Cost of Living Comparison Between Lusaka and Zimba Cost of Living Comparison Between Lusaka and Zimba

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $907 in Lusaka versus $136 in Zimba.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,534 in Lusaka versus $217 in Zimba.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,161 in Lusaka versus $299 in Zimba.

Living in Lusaka is roughly 566% more expensive than in Zimba, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lusaka 34% lower, Zimba 90% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.70 ZMW 109

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.91 ZMW 609

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.31 ZMW 101

$3.12 ZMW 59.7

70.19%

Cappuccino

$2.98 ZMW 57.0

$1.61 ZMW 30.73

85.09%

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

$0.82 ZMW 15.73

$0.76 ZMW 14.54

7.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 ZMW 9.02

$0.36 ZMW 6.83

30.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.36 ZMW 25.95

$0.76 ZMW 14.61

78.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 ZMW 44.68

$1.03 ZMW 19.66

127.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.86 ZMW 35.53

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 ZMW 23.79

$1.07 ZMW 20.45

16.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.19 ZMW 41.74

$1.55 ZMW 29.64

41.29%

Eggs

$2.05 ZMW 39.17

$1.36 ZMW 25.95

50.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.75 ZMW 205

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.54 ZMW 125

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.75 ZMW 129

$3.78 ZMW 72.1

78.57%

Apples (1kg)

$3.55 ZMW 67.9

$1.87 ZMW 35.64

89.84%

Banana (1kg)

$2.50 ZMW 47.66

$1.57 ZMW 29.93

59.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.72 ZMW 71.0

$3.25 ZMW 62.0

14.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ZMW 30.34

$0.83 ZMW 15.77

91.57%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 ZMW 52.3

Onion (1kg)

$1.97 ZMW 37.63

$0.82 ZMW 15.70

140.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 ZMW 21.91

$0.86 ZMW 16.48

33.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 ZMW 15.77

$0.51 ZMW 9.76

62.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.22 ZMW 61.4

Wine (Bottle)

$10.52 ZMW 201

$6.24 ZMW 119

68.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.48 ZMW 28.18

$0.82 ZMW 15.63

80.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 ZMW 47.26

$1.07 ZMW 20.46

130.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.02 ZMW 19.56

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.1 ZMW 995

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 ZMW 51.1

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.56 ZMW 29.78

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.23 ZMW 99.9

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.58 ZMW 30.13

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

$7,791 ZMW 148.8K

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

$27.7K ZMW 529.1K

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

$83.7 ZMW 1,598

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

$11.07 ZMW 211

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$56.7 ZMW 1,083

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.4 ZMW 1,076

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.97 ZMW 305

Cinema Ticket

$6.37 ZMW 122

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

$147 ZMW 2,802

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.6K ZMW 317.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.76 ZMW 473

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.00 ZMW 306

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$47.84 ZMW 914

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.1 ZMW 1,472

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$389 ZMW 7,424

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$183 ZMW 3,492

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,118 ZMW 21.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$596 ZMW 11.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,896 ZMW 36.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,285 ZMW 100.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$336 ZMW 6,414

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 31, 2026

Last update for Zimba: August 31, 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 Zimba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lusaka and Zimba differ by about 566% in total monthly costs ($907 vs $136 including rent). Zimba is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,360 in Lusaka and $204 in Zimba to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 150% higher in Lusaka. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $907 per month in Lusaka versus $136 in Zimba – a 566% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $136 in Zimba versus $907 in Lusaka, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Zimba but tight or insufficient in Lusaka. The gap between the two cities makes Zimba the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Zimba gentler on the wallet – expenses run 566% less than in Lusaka. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.