Cost of Living Comparison Between Livingstone and Chilanga Cost of Living Comparison Between Livingstone and Chilanga

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $176 in Livingstone versus $638 in Chilanga.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $316 in Livingstone versus $958 in Chilanga.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $456 in Livingstone versus $1,278 in Chilanga.

Living in Livingstone costs roughly 72% less than in Chilanga, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Livingstone 87% lower, Chilanga 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.31 ZMW 120

$7.35 ZMW 140

-14.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.79 ZMW 471

$24.59 ZMW 467

0.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.38 ZMW 140

$3.62 ZMW 68.7

103.87%

Cappuccino

$4.17 ZMW 79.2

$2.00 ZMW 37.89

108.50%

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

$0.68 ZMW 12.86

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 ZMW 5.28

$0.36 ZMW 6.84

-22.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.94 ZMW 17.90

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 ZMW 33.00

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 ZMW 24.39

White Bread (500g)

$0.80 ZMW 15.20

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 ZMW 29.96

Eggs

$1.79 ZMW 34.00

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.72 ZMW 147

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.92 ZMW 74.4

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.64 ZMW 88.2

Apples (1kg)

$2.56 ZMW 48.67

Banana (1kg)

$1.67 ZMW 31.65

Oranges (1kg)

$2.77 ZMW 52.5

Tomato (1kg)

$1.16 ZMW 22.06

Potato (1kg)

$1.90 ZMW 36.14

Onion (1kg)

$1.37 ZMW 25.97

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.93 ZMW 17.62

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ZMW 9.69

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.54 ZMW 48.26

Wine (Bottle)

$21.35 ZMW 405

$8.02 ZMW 152

166.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 ZMW 21.45

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 ZMW 28.36

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.76 ZMW 52.4

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.75 ZMW 33.29

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.43 ZMW 179

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ZMW 23.54

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

$7,908 ZMW 150.1K

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

$28.9K ZMW 547.8K

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

$89.6 ZMW 1,701

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

$53.3 ZMW 1,012

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$123 ZMW 2,341

Cinema Ticket

$4.28 ZMW 81.3

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

$174 ZMW 3,301

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,494 ZMW 180.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.67 ZMW 354

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.11 ZMW 325

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.1 ZMW 1,614

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.5 ZMW 1,394

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Livingstone: April 26, 2026

Last update for Chilanga: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $25.00 in Livingstone vs $25.00 in Chilanga for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $43.00 vs $174 per month, with Livingstone 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

Livingstone vs Chilanga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Livingstone and Chilanga differ by about 262% in total monthly costs ($176 vs $638 including rent). Livingstone is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $265 in Livingstone and $957 in Chilanga 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.

Dining out is cheaper in Livingstone – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $25.00 in Chilanga. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $176 per month in Livingstone versus $638 in Chilanga – a 262% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Livingstone gentler on the wallet – expenses run 262% less than in Chilanga. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.