Cost of Living Comparison Between Ndola and Chingola Cost of Living Comparison Between Ndola and Chingola

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $722 in Ndola versus $340 in Chingola.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,700 in Ndola versus $580 in Chingola.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,678 in Ndola versus $820 in Chingola.

Living in Ndola is roughly 112% more expensive than Chingola, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ndola 46% lower, Chingola 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.10 ZMW 127

$12.64 ZMW 226

-43.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.46 ZMW 437

$20.63 ZMW 368

18.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.66 ZMW 65.3

Cappuccino

$1.94 ZMW 34.61

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

$0.38 ZMW 6.70

$0.39 ZMW 6.99

-2.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 ZMW 3.09

$0.30 ZMW 5.37

-43.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.94 ZMW 16.76

$0.52 ZMW 9.23

80.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 ZMW 32.88

$1.03 ZMW 18.38

78.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 ZMW 22.15

$1.03 ZMW 18.41

20.39%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 ZMW 14.08

$0.83 ZMW 14.76

-4.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 ZMW 28.09

$2.13 ZMW 38.01

-26.29%

Eggs

$1.26 ZMW 22.58

$1.09 ZMW 19.39

15.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.55 ZMW 135

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.95 ZMW 70.5

$2.02 ZMW 36.09

95.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.69 ZMW 83.8

$3.74 ZMW 66.8

25.40%

Apples (1kg)

$1.23 ZMW 21.87

$1.62 ZMW 28.83

-24.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 ZMW 29.45

$1.63 ZMW 29.17

1.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.78 ZMW 49.57

$1.70 ZMW 30.39

63.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 ZMW 20.94

$1.61 ZMW 28.77

-27.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.80 ZMW 32.20

$2.43 ZMW 43.30

-25.93%

Onion (1kg)

$1.32 ZMW 23.49

$1.20 ZMW 21.50

10.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 ZMW 16.36

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ZMW 9.12

$0.74 ZMW 13.13

-31.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.50 ZMW 44.66

$1.26 ZMW 22.47

98.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.85 ZMW 194

$5.43 ZMW 97.0

99.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 ZMW 20.36

$0.51 ZMW 9.17

123.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 ZMW 27.88

$0.60 ZMW 10.63

160.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 ZMW 9.90

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.83 ZMW 32.63

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 ZMW 7.91

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.44 ZMW 168

$8.40 ZMW 150

12.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 ZMW 21.31

$1.22 ZMW 21.77

-2.46%

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

$8,120 ZMW 144.9K

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

$28.0K ZMW 500.4K

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

$91.8 ZMW 1,638

$42.04 ZMW 750

118.34%

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

$36.35 ZMW 649

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$124 ZMW 2,206

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$8.23 ZMW 147

Cinema Ticket

$4.06 ZMW 72.5

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

$173 ZMW 3,095

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,711 ZMW 173.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.00 ZMW 339

$16.28 ZMW 291

16.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.14 ZMW 306

$10.28 ZMW 184

66.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.6 ZMW 1,510

$41.08 ZMW 733

105.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.2 ZMW 1,307

$62.3 ZMW 1,111

17.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$126 ZMW 2,253

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$109 ZMW 1,953

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$266 ZMW 4,753

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,481 ZMW 26.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$16.2K ZMW 289.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$610 ZMW 10.9K

$121 ZMW 2,161

404.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Ndola: May 31, 2026

Last update for Chingola: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Ndola pays 404% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $24.00 in Ndola vs $21.00 in Chingola for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $170 vs $119 per month, with Chingola cheaper across the board.

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

Ndola vs Chingola: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chingola is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 112% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Ndola pays 404% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Supermarket bills run roughly 43% higher in Ndola. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Chingola – a meal for two runs $21.00 versus $24.00 in Ndola. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Chingola 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 Chingola gentler on the wallet – expenses run 112% less than in Ndola. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.