Cost of Living Comparison Between Livingstone and Kitwe Cost of Living Comparison Between Livingstone and Kitwe

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $206 per month in Livingstone vs $182 in Kitwe, rent included.

A couple spends around $380 per month in Livingstone vs $1,209 in Kitwe, rent included.

A family of three spends $554 per month in Livingstone vs $2,236 in Kitwe, rent included.

Livingstone costs about 14% more than Kitwe, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Livingstone and Kitwe are more affordable than the global median – Livingstone 85% lower, Kitwe 87% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.62 ZMW 149

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.80 ZMW 623

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.33 ZMW 183

Cappuccino

$5.27 ZMW 103

$2.49 ZMW 48.76

111.65%

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

$0.58 ZMW 11.33

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ZMW 6.95

$0.78 ZMW 15.22

-55.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.05 ZMW 40.09

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 ZMW 47.62

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 ZMW 19.27

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.46 ZMW 48.31

Wine (Bottle)

$20.53 ZMW 402

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 ZMW 22.92

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 ZMW 20.05

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.59 ZMW 50.8

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 ZMW 28.69

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

$30.3K ZMW 593.3K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$98.6 ZMW 1,933

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.74 ZMW 289

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

$599 ZMW 11.7K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.8K ZMW 230.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,200 ZMW 23.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,536 ZMW 49.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,025 ZMW 39.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Livingstone: September 13, 2026

Last update for Kitwe: September 14, 2026

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 Kitwe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $206 in Livingstone, $182 in Kitwe – roughly 14% apart. Livingstone costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $310 per month in Livingstone and $273 in Kitwe. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $206 in Livingstone and $182 in Kitwe. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 132% more in Livingstone, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kitwe, where all-in costs run around $182, than in Livingstone at $206. In Kitwe it covers expenses comfortably, while in Livingstone it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Kitwe – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Kitwe. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Livingstone makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.