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: $907 in Lusaka versus $455 in Chingola.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,534 in Lusaka versus $776 in Chingola.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,161 in Lusaka versus $1,097 in Chingola.

Living in Lusaka is roughly 99% more expensive than in Chingola, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lusaka 34% lower, Chingola 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.70 ZMW 109

$16.07 ZMW 307

-64.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.91 ZMW 609

$25.85 ZMW 494

23.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.31 ZMW 101

Cappuccino

$2.98 ZMW 57.0

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

$0.82 ZMW 15.73

$0.54 ZMW 10.37

51.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 ZMW 9.02

$0.38 ZMW 7.30

23.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.36 ZMW 25.95

$0.65 ZMW 12.35

109.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 ZMW 44.68

$1.30 ZMW 24.90

80.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.86 ZMW 35.53

$1.88 ZMW 35.94

-1.06%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 ZMW 23.79

$1.28 ZMW 24.37

-2.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.19 ZMW 41.74

$2.58 ZMW 49.35

-15.12%

Eggs

$2.05 ZMW 39.17

$1.93 ZMW 36.95

6.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.75 ZMW 205

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.54 ZMW 125

$5.16 ZMW 98.5

26.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.75 ZMW 129

$4.85 ZMW 92.7

39.18%

Apples (1kg)

$3.55 ZMW 67.9

$2.08 ZMW 39.72

70.67%

Banana (1kg)

$2.50 ZMW 47.66

$2.15 ZMW 40.98

16.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.72 ZMW 71.0

$2.07 ZMW 39.60

79.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ZMW 30.34

$2.15 ZMW 41.11

-26.05%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 ZMW 52.3

$3.13 ZMW 59.8

-12.46%

Onion (1kg)

$1.97 ZMW 37.63

$1.59 ZMW 30.44

23.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 ZMW 21.91

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 ZMW 15.77

$0.88 ZMW 16.85

-5.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.22 ZMW 61.4

$1.54 ZMW 29.42

109.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.52 ZMW 201

$5.34 ZMW 102

97.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.48 ZMW 28.18

$0.65 ZMW 12.49

127.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 ZMW 47.26

$0.81 ZMW 15.56

204.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.02 ZMW 19.56

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.1 ZMW 995

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 ZMW 51.1

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.56 ZMW 29.78

$0.60 ZMW 11.45

160.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.23 ZMW 99.9

$10.57 ZMW 202

-50.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.58 ZMW 30.13

$1.41 ZMW 26.96

12.06%

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

$7,791 ZMW 148.8K

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

$27.7K ZMW 529.1K

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

$83.7 ZMW 1,598

$53.4 ZMW 1,020

56.68%

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

$11.07 ZMW 211

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$56.7 ZMW 1,083

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.4 ZMW 1,076

$10.59 ZMW 202

432.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.97 ZMW 305

Cinema Ticket

$6.37 ZMW 122

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

$147 ZMW 2,802

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.6K ZMW 317.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.76 ZMW 473

$21.26 ZMW 406

16.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.00 ZMW 306

$13.00 ZMW 248

23.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$47.84 ZMW 914

$53.4 ZMW 1,020

-10.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.1 ZMW 1,472

$79.5 ZMW 1,518

-3.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$389 ZMW 7,424

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$183 ZMW 3,492

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,118 ZMW 21.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$596 ZMW 11.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,896 ZMW 36.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,285 ZMW 100.9K

$15.7K ZMW 299.0K

-66.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$336 ZMW 6,414

$115 ZMW 2,192

192.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Lusaka: August 31, 2026

Last update for Chingola: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Lusaka pays 193% 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: $32.00 in Lusaka vs $26.00 in Chingola for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $171 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, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 99% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 193% 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 45% 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 $26.00 versus $32.00 in Lusaka. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $455 in Chingola versus $907 in Lusaka, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Chingola but tight or insufficient in Lusaka. The gap between the two cities makes Chingola the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 99% less than in Lusaka. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.