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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $225 per month in Kitwe vs $862 in Lusaka, rent included.

A couple spends around $366 per month in Kitwe vs $1,450 in Lusaka, rent included.

A family of three spends $507 per month in Kitwe vs $2,038 in Lusaka, rent included.

Kitwe is about 74% cheaper than Lusaka, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Kitwe and Lusaka are more affordable than the global median – Kitwe 83% lower, Lusaka 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.86 ZMW 54.0

$7.27 ZMW 137

-60.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.88 ZMW 469

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.66 ZMW 69.0

Cappuccino

$1.44 ZMW 27.14

$2.04 ZMW 38.39

-29.41%

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

$0.58 ZMW 10.91

$0.68 ZMW 12.88

-14.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 ZMW 8.00

$0.37 ZMW 6.92

13.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.92 ZMW 17.34

$0.89 ZMW 16.76

3.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 ZMW 26.92

$1.81 ZMW 34.15

-20.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.87 ZMW 16.40

$1.31 ZMW 24.72

-33.59%

White Bread (500g)

$1.15 ZMW 21.59

$0.79 ZMW 14.91

45.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.60 ZMW 67.8

$1.60 ZMW 30.08

125.00%

Eggs

$1.91 ZMW 35.96

$1.86 ZMW 34.99

2.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.61 ZMW 143

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.16 ZMW 135

$3.85 ZMW 72.5

85.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.20 ZMW 117

$4.68 ZMW 88.3

32.48%

Apples (1kg)

$3.01 ZMW 56.8

$2.52 ZMW 47.45

19.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ZMW 22.82

$1.63 ZMW 30.81

-25.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.20 ZMW 22.63

$2.70 ZMW 50.9

-55.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.21 ZMW 22.73

$1.16 ZMW 21.92

4.31%

Potato (1kg)

$2.86 ZMW 53.9

$1.81 ZMW 34.21

58.01%

Onion (1kg)

$2.39 ZMW 45.08

$1.36 ZMW 25.69

75.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 ZMW 22.48

$0.89 ZMW 16.72

33.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 ZMW 11.43

$0.49 ZMW 9.17

24.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.79 ZMW 33.78

$2.52 ZMW 47.43

-28.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.23 ZMW 79.8

$7.82 ZMW 147

-45.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 ZMW 13.85

$1.10 ZMW 20.71

-33.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 ZMW 28.22

$1.57 ZMW 29.52

-4.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.02 ZMW 19.18

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.61 ZMW 728

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.76 ZMW 51.9

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.14 ZMW 21.40

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.06 ZMW 171

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 ZMW 22.13

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

$7,977 ZMW 150.4K

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

$29.0K ZMW 546.3K

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

$90.5 ZMW 1,706

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

$52.5 ZMW 989

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$127 ZMW 2,398

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.54 ZMW 858

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.93 ZMW 263

Cinema Ticket

$4.08 ZMW 76.9

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

$174 ZMW 3,277

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,483 ZMW 178.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.10 ZMW 360

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.02 ZMW 321

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.1 ZMW 1,603

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.1 ZMW 1,396

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$227 ZMW 4,280

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$124 ZMW 2,330

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,053 ZMW 19.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$595 ZMW 11.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,949 ZMW 36.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,841 ZMW 72.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$348 ZMW 6,551

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Kitwe: May 11, 2026

Last update for Lusaka: May 12, 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: $225 in Kitwe, $862 in Lusaka – roughly 284% apart. Lusaka costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $337 per month in Kitwe and $1,293 in Lusaka. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $225 in Kitwe and $862 in Lusaka. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 1% 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 $225 in Kitwe and $862 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.