Cost of Living Comparison Between Kitwe and Lusaka Cost of Living Comparison Between Kitwe and Lusaka

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $218 per month in Kitwe vs $884 in Lusaka, rent included.

A couple spends around $350 per month in Kitwe vs $1,464 in Lusaka, rent included.

A family of three spends $482 per month in Kitwe vs $2,044 in Lusaka, rent included.

Kitwe is about 75% cheaper than Lusaka, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Kitwe and Lusaka are more affordable than the global median – Kitwe 84% lower, Lusaka 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.02 ZMW 52.8

$7.16 ZMW 125

-57.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.14 ZMW 439

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.69 ZMW 64.6

Cappuccino

$1.45 ZMW 25.41

$1.92 ZMW 33.58

-24.48%

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

$0.60 ZMW 10.56

$0.72 ZMW 12.62

-16.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ZMW 6.93

$0.34 ZMW 5.93

17.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.91 ZMW 15.93

$0.89 ZMW 15.55

2.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.48 ZMW 25.88

$1.83 ZMW 31.96

-19.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.84 ZMW 14.71

$1.28 ZMW 22.38

-34.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.16 ZMW 20.19

$0.75 ZMW 13.04

54.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.72 ZMW 65.1

$1.60 ZMW 27.99

132.50%

Eggs

$1.91 ZMW 33.38

$1.77 ZMW 31.01

7.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.50 ZMW 131

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.98 ZMW 122

$3.79 ZMW 66.2

84.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.54 ZMW 114

$4.58 ZMW 80.0

42.79%

Apples (1kg)

$2.87 ZMW 50.2

$2.59 ZMW 45.23

10.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 ZMW 20.18

$1.65 ZMW 28.92

-30.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.20 ZMW 21.01

$2.71 ZMW 47.29

-55.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.15 ZMW 20.17

$1.17 ZMW 20.46

-1.71%

Potato (1kg)

$3.01 ZMW 52.6

$1.90 ZMW 33.20

58.42%

Onion (1kg)

$2.36 ZMW 41.30

$1.32 ZMW 23.02

78.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 ZMW 20.06

$0.91 ZMW 15.92

26.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ZMW 9.88

$0.51 ZMW 8.95

11.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.74 ZMW 30.44

$2.56 ZMW 44.74

-32.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.36 ZMW 199

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 ZMW 13.10

$1.09 ZMW 19.07

-31.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 ZMW 26.11

$1.58 ZMW 27.55

-5.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.02 ZMW 17.87

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.75 ZMW 677

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.70 ZMW 47.20

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.18 ZMW 20.62

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.32 ZMW 163

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ZMW 21.59

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

$8,093 ZMW 141.5K

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

$28.4K ZMW 496.6K

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

$92.9 ZMW 1,625

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

$51.8 ZMW 905

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$125 ZMW 2,193

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.76 ZMW 800

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.75 ZMW 240

Cinema Ticket

$4.16 ZMW 72.7

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

$174 ZMW 3,033

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,530 ZMW 166.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.98 ZMW 332

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.66 ZMW 291

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.5 ZMW 1,459

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.2 ZMW 1,280

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$226 ZMW 3,958

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$122 ZMW 2,140

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,029 ZMW 18.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$605 ZMW 10.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,999 ZMW 34.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,214 ZMW 73.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$312 ZMW 5,445

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Kitwe: June 6, 2026

Last update for Lusaka: June 8, 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 Lusaka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $218 in Kitwe, $884 in Lusaka – roughly 305% apart. Lusaka costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $327 per month in Kitwe and $1,326 in Lusaka. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $218 in Kitwe and $884 in Lusaka. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 11% more in Lusaka, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $218 in Kitwe and $884 in Lusaka, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Kitwe – 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 Kitwe. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lusaka makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.