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: $876 in Lusaka versus $113 in Zimba.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,489 in Lusaka versus $176 in Zimba.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,103 in Lusaka versus $239 in Zimba.

Living in Lusaka is roughly 673% more expensive than Zimba, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lusaka 35% lower, Zimba 92% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.11 ZMW 127

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.96 ZMW 446

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.63 ZMW 64.8

$2.48 ZMW 44.24

46.37%

Cappuccino

$2.01 ZMW 35.86

$1.25 ZMW 22.33

60.80%

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

$0.73 ZMW 13.05

$0.63 ZMW 11.33

15.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 ZMW 6.04

$0.30 ZMW 5.40

13.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.96 ZMW 17.05

$0.60 ZMW 10.70

60.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 ZMW 32.42

$0.80 ZMW 14.27

127.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 ZMW 22.53

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 ZMW 13.16

$0.85 ZMW 15.21

-12.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 ZMW 28.26

$1.27 ZMW 22.73

24.41%

Eggs

$1.77 ZMW 31.65

$1.11 ZMW 19.85

59.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.86 ZMW 140

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.83 ZMW 68.4

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.57 ZMW 81.6

$2.88 ZMW 51.4

58.68%

Apples (1kg)

$2.50 ZMW 44.69

$1.48 ZMW 26.34

68.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 ZMW 28.28

$1.26 ZMW 22.50

25.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.69 ZMW 47.96

$2.42 ZMW 43.16

11.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 ZMW 20.91

$0.60 ZMW 10.68

95.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.87 ZMW 33.43

Onion (1kg)

$1.38 ZMW 24.63

$0.61 ZMW 10.89

126.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.87 ZMW 15.54

$0.74 ZMW 13.18

17.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ZMW 9.30

$0.39 ZMW 6.97

33.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.54 ZMW 45.39

Wine (Bottle)

$10.95 ZMW 195

$6.58 ZMW 117

66.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 ZMW 20.24

$0.61 ZMW 10.82

85.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 ZMW 26.75

$0.82 ZMW 14.64

82.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.96 ZMW 17.11

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.24 ZMW 683

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.79 ZMW 49.72

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.15 ZMW 20.50

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.92 ZMW 159

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 ZMW 21.29

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

$7,968 ZMW 142.2K

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

$28.4K ZMW 506.8K

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

$90.1 ZMW 1,608

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

$53.6 ZMW 956

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$127 ZMW 2,263

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.11 ZMW 805

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.99 ZMW 250

Cinema Ticket

$4.29 ZMW 76.6

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

$177 ZMW 3,161

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,528 ZMW 170.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.25 ZMW 344

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.27 ZMW 308

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.0 ZMW 1,535

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.7 ZMW 1,316

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$224 ZMW 4,007

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$120 ZMW 2,148

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,053 ZMW 18.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$585 ZMW 10.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,973 ZMW 35.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,281 ZMW 76.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$296 ZMW 5,286

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Lusaka: May 31, 2026

Last update for Zimba: May 30, 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 673% in total monthly costs ($876 vs $113 including rent). Zimba is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,313 in Lusaka and $170 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 119% higher in Lusaka. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $876 per month in Lusaka versus $113 in Zimba – a 673% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Zimba gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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 673% less than in Lusaka. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.