Cost of Living Comparison Between Kitwe and Chingola Cost of Living Comparison Between Kitwe and Chingola

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $182 in Kitwe versus $444 in Chingola.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,209 in Kitwe versus $742 in Chingola.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,236 in Kitwe versus $1,040 in Chingola.

Living in Kitwe costs roughly 59% less than in Chingola, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kitwe 87% lower, Chingola 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.75 ZMW 309

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.01 ZMW 510

Cappuccino

$2.49 ZMW 48.76

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

$0.58 ZMW 11.33

$0.54 ZMW 10.61

7.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 ZMW 15.22

$0.38 ZMW 7.36

105.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.05 ZMW 40.09

$0.61 ZMW 11.89

236.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 ZMW 47.62

$1.31 ZMW 25.59

85.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 ZMW 35.67

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 ZMW 19.27

$1.25 ZMW 24.54

-21.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.63 ZMW 51.5

Eggs

$1.81 ZMW 35.43

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.13 ZMW 101

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.59 ZMW 90.0

Apples (1kg)

$2.05 ZMW 40.09

Banana (1kg)

$2.02 ZMW 39.64

Oranges (1kg)

$2.03 ZMW 39.78

Tomato (1kg)

$2.13 ZMW 41.71

Potato (1kg)

$3.05 ZMW 59.7

Onion (1kg)

$1.52 ZMW 29.81

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 ZMW 17.76

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.46 ZMW 48.31

$1.57 ZMW 30.73

56.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.21 ZMW 102

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 ZMW 22.92

$0.65 ZMW 12.71

80.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 ZMW 20.05

$0.79 ZMW 15.50

29.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.64 ZMW 12.49

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.53 ZMW 206

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 ZMW 28.69

$1.37 ZMW 26.81

6.57%

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

$30.3K ZMW 593.3K

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

$52.6 ZMW 1,031

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$98.6 ZMW 1,933

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.74 ZMW 289

$10.37 ZMW 203

42.14%

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

$599 ZMW 11.7K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.8K ZMW 230.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.47 ZMW 401

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.12 ZMW 257

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$51.2 ZMW 1,003

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.6 ZMW 1,521

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,200 ZMW 23.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,536 ZMW 49.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,025 ZMW 39.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$15.3K ZMW 300.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$113 ZMW 2,216

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Kitwe: September 14, 2026

Last update for Chingola: September 15, 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

Kitwe vs Chingola: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kitwe is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Groceries & Markets, Getting Around, Clothing & Footwear. The 144% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $273 in Kitwe and $667 in Chingola to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 844% higher in Chingola. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $182 per month in Kitwe versus $444 in Chingola – a 144% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $182 in Kitwe versus $444 in Chingola, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kitwe but tight or insufficient in Chingola. The gap between the two cities makes Kitwe the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Kitwe gentler on the wallet – expenses run 144% less than in Chingola. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.