Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Chingola Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Chingola

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $338 in Chingola.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $579 in Chingola.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $821 in Chingola.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 579% more expensive than in Chingola, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Chingola is 75% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Chingola
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19 €14.18
$12.20 ZMW 222
32.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3 €55.5
$21.15 ZMW 385
199.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.32 €9.04
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.83 €2.48
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 €2.01
$0.40 ZMW 7.22
472.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 €1.38
$0.30 ZMW 5.48
426.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.40 €2.98
$0.48 ZMW 8.66
608.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03 €3.53
$1.02 ZMW 18.50
295.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Chingola
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 €0.96
$1.00 ZMW 18.12
9.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.53
$0.82 ZMW 14.89
113.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.54
$2.11 ZMW 38.40
-16.59%
Eggs
$3.17 €2.77
$1.14 ZMW 20.66
178.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.19 €11.56
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.97 €6.98
$2.04 ZMW 37.20
290.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.53 €13.60
$3.65 ZMW 66.4
325.48%
Apples (1kg)
$2.37 €2.07
$1.68 ZMW 30.53
41.07%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 €1.49
$1.67 ZMW 30.45
2.40%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.76
$1.64 ZMW 29.94
22.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.43 €2.13
$1.69 ZMW 30.79
43.79%
Potato (1kg)
$1.76 €1.54
$2.53 ZMW 46.04
-30.43%
Onion (1kg)
$2.03 €1.78
$1.22 ZMW 22.21
66.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.92 €1.68
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 €0.74
$0.69 ZMW 12.50
23.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58 €5.76
$1.27 ZMW 23.05
418.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.58 €4.89
$5.66 ZMW 103
-1.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 €1.17
$0.48 ZMW 8.81
177.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.60
$0.60 ZMW 10.95
395.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Chingola
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.28 €1.99
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.79 €40.10
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.23 €3.70
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.81 €0.71
$0.45 ZMW 8.17
80.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.44 €16.15
$8.31 ZMW 151
121.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.08 €1.82
$1.22 ZMW 22.13
70.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K €30.4K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K €34.3K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Chingola
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €130
$42.20 ZMW 768
250.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46 €17.92
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56 €34.64
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Chingola
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.99 €42.03
$8.08 ZMW 147
493.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60 €16.29
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.22 €8.08
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Chingola
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$616 €540
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.4K €14.4K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Chingola
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103 €90.0
$16.57 ZMW 302
519.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74 €36.55
$10.28 ZMW 187
306.03%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.8 €83.0
$40.97 ZMW 746
131.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 €107
$62.6 ZMW 1,139
95.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Chingola
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,633 €1,430
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,232 €1,079
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,098 €2,713
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,031 €1,779
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,831 €6,858
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,389 €3,844
$16.9K ZMW 306.9K
-73.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Chingola
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,607 €1,408
$120 ZMW 2,183
1240.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
0
-

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

Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026

Last update for Chingola: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Lisbon pays 1240% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $21.00 in Chingola for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $119 per month, with Chingola cheaper across the board.

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
Lisbon vs Chingola: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chingola cheaper than Lisbon?
Chingola is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 579% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Lisbon or Chingola?
Average pay runs 1240% higher in Lisbon, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do food prices compare in Lisbon and in Chingola?
Supermarket bills run roughly 125% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Lisbon or in Chingola?
Dining out is cheaper in Chingola – a meal for two runs $21.00 versus $63.0 in Lisbon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Lisbon or in Chingola?
At $338 in Chingola versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Chingola but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Chingola the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Lisbon or Chingola more family-friendly?
For families, Chingola is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Lisbon, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Lisbon or Chingola?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Chingola are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Chingola gentler on the wallet – expenses run 579% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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