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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $699 per month in Kafue vs $111 in Zimba, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,058 per month in Kafue vs $173 in Zimba, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,416 per month in Kafue vs $235 in Zimba, rent included.

Kafue costs about 532% more than Zimba, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Kafue and Zimba are more affordable than the global median – Kafue 48% lower, Zimba 92% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.05 ZMW 123

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.10 ZMW 439

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.77 ZMW 65.8

$2.43 ZMW 42.52

55.14%

Cappuccino

$1.97 ZMW 34.38

$1.22 ZMW 21.39

61.48%

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

$0.68 ZMW 11.84

$0.60 ZMW 10.42

13.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ZMW 6.37

$0.28 ZMW 4.85

28.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.95 ZMW 16.60

$0.63 ZMW 11.05

50.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 ZMW 31.64

$0.85 ZMW 14.86

112.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 ZMW 22.13

White Bread (500g)

$0.80 ZMW 13.90

$0.84 ZMW 14.68

-4.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 ZMW 27.65

$1.26 ZMW 21.99

25.40%

Eggs

$1.83 ZMW 31.93

$1.06 ZMW 18.44

72.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.69 ZMW 134

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.97 ZMW 69.5

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.63 ZMW 80.9

$2.88 ZMW 50.4

60.76%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ZMW 44.91

$1.49 ZMW 26.02

72.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 ZMW 28.52

$1.22 ZMW 21.39

33.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.70 ZMW 47.24

$2.56 ZMW 44.80

5.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.13 ZMW 19.74

$0.64 ZMW 11.26

76.56%

Potato (1kg)

$1.88 ZMW 32.87

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 ZMW 23.82

$0.59 ZMW 10.37

130.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.88 ZMW 15.37

$0.73 ZMW 12.75

20.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ZMW 8.51

$0.42 ZMW 7.35

16.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.42 ZMW 42.24

Wine (Bottle)

$11.34 ZMW 198

$6.87 ZMW 120

65.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 ZMW 18.89

$0.64 ZMW 11.20

68.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 ZMW 26.54

$0.86 ZMW 15.09

76.74%

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 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.37 ZMW 164

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ZMW 20.97

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

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

$52.2 ZMW 912

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$126 ZMW 2,210

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

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.28 ZMW 302

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.4 ZMW 1,457

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.6 ZMW 1,287

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 Zimba: June 8, 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: $699 in Kafue, $111 in Zimba – roughly 532% apart. Kafue costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,049 per month in Kafue and $166 in Zimba. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $699 in Kafue and $111 in Zimba. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 117% 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 $699 in Kafue and $111 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.