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: $180 in Livingstone versus $664 in Chilanga.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $322 in Livingstone versus $978 in Chilanga.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $464 in Livingstone versus $1,291 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 86% lower, Chilanga 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.33 ZMW 113

$7.09 ZMW 127

-10.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.82 ZMW 444

$24.87 ZMW 445

-0.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 ZMW 127

$3.73 ZMW 66.7

90.08%

Cappuccino

$4.19 ZMW 75.0

$1.96 ZMW 35.16

113.78%

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

$0.68 ZMW 12.22

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ZMW 5.41

$0.34 ZMW 6.01

-11.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.90 ZMW 16.04

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.77 ZMW 31.67

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 ZMW 23.46

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 ZMW 14.01

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 ZMW 29.41

Eggs

$1.82 ZMW 32.64

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.67 ZMW 137

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.85 ZMW 69.0

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.67 ZMW 83.5

Apples (1kg)

$2.46 ZMW 44.12

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 ZMW 29.73

Oranges (1kg)

$2.77 ZMW 49.62

Tomato (1kg)

$1.16 ZMW 20.83

Potato (1kg)

$1.84 ZMW 32.88

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 ZMW 24.37

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.88 ZMW 15.72

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ZMW 8.70

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.44 ZMW 43.75

Wine (Bottle)

$22.56 ZMW 404

$11.20 ZMW 200

101.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 ZMW 19.53

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 ZMW 28.02

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.73 ZMW 48.85

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.75 ZMW 31.26

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.34 ZMW 167

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 ZMW 21.31

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

$7,999 ZMW 143.2K

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

$28.8K ZMW 516.3K

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

$90.4 ZMW 1,618

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

$53.6 ZMW 959

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$124 ZMW 2,215

Cinema Ticket

$4.19 ZMW 75.1

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

$176 ZMW 3,150

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,475 ZMW 169.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.24 ZMW 344

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.69 ZMW 299

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.7 ZMW 1,498

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.1 ZMW 1,308

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Livingstone: June 14, 2026

Last update for Chilanga: June 16, 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 $45.00 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 ($180 vs $664 including rent). Livingstone is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $270 in Livingstone and $997 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 $180 per month in Livingstone versus $664 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.