Cost of Living Comparison Between Kawambwa and Lusaka Cost of Living Comparison Between Kawambwa and Lusaka

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.24 ZMW 136

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.12 ZMW 473

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.82 ZMW 71.9

Cappuccino

$2.04 ZMW 38.32

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

$0.69 ZMW 12.92

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ZMW 6.82

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.87 ZMW 16.47

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 ZMW 32.77

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 ZMW 23.76

White Bread (500g)

$0.76 ZMW 14.23

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 ZMW 30.76

Eggs

$1.85 ZMW 34.78

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.74 ZMW 146

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.91 ZMW 73.6

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.48 ZMW 84.4

Apples (1kg)

$2.53 ZMW 47.58

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 ZMW 30.01

Oranges (1kg)

$2.76 ZMW 51.9

Tomato (1kg)

$1.16 ZMW 21.89

Potato (1kg)

$1.88 ZMW 35.38

Onion (1kg)

$1.37 ZMW 25.78

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 ZMW 16.74

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ZMW 9.20

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.45 ZMW 46.06

Wine (Bottle)

$7.90 ZMW 149

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 ZMW 20.31

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 ZMW 29.30

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.02 ZMW 19.27

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.79 ZMW 711

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.68 ZMW 50.5

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.14 ZMW 21.43

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.97 ZMW 169

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ZMW 22.56

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

$7,879 ZMW 148.3K

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

$28.5K ZMW 537.2K

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

$92.4 ZMW 1,739

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

$52.1 ZMW 981

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$124 ZMW 2,339

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.30 ZMW 853

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.66 ZMW 257

Cinema Ticket

$4.20 ZMW 79.0

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

$179 ZMW 3,378

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,726 ZMW 183.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.63 ZMW 351

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.27 ZMW 325

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ZMW 1,614

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.4 ZMW 1,400

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$231 ZMW 4,342

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$125 ZMW 2,349

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,057 ZMW 19.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$592 ZMW 11.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,946 ZMW 36.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,776 ZMW 71.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$344 ZMW 6,481

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Kawambwa: April 28, 2026

Last update for Lusaka: April 26, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Kawambwa vs Lusaka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For families, Kawambwa is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Lusaka, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Kawambwa and Lusaka are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

It comes down to priorities – Kawambwa wins on affordability, Lusaka on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.