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: $855 in Lusaka versus $652 in Chilanga.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,450 in Lusaka versus $976 in Chilanga.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,045 in Lusaka versus $1,301 in Chilanga.

Living in Lusaka is roughly 31% more expensive than in Chilanga, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lusaka 36% lower, Chilanga 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.01 ZMW 128

$7.14 ZMW 130

-1.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.68 ZMW 449

$25.30 ZMW 460

-2.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.70 ZMW 67.3

$3.69 ZMW 67.1

0.27%

Cappuccino

$1.93 ZMW 35.10

$2.03 ZMW 37.01

-4.93%

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

$0.67 ZMW 12.24

$0.73 ZMW 13.28

-8.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 ZMW 6.16

$0.36 ZMW 6.60

-5.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.94 ZMW 17.14

$0.92 ZMW 16.80

2.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 ZMW 33.48

$1.75 ZMW 31.94

5.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 ZMW 24.30

$1.28 ZMW 23.30

3.91%

White Bread (500g)

$0.80 ZMW 14.63

$0.75 ZMW 13.74

6.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 ZMW 28.69

$1.60 ZMW 29.09

-1.25%

Eggs

$1.77 ZMW 32.25

$1.76 ZMW 32.11

0.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.92 ZMW 144

$7.64 ZMW 139

3.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.78 ZMW 68.8

$3.79 ZMW 68.9

-0.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.74 ZMW 86.2

$4.64 ZMW 84.4

2.16%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ZMW 46.79

$2.59 ZMW 47.14

-0.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 ZMW 28.62

$1.60 ZMW 29.09

-1.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.71 ZMW 49.35

$2.82 ZMW 51.3

-3.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.16 ZMW 21.15

$1.13 ZMW 20.55

2.65%

Potato (1kg)

$1.80 ZMW 32.84

$1.84 ZMW 33.45

-2.17%

Onion (1kg)

$1.33 ZMW 24.17

$1.32 ZMW 24.08

0.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 ZMW 16.80

$0.86 ZMW 15.66

6.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ZMW 9.37

$0.52 ZMW 9.40

-1.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.54 ZMW 46.29

$2.47 ZMW 44.87

2.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.63 ZMW 194

$10.74 ZMW 195

-1.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 ZMW 19.75

$1.13 ZMW 20.52

-3.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 ZMW 28.52

$1.52 ZMW 27.70

3.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.96 ZMW 17.51

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.17 ZMW 713

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.78 ZMW 50.7

$2.69 ZMW 48.92

3.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.17 ZMW 21.32

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.20 ZMW 167

$9.41 ZMW 171

-2.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 ZMW 21.75

$1.24 ZMW 22.52

-4.03%

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

$7,891 ZMW 143.6K

$8,084 ZMW 147.1K

-2.39%

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

$28.4K ZMW 517.4K

$28.3K ZMW 514.7K

0.53%

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

$90.7 ZMW 1,651

$91.9 ZMW 1,672

-1.25%

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

$53.4 ZMW 972

$52.2 ZMW 950

2.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$123 ZMW 2,239

$127 ZMW 2,311

-3.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.44 ZMW 827

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.65 ZMW 248

Cinema Ticket

$4.25 ZMW 77.4

$4.23 ZMW 77.0

0.47%

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

$178 ZMW 3,232

$180 ZMW 3,271

-1.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,462 ZMW 172.2K

$9,457 ZMW 172.1K

0.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.67 ZMW 340

$18.57 ZMW 338

0.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.20 ZMW 313

$16.71 ZMW 304

2.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ZMW 1,539

$83.6 ZMW 1,521

1.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ZMW 1,314

$71.9 ZMW 1,308

0.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$228 ZMW 4,157

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$125 ZMW 2,273

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,028 ZMW 18.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$593 ZMW 10.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,886 ZMW 34.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$14.2K ZMW 258.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$287 ZMW 5,215

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Lusaka: July 12, 2026

Last update for Chilanga: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $25.00 in Lusaka vs $25.00 in Chilanga. Groceries flip the comparison at $178 vs $177, with Chilanga cheaper for home cooking.

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 31% in total monthly costs ($855 vs $652 including rent). Chilanga is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,283 in Lusaka and $977 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 $178 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 31% less than in Lusaka. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.