Cost of Living Comparison Between Kafue and Zimba Cost of Living Comparison Between Kafue and Zimba

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $708 per month in Kafue vs $110 in Zimba, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,061 per month in Kafue vs $172 in Zimba, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,414 per month in Kafue vs $234 in Zimba, rent included.

Kafue costs about 545% more than Zimba, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Kafue and Zimba are more affordable than the global median – Kafue 47% lower, Zimba 92% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.33 ZMW 137

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.17 ZMW 469

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.63 ZMW 67.7

$2.45 ZMW 45.74

48.16%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ZMW 35.83

$1.26 ZMW 23.42

52.38%

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

$0.67 ZMW 12.53

$0.64 ZMW 11.97

4.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ZMW 6.23

$0.28 ZMW 5.20

17.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.87 ZMW 16.22

$0.60 ZMW 11.23

45.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 ZMW 33.84

$0.85 ZMW 15.78

112.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 ZMW 24.90

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 ZMW 14.04

$0.81 ZMW 15.12

-7.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 ZMW 29.83

$1.26 ZMW 23.48

26.98%

Eggs

$1.85 ZMW 34.45

$1.05 ZMW 19.67

76.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.62 ZMW 142

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.80 ZMW 70.8

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.65 ZMW 86.7

$2.95 ZMW 55.0

57.63%

Apples (1kg)

$2.48 ZMW 46.19

$1.42 ZMW 26.52

74.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 ZMW 30.82

$1.20 ZMW 22.47

37.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.75 ZMW 51.3

$2.56 ZMW 47.72

7.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.15 ZMW 21.54

$0.64 ZMW 11.88

79.69%

Potato (1kg)

$1.87 ZMW 34.88

Onion (1kg)

$1.33 ZMW 24.71

$0.60 ZMW 11.27

121.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 ZMW 17.18

$0.72 ZMW 13.46

27.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ZMW 9.62

$0.43 ZMW 7.97

20.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.54 ZMW 47.40

Wine (Bottle)

$10.77 ZMW 201

$6.38 ZMW 119

68.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 ZMW 20.96

$0.63 ZMW 11.79

77.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 ZMW 28.24

$0.82 ZMW 15.27

84.15%

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 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.29 ZMW 173

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ZMW 22.33

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

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

$52.3 ZMW 976

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$125 ZMW 2,336

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

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.29 ZMW 323

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.3 ZMW 1,554

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.1 ZMW 1,344

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 Zimba: July 28, 2026

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 Zimba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $708 in Kafue, $110 in Zimba – roughly 545% apart. Kafue costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,061 per month in Kafue and $165 in Zimba. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $708 in Kafue and $110 in Zimba. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 120% more in Kafue, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $708 in Kafue and $110 in Zimba, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Zimba – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Zimba. 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.