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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $702 per month in Kafue vs $113 in Zimba, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,039 per month in Kafue vs $173 in Zimba, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,375 per month in Kafue vs $234 in Zimba, rent included.

Kafue costs about 524% 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 133

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.14 ZMW 473

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.64 ZMW 68.6

$2.44 ZMW 45.94

49.18%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ZMW 36.20

$1.28 ZMW 24.02

50.00%

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

$0.69 ZMW 12.89

$0.65 ZMW 12.23

6.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ZMW 6.79

$0.30 ZMW 5.67

20.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.95 ZMW 17.87

$0.63 ZMW 11.93

50.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.80 ZMW 33.94

$0.82 ZMW 15.42

119.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 ZMW 25.16

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 ZMW 14.10

$0.85 ZMW 15.92

-11.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.59 ZMW 29.95

$1.21 ZMW 22.85

31.40%

Eggs

$1.83 ZMW 34.42

$1.07 ZMW 20.09

71.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.67 ZMW 144

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.96 ZMW 74.6

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.67 ZMW 87.8

$2.95 ZMW 55.6

58.31%

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 ZMW 48.96

$1.42 ZMW 26.72

83.10%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ZMW 30.25

$1.22 ZMW 22.94

31.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.71 ZMW 50.9

$2.52 ZMW 47.42

7.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.11 ZMW 20.93

$0.59 ZMW 11.16

88.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 ZMW 34.08

Onion (1kg)

$1.37 ZMW 25.78

$0.63 ZMW 11.92

117.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.87 ZMW 16.31

$0.74 ZMW 13.86

17.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ZMW 9.60

$0.40 ZMW 7.50

27.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.43 ZMW 45.76

Wine (Bottle)

$7.85 ZMW 148

$6.23 ZMW 117

26.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 ZMW 21.48

$0.61 ZMW 11.44

86.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 ZMW 29.28

$0.80 ZMW 15.00

95.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.62 ZMW 30.53

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$47.22 ZMW 889

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.72 ZMW 51.2

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.43 ZMW 177

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ZMW 22.52

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

$7,881 ZMW 148.3K

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

$28.9K ZMW 543.6K

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

$89.9 ZMW 1,692

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

$53.0 ZMW 997

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$124 ZMW 2,335

Cinema Ticket

$4.07 ZMW 76.7

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

$177 ZMW 3,322

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,736 ZMW 183.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.66 ZMW 351

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.33 ZMW 326

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.9 ZMW 1,616

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ZMW 1,382

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Kafue: April 26, 2026

Last update for Zimba: April 27, 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: $702 in Kafue, $113 in Zimba – roughly 524% apart. Kafue costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,053 per month in Kafue and $169 in Zimba. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $702 in Kafue and $113 in Zimba. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 116% 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 $702 in Kafue and $113 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.