $26.00 in Chingola for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $167 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, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 36% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $907 in Kafue and $667 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 49% 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 $26.00 versus $31.00 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 36% less than in Kafue. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.