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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $876 in Lusaka versus $660 in Chilanga.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,489 in Lusaka versus $978 in Chilanga.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,103 in Lusaka versus $1,297 in Chilanga.

Living in Lusaka is roughly 33% more expensive than Chilanga, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lusaka 35% lower, Chilanga 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.11 ZMW 127

$7.16 ZMW 128

-0.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.96 ZMW 446

$24.88 ZMW 444

0.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.63 ZMW 64.8

$3.64 ZMW 65.0

-0.27%

Cappuccino

$2.01 ZMW 35.86

$2.04 ZMW 36.35

-1.47%

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

$0.73 ZMW 13.05

$0.72 ZMW 12.89

1.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 ZMW 6.04

$0.34 ZMW 6.02

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.96 ZMW 17.05

$0.88 ZMW 15.65

9.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 ZMW 32.42

$1.77 ZMW 31.58

2.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 ZMW 22.53

$1.32 ZMW 23.48

-4.55%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 ZMW 13.16

$0.74 ZMW 13.14

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 ZMW 28.26

$1.57 ZMW 28.10

0.64%

Eggs

$1.77 ZMW 31.65

$1.80 ZMW 32.10

-1.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.86 ZMW 140

$7.87 ZMW 140

-0.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.83 ZMW 68.4

$3.93 ZMW 70.1

-2.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.57 ZMW 81.6

$4.72 ZMW 84.2

-3.18%

Apples (1kg)

$2.50 ZMW 44.69

$2.58 ZMW 46.06

-3.10%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 ZMW 28.28

$1.66 ZMW 29.65

-4.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.69 ZMW 47.96

$2.80 ZMW 49.91

-3.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 ZMW 20.91

$1.11 ZMW 19.77

5.41%

Potato (1kg)

$1.87 ZMW 33.43

$1.83 ZMW 32.65

2.19%

Onion (1kg)

$1.38 ZMW 24.63

$1.32 ZMW 23.63

4.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.87 ZMW 15.54

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ZMW 9.30

$0.49 ZMW 8.68

6.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.54 ZMW 45.39

$2.50 ZMW 44.70

1.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.95 ZMW 195

$11.11 ZMW 198

-1.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 ZMW 20.24

$1.13 ZMW 20.18

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 ZMW 26.75

$1.58 ZMW 28.18

-5.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.96 ZMW 17.11

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.24 ZMW 683

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.79 ZMW 49.72

$2.80 ZMW 49.93

-0.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.15 ZMW 20.50

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.92 ZMW 159

$9.34 ZMW 167

-4.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 ZMW 21.29

$1.22 ZMW 21.86

-2.46%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$7,968 ZMW 142.2K

$8,111 ZMW 144.8K

-1.77%

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

$28.4K ZMW 506.8K

$28.1K ZMW 501.8K

0.99%

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

$90.1 ZMW 1,608

$90.4 ZMW 1,614

-0.40%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$53.6 ZMW 956

$52.8 ZMW 943

1.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$127 ZMW 2,263

$127 ZMW 2,267

-0.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.11 ZMW 805

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.99 ZMW 250

Cinema Ticket

$4.29 ZMW 76.6

$4.19 ZMW 74.8

2.39%

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

$177 ZMW 3,161

$180 ZMW 3,212

-1.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,528 ZMW 170.1K

$9,418 ZMW 168.1K

1.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.25 ZMW 344

$18.96 ZMW 338

1.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.27 ZMW 308

$16.97 ZMW 303

1.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.0 ZMW 1,535

$83.7 ZMW 1,494

2.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.7 ZMW 1,316

$73.8 ZMW 1,318

-0.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$224 ZMW 4,007

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$120 ZMW 2,148

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,053 ZMW 18.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$585 ZMW 10.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,973 ZMW 35.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,281 ZMW 76.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$296 ZMW 5,286

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Lusaka: May 31, 2026

Last update for Chilanga: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $25.00 in Lusaka vs $25.00 in Chilanga for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $177 vs $179 per month, with Lusaka cheaper across the board.

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

Lusaka vs Chilanga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lusaka and Chilanga differ by about 33% in total monthly costs ($876 vs $660 including rent). Chilanga is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,313 in Lusaka and $990 in Chilanga 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.

Childcare runs $177 in Lusaka versus $180 in Chilanga. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Chilanga – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $25.00 in Lusaka. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Chilanga 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.

Expats usually find Chilanga gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Lusaka. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.