Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Kitwe and Livingstone

For one person, living is cheaper in Kitwe: $181 a month against $199 in Livingstone, rent and utilities included – about $220 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Kitwe, Zambia
Livingstone, Zambia
Kitwe
🇿🇲 Zambia
$181
/mo nomad
Livingstone
🇿🇲 Zambia
$199
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Kitwe and in Livingstone

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 Livingstone actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $181 per month in Kitwe vs $199 in Livingstone, rent included.

  • Kitwe $181
  • Livingstone $199

A couple spends around $1,202 per month in Kitwe vs $367 in Livingstone, rent included.

  • Kitwe $1,202
  • Livingstone $367

A family of three spends $2,224 per month in Kitwe vs $535 in Livingstone, rent included.

  • Kitwe $2,224
  • Livingstone $535

Kitwe is about 9% cheaper than Livingstone, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Kitwe and Livingstone are more affordable than the global median – Kitwe 87% lower, Livingstone 85% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kitwe
Livingstone
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$7.57 ZMW 153
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$30.35 ZMW 614
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
-
$8.72 ZMW 176
-
Cappuccino
$2.45 ZMW 49.53
$4.88 ZMW 98.6
-49.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57 ZMW 11.59
-
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ZMW 16.52
$0.34 ZMW 6.81
141.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.03 ZMW 41.11
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55 ZMW 51.6
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kitwe
Livingstone
Difference
White Bread (500g)
$1.02 ZMW 20.54
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.45 ZMW 49.46
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
-
$19.88 ZMW 402
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.17 ZMW 23.59
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99 ZMW 19.97
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Kitwe
Livingstone
Difference
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$2.48 ZMW 50.1
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.41 ZMW 28.55
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.4K ZMW 613.8K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kitwe
Livingstone
Difference
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$98.4 ZMW 1,989
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kitwe
Livingstone
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$14.72 ZMW 298
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kitwe
Livingstone
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$601 ZMW 12.2K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.1K ZMW 244.3K
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kitwe
Livingstone
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,221 ZMW 24.7K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,487 ZMW 50.3K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,969 ZMW 39.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kitwe
Livingstone
Difference
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
36
0
-

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

Last update for Kitwe: October 25, 2026

Last update for Livingstone: October 25, 2026

Good to know
🇿🇲 Kitwe
🇿🇲 Livingstone
🕒 Local time
04:01 4:01 AM
04:01 4:01 AM
Same time as Kitwe
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
522,092
136,897
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to ZMW – Zambian Kwacha Converter

Zambian Kwacha exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 20.22 ZMW (100 ZMW = 4.95 USD). 1 EUR = 22.66 ZMW (100 ZMW = 4.41 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Kitwe Livingstone 610 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Kitwe
  • Livingstone

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 Livingstone: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Kitwe and in Livingstone compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $181 in Kitwe, $199 in Livingstone – Kitwe comes out roughly 9% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Kitwe compared to Livingstone?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $272 per month in Kitwe and $298 in Livingstone. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city is more expensive overall: Kitwe or Livingstone?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $181 in Kitwe and $199 in Livingstone. That makes Kitwe about 9% cheaper.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 121% more in Livingstone, though the gap depends on what you buy.
How far does $1,200 go in Kitwe compared to Livingstone?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $181 in Kitwe and $199 in Livingstone, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
How does quality of life compare between Kitwe and Livingstone?
It depends on your priorities. Livingstone has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $181 in Kitwe to $199 in Livingstone. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Kitwe vs other spots: cost of living compared

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