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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Lusaka vs $214 in Kitwe, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,460 per month in Lusaka vs $350 in Kitwe, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,054 per month in Lusaka vs $486 in Kitwe, rent included.

Lusaka costs about 304% more than Kitwe, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Lusaka and Kitwe are more affordable than the global median – Lusaka 35% lower, Kitwe 84% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.11 ZMW 133

$2.88 ZMW 53.6

146.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.77 ZMW 462

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.68 ZMW 68.7

Cappuccino

$1.96 ZMW 36.62

$1.44 ZMW 26.87

36.11%

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

$0.67 ZMW 12.52

$0.56 ZMW 10.51

19.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ZMW 6.78

$0.39 ZMW 7.34

-7.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.95 ZMW 17.73

$0.92 ZMW 17.17

3.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 ZMW 34.27

$1.45 ZMW 26.98

26.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 ZMW 23.77

$0.92 ZMW 17.22

38.04%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 ZMW 15.08

$1.15 ZMW 21.40

-29.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.66 ZMW 30.96

$3.74 ZMW 69.8

-55.61%

Eggs

$1.79 ZMW 33.29

$1.84 ZMW 34.36

-2.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.60 ZMW 142

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.80 ZMW 70.8

$7.19 ZMW 134

-47.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.66 ZMW 86.9

$6.50 ZMW 121

-28.31%

Apples (1kg)

$2.56 ZMW 47.75

$2.98 ZMW 55.6

-14.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 ZMW 30.86

$1.16 ZMW 21.69

42.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.71 ZMW 50.5

$1.17 ZMW 21.75

131.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.13 ZMW 20.98

$1.16 ZMW 21.56

-2.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.80 ZMW 33.59

$2.97 ZMW 55.4

-39.39%

Onion (1kg)

$1.33 ZMW 24.82

$2.38 ZMW 44.34

-44.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 ZMW 16.56

$1.16 ZMW 21.58

-23.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ZMW 9.60

$0.60 ZMW 11.20

-15.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.53 ZMW 47.28

$1.79 ZMW 33.47

41.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.57 ZMW 197

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 ZMW 20.29

$0.75 ZMW 14.00

45.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 ZMW 28.16

$1.48 ZMW 27.63

2.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.03 ZMW 19.24

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.48 ZMW 718

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.78 ZMW 51.8

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.13 ZMW 21.11

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.95 ZMW 167

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ZMW 23.05

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

$8,050 ZMW 150.1K

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

$28.2K ZMW 525.8K

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

$91.9 ZMW 1,714

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

$53.3 ZMW 994

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$128 ZMW 2,382

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.78 ZMW 835

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.62 ZMW 254

Cinema Ticket

$4.28 ZMW 79.7

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

$178 ZMW 3,329

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,456 ZMW 176.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.59 ZMW 347

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.88 ZMW 315

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ZMW 1,582

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.3 ZMW 1,349

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$225 ZMW 4,192

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$123 ZMW 2,300

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,038 ZMW 19.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$592 ZMW 11.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,914 ZMW 35.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,197 ZMW 96.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$333 ZMW 6,208

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Lusaka: July 28, 2026

Last update for Kitwe: July 26, 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: $866 in Lusaka, $214 in Kitwe – roughly 304% apart. Lusaka costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,299 per month in Lusaka and $321 in Kitwe. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $866 in Lusaka and $214 in Kitwe. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 9% 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 $866 in Lusaka and $214 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.