😐A single person spends $707 per month in Kafue vs $176 in Livingstone, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,064 per month in Kafue vs $316 in Livingstone, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,422 per month in Kafue vs $457 in Livingstone, rent included.
😐Kafue costs about 302% more than Livingstone, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both Kafue and Livingstone are more affordable than the global median – Kafue47% lower, Livingstone87% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kafue
Livingstone
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.41ZMW 132
$6.11ZMW 109
21.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.85ZMW 444
$24.45ZMW 436
1.64%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.63ZMW 64.8
$7.40ZMW 132
-50.95%
Cappuccino
$1.93ZMW 34.47
$4.20ZMW 75.1
-54.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67ZMW 11.93
-
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37ZMW 6.55
$0.28ZMW 4.95
32.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.93ZMW 16.61
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74ZMW 31.04
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kafue
Livingstone
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.33ZMW 23.80
-
-
White Bread(500g)
$0.80ZMW 14.33
-
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63ZMW 29.16
-
-
Eggs
$1.77ZMW 31.51
-
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.91ZMW 141
-
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.78ZMW 67.5
-
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.71ZMW 84.2
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.52ZMW 45.03
-
-
Banana(1kg)
$1.59ZMW 28.36
-
-
Oranges(1kg)
$2.69ZMW 48.03
-
-
Tomato(1kg)
$1.15ZMW 20.60
-
-
Potato(1kg)
$1.86ZMW 33.26
-
-
Onion(1kg)
$1.37ZMW 24.51
-
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.93ZMW 16.64
-
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52ZMW 9.31
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.51ZMW 44.77
-
-
Wine(Bottle)
$10.80ZMW 193
$21.62ZMW 386
-50.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.12ZMW 20.05
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.49ZMW 26.67
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Kafue
Livingstone
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.63ZMW 29.10
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.31ZMW 827
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.79ZMW 49.81
-
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.77ZMW 31.55
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.39ZMW 168
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.20ZMW 21.41
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$8,039ZMW 143.5K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.9KZMW 515.8K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kafue
Livingstone
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.7ZMW 1,637
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.2ZMW 950
-
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$124ZMW 2,219
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kafue
Livingstone
Difference
Cinema Ticket
$4.15ZMW 74.1
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kafue
Livingstone
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$177ZMW 3,154
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,422ZMW 168.2K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kafue
Livingstone
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.62ZMW 332
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$16.80ZMW 300
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.1ZMW 1,501
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.3ZMW 1,326
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kafue
Livingstone
Difference
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
25
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kafue: June 1, 2026
Last update for Livingstone: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Kafue versus $24.00 in Livingstone. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $179 vs $43.00 – making Livingstone the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Livingstone: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Kafue and Livingstone compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $707 in Kafue, $176 in Livingstone – roughly 302% apart. Kafue costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Kafue compared to Livingstone?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,060 per month in Kafue and $264 in Livingstone. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Kafue and $24.00 in Livingstone. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Kafue or Livingstone?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $707 in Kafue and $176 in Livingstone. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How far does $1,200 go in Kafue vs Livingstone?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $707 in Kafue and $176 in Livingstone, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Where should families live: Kafue or Livingstone?
Families tend to lean toward Livingstone – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How do I decide between Kafue and Livingstone?
If budget matters most, go with Livingstone. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kafue makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.