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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $885 per month in Lusaka vs $182 in Kitwe, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,521 per month in Lusaka vs $1,209 in Kitwe, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,157 per month in Lusaka vs $2,236 in Kitwe, rent included.

Lusaka costs about 387% more than Kitwe, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Lusaka and Kitwe are more affordable than the global median – Lusaka 35% lower, Kitwe 87% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.79 ZMW 113

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.22 ZMW 612

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.32 ZMW 104

Cappuccino

$2.85 ZMW 55.9

$2.49 ZMW 48.76

14.46%

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

$0.77 ZMW 15.00

$0.58 ZMW 11.33

32.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 ZMW 9.96

$0.78 ZMW 15.22

-34.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.27 ZMW 24.80

$2.05 ZMW 40.09

-38.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 ZMW 46.60

$2.43 ZMW 47.62

-2.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 ZMW 35.60

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 ZMW 24.85

$0.98 ZMW 19.27

29.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.15 ZMW 42.10

Eggs

$2.02 ZMW 39.50

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.76 ZMW 211

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.44 ZMW 126

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.92 ZMW 136

Apples (1kg)

$3.49 ZMW 68.3

Banana (1kg)

$2.55 ZMW 49.96

Oranges (1kg)

$3.81 ZMW 74.6

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ZMW 31.19

Potato (1kg)

$2.65 ZMW 51.9

Onion (1kg)

$1.93 ZMW 37.89

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 ZMW 23.02

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 ZMW 16.05

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.13 ZMW 61.4

$2.46 ZMW 48.31

27.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.15 ZMW 199

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 ZMW 29.51

$1.17 ZMW 22.92

29.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 ZMW 47.71

$1.02 ZMW 20.05

138.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.07 ZMW 20.89

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$50.6 ZMW 991

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.63 ZMW 51.5

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 ZMW 30.73

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.10 ZMW 99.9

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 ZMW 30.39

$1.46 ZMW 28.69

6.16%

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

$7,668 ZMW 150.3K

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

$27.1K ZMW 531.8K

$30.3K ZMW 593.3K

-10.37%

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

$83.3 ZMW 1,632

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

$10.68 ZMW 209

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.5 ZMW 1,127

$98.6 ZMW 1,933

-41.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.0 ZMW 1,117

$14.74 ZMW 289

286.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.72 ZMW 308

Cinema Ticket

$6.37 ZMW 125

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

$141 ZMW 2,757

$599 ZMW 11.7K

-76.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.0K ZMW 332.3K

$11.8K ZMW 230.6K

44.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.26 ZMW 475

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$15.66 ZMW 307

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$46.46 ZMW 911

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.5 ZMW 1,460

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$393 ZMW 7,708

$1,200 ZMW 23.5K

-67.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$185 ZMW 3,633

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,078 ZMW 21.1K

$2,536 ZMW 49.7K

-57.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$594 ZMW 11.6K

$2,025 ZMW 39.7K

-70.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,920 ZMW 37.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,078 ZMW 99.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$329 ZMW 6,439

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-19.44%

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

Last update for Lusaka: September 13, 2026

Last update for Kitwe: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $393 in Lusaka versus $1,200 in Kitwe. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

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: $885 in Lusaka, $182 in Kitwe – roughly 387% apart. Lusaka costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,328 per month in Lusaka and $273 in Kitwe. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Kitwe, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $141 per month in Lusaka and $599 in Kitwe. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $885 in Lusaka and $182 in Kitwe. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kitwe, where all-in costs run around $182, than in Lusaka at $885. In Kitwe it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lusaka it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.