Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Livingstone and Kitwe

For one person, living is cheaper in Kitwe: $186 a month against $198 in Livingstone, rent and utilities included – about $140 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Livingstone, Zambia
Kitwe, Zambia
Livingstone
🇿🇲 Zambia
$198
/mo nomad
Kitwe
🇿🇲 Zambia
$186
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Livingstone and in Kitwe

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 Kitwe actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $198 per month in Livingstone vs $186 in Kitwe, rent included.

  • Livingstone $198
  • Kitwe $186

A couple spends around $366 per month in Livingstone vs $1,228 in Kitwe, rent included.

  • Livingstone $366
  • Kitwe $1,228

A family of three spends $533 per month in Livingstone vs $2,270 in Kitwe, rent included.

  • Livingstone $533
  • Kitwe $2,270

Livingstone costs about 7% more than Kitwe, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Livingstone and Kitwe are more affordable than the global median – Livingstone 85% lower, Kitwe 86% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Livingstone
Kitwe
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.38 ZMW 149
-
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.19 ZMW 611
-
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.68 ZMW 176
-
-
Cappuccino
$4.97 ZMW 101
$2.56 ZMW 51.9
94.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.58 ZMW 11.71
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ZMW 7.44
$0.76 ZMW 15.42
-51.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.02 ZMW 40.98
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.46 ZMW 49.76
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Livingstone
Kitwe
Difference
White Bread (500g)
-
$1.02 ZMW 20.58
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$2.48 ZMW 50.3
-
Wine (Bottle)
$19.93 ZMW 404
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.13 ZMW 22.83
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.98 ZMW 19.93
-
🚌 Getting Around
Livingstone
Kitwe
Difference
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.48 ZMW 50.3
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
-
$1.42 ZMW 28.72
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$30.4K ZMW 615.0K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Livingstone
Kitwe
Difference
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$102 ZMW 2,056
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Livingstone
Kitwe
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$15.11 ZMW 306
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Livingstone
Kitwe
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$609 ZMW 12.3K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$11.9K ZMW 241.7K
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Livingstone
Kitwe
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,205 ZMW 24.4K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$2,451 ZMW 49.6K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$2,010 ZMW 40.7K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Livingstone
Kitwe
Difference
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
36
-

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

Last update for Livingstone: November 1, 2026

Last update for Kitwe: November 2, 2026

Good to know
🇿🇲 Livingstone
🇿🇲 Kitwe
🕒 Local time
20:42 8:42 PM
20:42 8:42 PM
Same time as Livingstone
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
136,897
522,092
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to ZMW – Zambian Kwacha Converter

Zambian Kwacha exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 20.25 ZMW (100 ZMW = 4.94 USD). 1 EUR = 22.67 ZMW (100 ZMW = 4.41 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Livingstone Kitwe 610 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Livingstone
  • Kitwe

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 Kitwe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Livingstone and in Kitwe compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $198 in Livingstone, $186 in Kitwe – Kitwe comes out roughly 7% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Livingstone compared to Kitwe?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $298 per month in Livingstone and $278 in Kitwe. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city is more expensive overall: Livingstone or Kitwe?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $198 in Livingstone and $186 in Kitwe. That makes Kitwe about 7% cheaper.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 124% more in Livingstone, though the gap depends on what you buy.
How far does $1,200 go in Livingstone compared to Kitwe?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $198 in Livingstone and $186 in Kitwe, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
How does quality of life compare between Livingstone and Kitwe?
It depends on your priorities. Livingstone has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $186 in Kitwe to $198 in Livingstone. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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