Cost of Living Comparison Between Lusaka and Kitwe Cost of Living Comparison Between Lusaka and Kitwe

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $860 per month in Lusaka vs $221 in Kitwe, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,485 per month in Lusaka vs $358 in Kitwe, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,110 per month in Lusaka vs $495 in Kitwe, rent included.

Lusaka costs about 289% more than Kitwe, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Lusaka and Kitwe are more affordable than the global median – Lusaka 36% lower, Kitwe 83% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.24 ZMW 136

$2.87 ZMW 54.1

152.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.12 ZMW 473

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.82 ZMW 71.9

Cappuccino

$2.04 ZMW 38.32

$1.48 ZMW 27.88

37.84%

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

$0.69 ZMW 12.92

$0.57 ZMW 10.73

21.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ZMW 6.82

$0.42 ZMW 7.94

-14.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.87 ZMW 16.47

$0.85 ZMW 15.91

2.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 ZMW 32.77

$1.49 ZMW 27.98

16.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 ZMW 23.76

$0.91 ZMW 17.03

38.46%

White Bread (500g)

$0.76 ZMW 14.23

$1.17 ZMW 21.93

-35.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 ZMW 30.76

$3.62 ZMW 68.2

-54.97%

Eggs

$1.85 ZMW 34.78

$1.91 ZMW 35.90

-3.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.74 ZMW 146

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.91 ZMW 73.6

$7.00 ZMW 132

-44.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.48 ZMW 84.4

$6.45 ZMW 121

-30.54%

Apples (1kg)

$2.53 ZMW 47.58

$2.89 ZMW 54.3

-12.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 ZMW 30.01

$1.17 ZMW 21.93

35.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.76 ZMW 51.9

$1.21 ZMW 22.77

128.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.16 ZMW 21.89

$1.21 ZMW 22.75

-4.13%

Potato (1kg)

$1.88 ZMW 35.38

$3.00 ZMW 56.5

-37.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.37 ZMW 25.78

$2.40 ZMW 45.21

-42.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 ZMW 16.74

$1.20 ZMW 22.57

-25.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ZMW 9.20

$0.57 ZMW 10.74

-14.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.45 ZMW 46.06

$1.75 ZMW 32.87

40.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.90 ZMW 149

$4.07 ZMW 76.6

94.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 ZMW 20.31

$0.74 ZMW 13.90

45.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 ZMW 29.30

$1.43 ZMW 26.90

9.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.02 ZMW 19.27

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.79 ZMW 711

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.68 ZMW 50.5

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.14 ZMW 21.43

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.97 ZMW 169

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ZMW 22.56

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

$7,879 ZMW 148.3K

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

$28.5K ZMW 537.2K

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

$92.4 ZMW 1,739

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

$52.1 ZMW 981

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$124 ZMW 2,339

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.30 ZMW 853

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.66 ZMW 257

Cinema Ticket

$4.20 ZMW 79.0

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

$179 ZMW 3,378

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,726 ZMW 183.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.63 ZMW 351

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.27 ZMW 325

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ZMW 1,614

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.4 ZMW 1,400

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$231 ZMW 4,342

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$125 ZMW 2,349

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,057 ZMW 19.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$592 ZMW 11.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,946 ZMW 36.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,776 ZMW 71.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$344 ZMW 6,481

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Lusaka: April 26, 2026

Last update for Kitwe: April 27, 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 Kitwe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $860 in Lusaka, $221 in Kitwe – roughly 289% apart. Lusaka costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,290 per month in Lusaka and $332 in Kitwe. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $860 in Lusaka and $221 in Kitwe. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 1% more in Lusaka, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $860 in Lusaka and $221 in Kitwe, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Kitwe – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Kitwe. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lusaka makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.