Cost of Living Comparison Between Lusaka and Kawambwa Cost of Living Comparison Between Lusaka and Kawambwa

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.16 ZMW 125

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.14 ZMW 439

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.69 ZMW 64.6

Cappuccino

$1.92 ZMW 33.58

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

$0.72 ZMW 12.62

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 ZMW 5.93

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.89 ZMW 15.55

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.83 ZMW 31.96

Milk (1 liter)

$1.28 ZMW 22.38

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 ZMW 13.04

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 ZMW 27.99

Eggs

$1.77 ZMW 31.01

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.50 ZMW 131

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.79 ZMW 66.2

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.58 ZMW 80.0

Apples (1kg)

$2.59 ZMW 45.23

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 ZMW 28.92

Oranges (1kg)

$2.71 ZMW 47.29

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 ZMW 20.46

Potato (1kg)

$1.90 ZMW 33.20

Onion (1kg)

$1.32 ZMW 23.02

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 ZMW 15.92

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ZMW 8.95

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.56 ZMW 44.74

Wine (Bottle)

$11.36 ZMW 199

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 ZMW 19.07

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 ZMW 27.55

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.02 ZMW 17.87

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.75 ZMW 677

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.70 ZMW 47.20

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.18 ZMW 20.62

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.32 ZMW 163

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ZMW 21.59

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

$8,093 ZMW 141.5K

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

$28.4K ZMW 496.6K

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

$92.9 ZMW 1,625

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

$51.8 ZMW 905

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$125 ZMW 2,193

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.76 ZMW 800

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.75 ZMW 240

Cinema Ticket

$4.16 ZMW 72.7

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

$174 ZMW 3,033

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,530 ZMW 166.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.98 ZMW 332

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.66 ZMW 291

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.5 ZMW 1,459

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.2 ZMW 1,280

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$226 ZMW 3,958

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$122 ZMW 2,140

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,029 ZMW 18.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$605 ZMW 10.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,999 ZMW 34.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,214 ZMW 73.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$312 ZMW 5,445

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Lusaka: June 8, 2026

Last update for Kawambwa: June 9, 2026

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 Kawambwa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For families, Kawambwa is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Lusaka, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Lusaka and Kawambwa are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

It comes down to priorities – Kawambwa wins on affordability, Lusaka on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.