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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $884 per month in Lusaka vs $218 in Kitwe, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,464 per month in Lusaka vs $350 in Kitwe, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,044 per month in Lusaka vs $482 in Kitwe, rent included.

Lusaka costs about 305% more than Kitwe, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Lusaka and Kitwe are more affordable than the global median – Lusaka 34% lower, Kitwe 84% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.16 ZMW 125

$3.02 ZMW 52.8

137.09%

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

$1.45 ZMW 25.41

32.41%

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

$0.72 ZMW 12.62

$0.60 ZMW 10.56

20.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 ZMW 5.93

$0.40 ZMW 6.93

-15.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.89 ZMW 15.55

$0.91 ZMW 15.93

-2.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.83 ZMW 31.96

$1.48 ZMW 25.88

23.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.28 ZMW 22.38

$0.84 ZMW 14.71

52.38%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 ZMW 13.04

$1.16 ZMW 20.19

-35.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 ZMW 27.99

$3.72 ZMW 65.1

-56.99%

Eggs

$1.77 ZMW 31.01

$1.91 ZMW 33.38

-7.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.50 ZMW 131

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.79 ZMW 66.2

$6.98 ZMW 122

-45.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.58 ZMW 80.0

$6.54 ZMW 114

-29.97%

Apples (1kg)

$2.59 ZMW 45.23

$2.87 ZMW 50.2

-9.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 ZMW 28.92

$1.15 ZMW 20.18

43.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.71 ZMW 47.29

$1.20 ZMW 21.01

125.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 ZMW 20.46

$1.15 ZMW 20.17

1.74%

Potato (1kg)

$1.90 ZMW 33.20

$3.01 ZMW 52.6

-36.88%

Onion (1kg)

$1.32 ZMW 23.02

$2.36 ZMW 41.30

-44.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 ZMW 15.92

$1.15 ZMW 20.06

-20.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ZMW 8.95

$0.57 ZMW 9.88

-10.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.56 ZMW 44.74

$1.74 ZMW 30.44

47.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.36 ZMW 199

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 ZMW 19.07

$0.75 ZMW 13.10

45.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 ZMW 27.55

$1.49 ZMW 26.11

6.04%

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 Kitwe: June 6, 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: $884 in Lusaka, $218 in Kitwe – roughly 305% apart. Lusaka costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,326 per month in Lusaka and $327 in Kitwe. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $884 in Lusaka and $218 in Kitwe. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 11% 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 $884 in Lusaka and $218 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.