Cost of Living Comparison Between Lusaka and Chingola Cost of Living Comparison Between Lusaka and Chingola

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $876 in Lusaka versus $340 in Chingola.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,489 in Lusaka versus $580 in Chingola.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,103 in Lusaka versus $820 in Chingola.

Living in Lusaka is roughly 157% more expensive than Chingola, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lusaka 35% lower, Chingola 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.11 ZMW 127

$12.64 ZMW 226

-43.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.96 ZMW 446

$20.63 ZMW 368

20.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.63 ZMW 64.8

Cappuccino

$2.01 ZMW 35.86

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

$0.73 ZMW 13.05

$0.39 ZMW 6.99

87.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 ZMW 6.04

$0.30 ZMW 5.37

13.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.96 ZMW 17.05

$0.52 ZMW 9.23

84.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 ZMW 32.42

$1.03 ZMW 18.38

76.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 ZMW 22.53

$1.03 ZMW 18.41

22.33%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 ZMW 13.16

$0.83 ZMW 14.76

-10.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 ZMW 28.26

$2.13 ZMW 38.01

-25.82%

Eggs

$1.77 ZMW 31.65

$1.09 ZMW 19.39

62.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.86 ZMW 140

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.83 ZMW 68.4

$2.02 ZMW 36.09

89.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.57 ZMW 81.6

$3.74 ZMW 66.8

22.19%

Apples (1kg)

$2.50 ZMW 44.69

$1.62 ZMW 28.83

54.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 ZMW 28.28

$1.63 ZMW 29.17

-3.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.69 ZMW 47.96

$1.70 ZMW 30.39

58.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 ZMW 20.91

$1.61 ZMW 28.77

-27.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.87 ZMW 33.43

$2.43 ZMW 43.30

-23.05%

Onion (1kg)

$1.38 ZMW 24.63

$1.20 ZMW 21.50

15.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.87 ZMW 15.54

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ZMW 9.30

$0.74 ZMW 13.13

-29.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.54 ZMW 45.39

$1.26 ZMW 22.47

101.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.95 ZMW 195

$5.43 ZMW 97.0

101.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 ZMW 20.24

$0.51 ZMW 9.17

121.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 ZMW 26.75

$0.60 ZMW 10.63

150.00%

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

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.15 ZMW 20.50

$0.44 ZMW 7.91

161.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.92 ZMW 159

$8.40 ZMW 150

6.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 ZMW 21.29

$1.22 ZMW 21.77

-2.46%

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

$7,968 ZMW 142.2K

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

$28.4K ZMW 506.8K

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

$90.1 ZMW 1,608

$42.04 ZMW 750

114.27%

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

$53.6 ZMW 956

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$127 ZMW 2,263

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.11 ZMW 805

$8.23 ZMW 147

448.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.99 ZMW 250

Cinema Ticket

$4.29 ZMW 76.6

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

$177 ZMW 3,161

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,528 ZMW 170.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.25 ZMW 344

$16.28 ZMW 291

18.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.27 ZMW 308

$10.28 ZMW 184

68.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.0 ZMW 1,535

$41.08 ZMW 733

109.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.7 ZMW 1,316

$62.3 ZMW 1,111

18.42%

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

$16.2K ZMW 289.3K

-73.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$296 ZMW 5,286

$121 ZMW 2,161

144.60%

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 Chingola: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Lusaka pays 145% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $25.00 in Lusaka vs $21.00 in Chingola for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $177 vs $119 per month, with Chingola 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 Chingola: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chingola is cheaper overall, especially in Monthly Utilities & Internet, Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 157% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Lusaka pays 145% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Supermarket bills run roughly 49% higher in Lusaka. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Chingola – a meal for two runs $21.00 versus $25.00 in Lusaka. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Chingola 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 Chingola gentler on the wallet – expenses run 157% less than in Lusaka. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.