Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Livingstone and Chingola

For one person, living is cheaper in Livingstone: $199 a month against $421 in Chingola, rent and utilities included – about $2,700 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Jump to prices

Livingstone

🇿🇲 Zambia

$199

/mo nomad

Chingola

🇿🇲 Zambia

$421

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Livingstone and in Chingola

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Livingstone and in Chingola actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $199 in Livingstone versus $421 in Chingola.

Livingstone $199
Chingola $421

Estimated couple costs with rent: $367 in Livingstone versus $715 in Chingola.

Livingstone $367
Chingola $715

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $535 in Livingstone versus $1,010 in Chingola.

Livingstone $535
Chingola $1,010

Living in Livingstone costs roughly 53% less than in Chingola, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Livingstone 85% lower, Chingola 69% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.57 ZMW 153

$14.78 ZMW 298

-48.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.35 ZMW 611

$24.36 ZMW 491

24.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.72 ZMW 176

Cappuccino

$4.88 ZMW 98.2

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

$0.49 ZMW 9.85

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 ZMW 6.78

$0.34 ZMW 6.83

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.57 ZMW 11.53

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.21 ZMW 24.32

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 ZMW 34.68

White Bread (500g)

$1.15 ZMW 23.12

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.42 ZMW 48.65

Eggs

$1.82 ZMW 36.58

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.19 ZMW 105

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.36 ZMW 87.9

Apples (1kg)

$2.03 ZMW 40.79

Banana (1kg)

$1.96 ZMW 39.43

Oranges (1kg)

$2.03 ZMW 40.87

Tomato (1kg)

$1.97 ZMW 39.69

Potato (1kg)

$2.89 ZMW 58.2

Onion (1kg)

$1.47 ZMW 29.61

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 ZMW 16.37

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.46 ZMW 29.47

Wine (Bottle)

$19.88 ZMW 400

$4.90 ZMW 98.7

305.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 ZMW 12.68

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 ZMW 14.53

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.48 ZMW 49.93

$0.58 ZMW 11.59

327.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.86 ZMW 198

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 ZMW 26.67

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

$50.6 ZMW 1,019

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.87 ZMW 199

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.03 ZMW 403

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$12.37 ZMW 249

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$49.22 ZMW 991

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.4 ZMW 1,498

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$14.6K ZMW 294.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$108 ZMW 2,177

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

Last update for Livingstone: October 25, 2026

Last update for Chingola: October 24, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $30 in Livingstone vs $24 in Chingola. Groceries flip the comparison at $40 vs $160, with Livingstone cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know

🇿🇲 Livingstone

🇿🇲 Chingola

🕒 Local time

10:40 10:40 AM

Same time as Livingstone

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

136,897

210,073

💱 Currency

Zambian Kwacha ZMW ZK

📈 Exchange rate

100 ZMW = 4.97 USD

100 ZMW = 4.45 EUR

100 ZMW = 4.97 USD

100 ZMW = 4.45 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Livingstone Chingola 630 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Livingstone
Chingola

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Chingola: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Livingstone is about 53% cheaper overall, especially in groceries. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You’d need roughly $298 in Livingstone and $631 in Chingola 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 303% higher in Chingola. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Chingola – a meal for two runs $24 versus $30 in Livingstone. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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.