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 $648 in Chilanga.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $316 in Livingstone versus $962 in Chilanga.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $456 in Livingstone versus $1,275 in Chilanga.

Living in Livingstone costs roughly 73% less than in Chilanga, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Livingstone 87% lower, Chilanga 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.19 ZMW 115

$7.18 ZMW 134

-13.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.36 ZMW 473

$24.89 ZMW 464

1.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.32 ZMW 137

$3.68 ZMW 68.6

98.91%

Cappuccino

$4.11 ZMW 76.6

$2.02 ZMW 37.77

103.47%

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

$0.73 ZMW 13.53

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ZMW 5.65

$0.37 ZMW 6.81

-18.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.95 ZMW 17.74

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 ZMW 32.57

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 ZMW 24.69

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 ZMW 14.01

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 ZMW 29.93

Eggs

$1.86 ZMW 34.75

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.89 ZMW 147

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.92 ZMW 73.0

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.70 ZMW 87.6

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 ZMW 48.56

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 ZMW 30.79

Oranges (1kg)

$2.78 ZMW 51.9

Tomato (1kg)

$1.12 ZMW 20.80

Potato (1kg)

$1.89 ZMW 35.20

Onion (1kg)

$1.37 ZMW 25.49

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.86 ZMW 15.95

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ZMW 9.04

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.46 ZMW 45.93

Wine (Bottle)

$21.43 ZMW 400

$10.74 ZMW 200

99.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.10 ZMW 20.44

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 ZMW 29.21

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.78 ZMW 51.8

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.83 ZMW 34.16

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.39 ZMW 175

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 ZMW 22.27

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

$8,103 ZMW 151.1K

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

$28.6K ZMW 532.6K

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

$92.1 ZMW 1,718

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

$51.8 ZMW 967

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$126 ZMW 2,358

Cinema Ticket

$4.09 ZMW 76.3

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

$180 ZMW 3,359

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,425 ZMW 175.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.30 ZMW 360

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.72 ZMW 312

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.6 ZMW 1,577

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.4 ZMW 1,387

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Livingstone: July 26, 2026

Last update for Chilanga: July 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 $179 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 269% in total monthly costs ($176 vs $648 including rent). Livingstone is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $263 in Livingstone and $972 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 $648 in Chilanga – a 269% 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 269% less than in Chilanga. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.