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

😐 Solo nomad: Lusaka is 27.4% more expensive than Chilanga without rent, and 34.1% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Lusaka is 5.8% more expensive than Chilanga without rent, and 61.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lusaka
Chilanga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.23 ZMW 138
$7.23 ZMW 138
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.83 ZMW 475
$25.38 ZMW 486
-2.17%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.68 ZMW 70.4
$3.73 ZMW 71.4
-1.34%
Cappuccino
$1.99 ZMW 38.11
$1.97 ZMW 37.60
1.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 ZMW 13.85
$0.73 ZMW 13.98
-1.37%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 ZMW 6.50
$0.37 ZMW 7.00
-8.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.92 ZMW 17.66
$0.88 ZMW 16.92
4.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 ZMW 33.24
$1.76 ZMW 33.74
-1.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lusaka
Chilanga
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.32 ZMW 25.17
$1.29 ZMW 24.59
2.33%
White Bread (500g)
$0.73 ZMW 14.02
$0.73 ZMW 14.03
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.60 ZMW 30.67
$1.64 ZMW 31.32
-2.44%
Eggs
$1.84 ZMW 35.25
$1.84 ZMW 35.18
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.70 ZMW 147
$7.79 ZMW 149
-1.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.98 ZMW 76.1
$3.93 ZMW 75.1
1.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.74 ZMW 90.7
$4.51 ZMW 86.2
5.10%
Apples (1kg)
$2.48 ZMW 47.52
$2.58 ZMW 49.43
-3.88%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 ZMW 31.91
$1.59 ZMW 30.32
5.03%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.80 ZMW 53.5
$2.68 ZMW 51.2
4.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.17 ZMW 22.40
$1.16 ZMW 22.23
0.86%
Potato (1kg)
$1.89 ZMW 36.17
$1.82 ZMW 34.75
3.85%
Onion (1kg)
$1.36 ZMW 26.09
$1.38 ZMW 26.33
-1.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.94 ZMW 17.92
$0.94 ZMW 18.02
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 ZMW 9.17
$0.49 ZMW 9.36
-2.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.53 ZMW 48.34
$2.48 ZMW 47.38
2.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.07 ZMW 154
$7.80 ZMW 149
3.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.13 ZMW 21.61
$1.08 ZMW 20.63
4.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53 ZMW 29.26
$1.50 ZMW 28.68
2.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Lusaka
Chilanga
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.00 ZMW 19.17
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$38.65 ZMW 739
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.73 ZMW 52.2
$2.82 ZMW 53.9
-3.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.13 ZMW 21.63
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.99 ZMW 172
$9.42 ZMW 180
-4.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 ZMW 23.50
$1.23 ZMW 23.50
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$8,140 ZMW 155.7K
$7,905 ZMW 151.2K
2.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.5K ZMW 544.9K
$28.6K ZMW 547.9K
-0.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lusaka
Chilanga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$92.9 ZMW 1,778
$92.4 ZMW 1,768
0.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.1 ZMW 1,016
$52.8 ZMW 1,010
0.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$126 ZMW 2,402
$124 ZMW 2,369
1.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lusaka
Chilanga
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.23 ZMW 865
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.75 ZMW 263
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.27 ZMW 81.6
$4.07 ZMW 77.8
4.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lusaka
Chilanga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$175 ZMW 3,349
$180 ZMW 3,439
-2.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,583 ZMW 183.3K
$9,771 ZMW 186.9K
-1.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lusaka
Chilanga
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.74 ZMW 358
$19.06 ZMW 365
-1.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$17.19 ZMW 329
$16.68 ZMW 319
3.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.8 ZMW 1,642
$83.4 ZMW 1,595
2.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.9 ZMW 1,414
$72.8 ZMW 1,393
1.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lusaka
Chilanga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$222 ZMW 4,251
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$120 ZMW 2,299
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,042 ZMW 19.9K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$600 ZMW 11.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,997 ZMW 38.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,895 ZMW 74.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lusaka
Chilanga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$344 ZMW 6,576
-
-
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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Chilanga: April 12, 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

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