Cost of Living Comparison Between Lusaka and Chilanga Cost of Living Comparison Between Lusaka and Chilanga

😐 Solo nomad: Lusaka is 22.5% more expensive than Chilanga without rent, and 33.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Lusaka is 28.4% more expensive than Chilanga without rent, and 67.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lusaka
Chilanga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.35 ZMW 141
$7.23 ZMW 138
1.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.43 ZMW 487
$24.84 ZMW 475
2.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.70 ZMW 70.7
$3.74 ZMW 71.5
-1.07%
Cappuccino
$1.93 ZMW 36.94
$2.01 ZMW 38.41
-3.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ZMW 13.18
$0.71 ZMW 13.62
-2.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ZMW 6.92
$0.34 ZMW 6.42
5.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.89 ZMW 17.03
$0.87 ZMW 16.66
2.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 ZMW 34.56
$1.81 ZMW 34.70
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lusaka
Chilanga
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.26 ZMW 24.17
$1.26 ZMW 24.15
-
White Bread (500g)
$0.74 ZMW 14.17
$0.81 ZMW 15.43
-8.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.59 ZMW 30.35
$1.58 ZMW 30.27
0.63%
Eggs
$1.82 ZMW 34.85
$1.80 ZMW 34.38
1.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.93 ZMW 152
$7.85 ZMW 150
1.02%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.83 ZMW 73.2
$3.90 ZMW 74.7
-1.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.61 ZMW 88.2
$4.56 ZMW 87.3
1.10%
Apples (1kg)
$2.61 ZMW 49.95
$2.58 ZMW 49.40
1.16%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ZMW 30.78
$1.59 ZMW 30.40
1.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.69 ZMW 51.5
$2.78 ZMW 53.1
-3.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.12 ZMW 21.45
$1.17 ZMW 22.40
-4.27%
Potato (1kg)
$1.88 ZMW 35.99
$1.82 ZMW 34.75
3.30%
Onion (1kg)
$1.39 ZMW 26.56
$1.38 ZMW 26.42
0.72%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.94 ZMW 18.05
$0.89 ZMW 17.02
5.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ZMW 9.88
$0.52 ZMW 10.04
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.52 ZMW 48.29
$2.56 ZMW 48.92
-1.56%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.48 ZMW 143
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14 ZMW 21.82
$1.14 ZMW 21.84
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 ZMW 29.94
$1.58 ZMW 30.24
-1.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Lusaka
Chilanga
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.95 ZMW 18.25
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$38.75 ZMW 741
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.77 ZMW 53.0
$2.67 ZMW 51.1
3.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.15 ZMW 21.92
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.03 ZMW 173
$9.28 ZMW 178
-2.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.20 ZMW 22.89
$1.20 ZMW 22.88
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$8,118 ZMW 155.3K
$8,030 ZMW 153.6K
1.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.1K ZMW 536.8K
$29.0K ZMW 555.0K
-3.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lusaka
Chilanga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$90.3 ZMW 1,727
$91.9 ZMW 1,758
-1.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.0 ZMW 994
$52.1 ZMW 996
-0.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$127 ZMW 2,433
$125 ZMW 2,392
1.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lusaka
Chilanga
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.62 ZMW 854
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.95 ZMW 267
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.14 ZMW 79.2
$4.28 ZMW 81.9
-3.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lusaka
Chilanga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$176 ZMW 3,358
$180 ZMW 3,435
-2.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,737 ZMW 186.3K
$9,433 ZMW 180.5K
3.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lusaka
Chilanga
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.25 ZMW 368
$19.26 ZMW 368
-0.05%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$17.30 ZMW 331
$17.28 ZMW 331
0.12%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.4 ZMW 1,614
$84.8 ZMW 1,622
-0.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.4 ZMW 1,423
$74.0 ZMW 1,416
0.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lusaka
Chilanga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$225 ZMW 4,303
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$123 ZMW 2,360
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,056 ZMW 20.2K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$583 ZMW 11.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,942 ZMW 37.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,863 ZMW 73.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lusaka
Chilanga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$348 ZMW 6,666
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
25
25
-

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

Last update for Lusaka: March 1, 2026

Last update for Chilanga: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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