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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.78 ZMW 109

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.10 ZMW 607

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.42 ZMW 102

Cappuccino

$2.93 ZMW 55.4

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

$0.85 ZMW 16.02

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 ZMW 9.64

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.30 ZMW 24.59

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 ZMW 45.98

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 ZMW 32.84

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 ZMW 24.17

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.14 ZMW 40.36

Eggs

$2.04 ZMW 38.52

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.85 ZMW 205

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.73 ZMW 127

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.03 ZMW 133

Apples (1kg)

$4.01 ZMW 75.9

Banana (1kg)

$2.62 ZMW 49.60

Oranges (1kg)

$3.88 ZMW 73.4

Tomato (1kg)

$1.65 ZMW 31.13

Potato (1kg)

$2.75 ZMW 52.0

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 ZMW 42.20

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.22 ZMW 23.04

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 ZMW 16.03

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.15 ZMW 59.6

Wine (Bottle)

$10.80 ZMW 204

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 ZMW 28.49

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 ZMW 47.10

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.09 ZMW 20.64

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.5 ZMW 993

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.71 ZMW 51.3

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 ZMW 27.99

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.25 ZMW 99.3

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.65 ZMW 31.12

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

$7,944 ZMW 150.1K

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

$34.3K ZMW 647.9K

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

$87.2 ZMW 1,647

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

$10.84 ZMW 205

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.4 ZMW 1,104

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.1 ZMW 1,117

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.35 ZMW 309

Cinema Ticket

$6.47 ZMW 122

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

$147 ZMW 2,779

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.8K ZMW 318.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.80 ZMW 488

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$15.73 ZMW 297

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$46.66 ZMW 882

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.2 ZMW 1,440

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$392 ZMW 7,412

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$183 ZMW 3,461

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,098 ZMW 20.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$613 ZMW 11.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,905 ZMW 36.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,387 ZMW 101.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$340 ZMW 6,425

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 17, 2026

Last update for Kawambwa: August 16, 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.