Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Kitwe and Chingola

For one person, living is cheaper in Kitwe: $181 a month against $421 in Chingola, rent and utilities included – about $2,900 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Jump to prices

Kitwe

🇿🇲 Zambia

$181

/mo nomad

Chingola

🇿🇲 Zambia

$421

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Kitwe and in Chingola

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Kitwe and in Chingola actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $181 in Kitwe versus $421 in Chingola.

Kitwe $181
Chingola $421

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,202 in Kitwe versus $715 in Chingola.

Kitwe $1,202
Chingola $715

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,224 in Kitwe versus $1,010 in Chingola.

Kitwe $2,224
Chingola $1,010

Living in Kitwe costs roughly 57% less than in Chingola, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kitwe 87% lower, Chingola 69% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.78 ZMW 299

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.36 ZMW 492

Cappuccino

$2.45 ZMW 49.48

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

$0.57 ZMW 11.58

$0.49 ZMW 9.88

16.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 ZMW 16.50

$0.34 ZMW 6.85

141.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.03 ZMW 41.07

$0.57 ZMW 11.57

256.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.55 ZMW 51.5

$1.21 ZMW 24.40

110.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 ZMW 34.79

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 ZMW 20.52

$1.15 ZMW 23.19

-11.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.42 ZMW 48.80

Eggs

$1.82 ZMW 36.69

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.19 ZMW 105

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.36 ZMW 88.1

Apples (1kg)

$2.03 ZMW 40.91

Banana (1kg)

$1.96 ZMW 39.55

Oranges (1kg)

$2.03 ZMW 40.99

Tomato (1kg)

$1.97 ZMW 39.81

Potato (1kg)

$2.89 ZMW 58.4

Onion (1kg)

$1.47 ZMW 29.70

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 ZMW 16.42

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.45 ZMW 49.41

$1.46 ZMW 29.56

67.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.90 ZMW 98.9

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 ZMW 23.57

$0.63 ZMW 12.72

85.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.99 ZMW 19.95

$0.72 ZMW 14.57

37.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ZMW 11.62

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.86 ZMW 199

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ZMW 28.52

$1.32 ZMW 26.75

6.82%

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

$30.4K ZMW 613.2K

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

$50.6 ZMW 1,023

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$98.4 ZMW 1,987

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.72 ZMW 297

$9.87 ZMW 199

49.14%

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

$601 ZMW 12.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.1K ZMW 244.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.03 ZMW 405

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$12.37 ZMW 250

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$49.22 ZMW 994

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.4 ZMW 1,502

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,221 ZMW 24.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,487 ZMW 50.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,969 ZMW 39.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$14.6K ZMW 295.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$108 ZMW 2,183

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Kitwe: October 25, 2026

Last update for Chingola: October 24, 2026

Good to know

🇿🇲 Kitwe

🇿🇲 Chingola

🕒 Local time

05:37 5:37 AM

Same time as Kitwe

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

522,092

210,073

💱 Currency

Zambian Kwacha ZMW ZK

📈 Exchange rate

100 ZMW = 4.95 USD

100 ZMW = 4.42 EUR

100 ZMW = 4.95 USD

100 ZMW = 4.42 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Kitwe Chingola 49 km

From you

Kitwe
Chingola

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 about 57% cheaper overall, especially in groceries and eating out. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You’d need roughly $272 in Kitwe and $631 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 792% higher in Chingola. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you’ll spend $181 per month in Kitwe versus $421 in Chingola – Kitwe is about 57% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Kitwe gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.