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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $605 per month in Kafue vs $135 in Zimba, rent included.

A couple spends around $953 per month in Kafue vs $211 in Zimba, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,302 per month in Kafue vs $286 in Zimba, rent included.

Kafue costs about 347% more than Zimba, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Kafue and Zimba are more affordable than the global median – Kafue 56% lower, Zimba 90% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.73 ZMW 112

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.86 ZMW 605

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.16 ZMW 101

$3.10 ZMW 60.8

66.45%

Cappuccino

$2.85 ZMW 55.9

$1.59 ZMW 31.24

79.25%

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

$0.75 ZMW 14.63

$0.81 ZMW 15.94

-7.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ZMW 9.81

$0.38 ZMW 7.52

31.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.28 ZMW 25.08

$0.82 ZMW 15.98

56.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.30 ZMW 45.11

$1.03 ZMW 20.19

123.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.83 ZMW 35.96

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 ZMW 24.71

$1.02 ZMW 20.03

23.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.13 ZMW 41.74

$1.53 ZMW 30.02

39.22%

Eggs

$1.97 ZMW 38.63

$1.34 ZMW 26.35

47.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.78 ZMW 211

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.75 ZMW 132

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.72 ZMW 132

$3.59 ZMW 70.4

87.19%

Apples (1kg)

$3.57 ZMW 69.9

$1.81 ZMW 35.41

97.24%

Banana (1kg)

$2.55 ZMW 50.0

$1.53 ZMW 29.96

66.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.79 ZMW 74.4

$3.18 ZMW 62.4

19.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 ZMW 30.63

$0.79 ZMW 15.54

97.47%

Potato (1kg)

$2.60 ZMW 51.0

Onion (1kg)

$1.94 ZMW 38.05

$0.75 ZMW 14.73

158.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 ZMW 23.59

$0.85 ZMW 16.69

41.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 ZMW 15.88

$0.53 ZMW 10.45

52.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.19 ZMW 62.5

Wine (Bottle)

$10.60 ZMW 208

$6.11 ZMW 120

73.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 ZMW 29.83

$0.76 ZMW 14.90

100.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 ZMW 45.90

$1.07 ZMW 20.92

118.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.59 ZMW 50.8

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.62 ZMW 31.67

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.13 ZMW 100

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.61 ZMW 31.55

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

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

$10.99 ZMW 215

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.5 ZMW 1,127

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

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$15.75 ZMW 309

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$46.80 ZMW 917

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.4 ZMW 1,458

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 Zimba: September 13, 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: $605 in Kafue, $135 in Zimba – roughly 347% apart. Kafue costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $907 per month in Kafue and $203 in Zimba. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $605 in Kafue and $135 in Zimba. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 158% 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 $605 in Kafue and $135 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.