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: $855 in Lusaka versus $338 in Chingola.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,450 in Lusaka versus $579 in Chingola.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,045 in Lusaka versus $821 in Chingola.

Living in Lusaka is roughly 153% more expensive than in Chingola, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lusaka 36% lower, Chingola 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.01 ZMW 128

$12.20 ZMW 222

-42.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.68 ZMW 449

$21.15 ZMW 385

16.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.70 ZMW 67.3

Cappuccino

$1.93 ZMW 35.10

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

$0.67 ZMW 12.24

$0.40 ZMW 7.22

67.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 ZMW 6.16

$0.30 ZMW 5.48

13.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.94 ZMW 17.14

$0.48 ZMW 8.66

95.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 ZMW 33.48

$1.02 ZMW 18.50

80.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 ZMW 24.30

$1.00 ZMW 18.12

33.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.80 ZMW 14.63

$0.82 ZMW 14.89

-2.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 ZMW 28.69

$2.11 ZMW 38.40

-25.12%

Eggs

$1.77 ZMW 32.25

$1.14 ZMW 20.66

55.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.92 ZMW 144

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.78 ZMW 68.8

$2.04 ZMW 37.20

85.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.74 ZMW 86.2

$3.65 ZMW 66.4

29.86%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ZMW 46.79

$1.68 ZMW 30.53

52.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 ZMW 28.62

$1.67 ZMW 30.45

-5.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.71 ZMW 49.35

$1.64 ZMW 29.94

65.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.16 ZMW 21.15

$1.69 ZMW 30.79

-31.36%

Potato (1kg)

$1.80 ZMW 32.84

$2.53 ZMW 46.04

-28.85%

Onion (1kg)

$1.33 ZMW 24.17

$1.22 ZMW 22.21

9.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 ZMW 16.80

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ZMW 9.37

$0.69 ZMW 12.50

-26.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.54 ZMW 46.29

$1.27 ZMW 23.05

100.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.63 ZMW 194

$5.66 ZMW 103

87.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 ZMW 19.75

$0.48 ZMW 8.81

127.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 ZMW 28.52

$0.60 ZMW 10.95

161.67%

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

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.17 ZMW 21.32

$0.45 ZMW 8.17

160.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.20 ZMW 167

$8.31 ZMW 151

10.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 ZMW 21.75

$1.22 ZMW 22.13

-2.46%

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

$7,891 ZMW 143.6K

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

$28.4K ZMW 517.4K

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

$90.7 ZMW 1,651

$42.20 ZMW 768

114.95%

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

$53.4 ZMW 972

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$123 ZMW 2,239

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.44 ZMW 827

$8.08 ZMW 147

462.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.65 ZMW 248

Cinema Ticket

$4.25 ZMW 77.4

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

$178 ZMW 3,232

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,462 ZMW 172.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.67 ZMW 340

$16.57 ZMW 302

12.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.20 ZMW 313

$10.28 ZMW 187

67.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ZMW 1,539

$40.97 ZMW 746

106.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ZMW 1,314

$62.6 ZMW 1,139

15.44%

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

$16.9K ZMW 306.9K

-15.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$287 ZMW 5,215

$120 ZMW 2,183

138.93%

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 Chingola: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Lusaka pays 139% 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 $178 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 Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 153% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 139% higher in Lusaka, 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 50% 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 153% less than in Lusaka. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.