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: $855 in Lusaka versus $113 in Zimba.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,450 in Lusaka versus $174 in Zimba.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,045 in Lusaka versus $235 in Zimba.

Living in Lusaka is roughly 654% more expensive than in Zimba, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lusaka 36% lower, Zimba 92% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.01 ZMW 128

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.68 ZMW 449

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.70 ZMW 67.3

$2.43 ZMW 44.19

52.26%

Cappuccino

$1.93 ZMW 35.10

$1.28 ZMW 23.22

50.78%

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

$0.67 ZMW 12.24

$0.64 ZMW 11.74

4.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 ZMW 6.16

$0.30 ZMW 5.52

13.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.94 ZMW 17.14

$0.63 ZMW 11.47

49.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 ZMW 33.48

$0.85 ZMW 15.44

116.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 ZMW 24.30

White Bread (500g)

$0.80 ZMW 14.63

$0.80 ZMW 14.54

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 ZMW 28.69

$1.20 ZMW 21.90

31.67%

Eggs

$1.77 ZMW 32.25

$1.05 ZMW 19.18

68.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.92 ZMW 144

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.78 ZMW 68.8

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.74 ZMW 86.2

$2.93 ZMW 53.4

61.77%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ZMW 46.79

$1.43 ZMW 25.98

79.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 ZMW 28.62

$1.27 ZMW 23.04

23.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.71 ZMW 49.35

$2.43 ZMW 44.15

11.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.16 ZMW 21.15

$0.63 ZMW 11.48

84.13%

Potato (1kg)

$1.80 ZMW 32.84

Onion (1kg)

$1.33 ZMW 24.17

$0.63 ZMW 11.53

111.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 ZMW 16.80

$0.69 ZMW 12.47

33.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ZMW 9.37

$0.39 ZMW 7.13

30.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.54 ZMW 46.29

Wine (Bottle)

$10.63 ZMW 194

$6.62 ZMW 121

60.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 ZMW 19.75

$0.64 ZMW 11.63

70.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 ZMW 28.52

$0.85 ZMW 15.45

84.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.96 ZMW 17.51

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.17 ZMW 713

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.78 ZMW 50.7

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.17 ZMW 21.32

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.20 ZMW 167

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 ZMW 21.75

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

$7,891 ZMW 143.6K

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

$28.4K ZMW 517.4K

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

$90.7 ZMW 1,651

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

$53.4 ZMW 972

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$123 ZMW 2,239

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.44 ZMW 827

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.65 ZMW 248

Cinema Ticket

$4.25 ZMW 77.4

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

$178 ZMW 3,232

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,462 ZMW 172.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.67 ZMW 340

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.20 ZMW 313

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ZMW 1,539

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ZMW 1,314

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$228 ZMW 4,157

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$125 ZMW 2,273

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,028 ZMW 18.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$593 ZMW 10.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,886 ZMW 34.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$14.2K ZMW 258.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$287 ZMW 5,215

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 12, 2026

Last update for Zimba: July 11, 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 654% in total monthly costs ($855 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 $1,283 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 122% higher in Lusaka. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $855 per month in Lusaka versus $113 in Zimba – a 654% 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 654% less than in Lusaka. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.