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: $742 in Ndola versus $338 in Chingola.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,740 in Ndola versus $579 in Chingola.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,738 in Ndola versus $821 in Chingola.

Living in Ndola is roughly 120% more expensive than in Chingola, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ndola 44% lower, Chingola 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.08 ZMW 129

$12.20 ZMW 222

-41.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.36 ZMW 462

$21.15 ZMW 385

19.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.68 ZMW 67.0

Cappuccino

$1.96 ZMW 35.69

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

$0.35 ZMW 6.34

$0.40 ZMW 7.22

-12.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 ZMW 3.25

$0.30 ZMW 5.48

-40.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.88 ZMW 15.98

$0.48 ZMW 8.66

83.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 ZMW 31.67

$1.02 ZMW 18.50

70.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 ZMW 23.62

$1.00 ZMW 18.12

30.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 ZMW 14.39

$0.82 ZMW 14.89

-3.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 ZMW 29.99

$2.11 ZMW 38.40

-21.80%

Eggs

$1.32 ZMW 24.09

$1.14 ZMW 20.66

15.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.82 ZMW 142

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.95 ZMW 71.9

$2.04 ZMW 37.20

93.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.67 ZMW 85.0

$3.65 ZMW 66.4

27.95%

Apples (1kg)

$1.23 ZMW 22.38

$1.68 ZMW 30.53

-26.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.60 ZMW 29.19

$1.67 ZMW 30.45

-4.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.67 ZMW 48.58

$1.64 ZMW 29.94

62.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 ZMW 21.31

$1.69 ZMW 30.79

-30.77%

Potato (1kg)

$1.82 ZMW 33.14

$2.53 ZMW 46.04

-28.06%

Onion (1kg)

$1.32 ZMW 24.10

$1.22 ZMW 22.21

8.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.86 ZMW 15.57

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ZMW 9.46

$0.69 ZMW 12.50

-24.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.55 ZMW 46.49

$1.27 ZMW 23.05

100.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.79 ZMW 196

$5.66 ZMW 103

90.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 ZMW 19.93

$0.48 ZMW 8.81

127.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 ZMW 28.83

$0.60 ZMW 10.95

163.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.56 ZMW 10.19

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.85 ZMW 33.69

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 ZMW 8.17

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.45 ZMW 172

$8.31 ZMW 151

13.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ZMW 22.37

$1.22 ZMW 22.13

0.82%

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

$7,861 ZMW 143.1K

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

$28.0K ZMW 510.0K

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

$91.3 ZMW 1,662

$42.20 ZMW 768

116.37%

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

$36.46 ZMW 664

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$123 ZMW 2,241

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$8.08 ZMW 147

Cinema Ticket

$4.25 ZMW 77.3

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

$178 ZMW 3,240

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,526 ZMW 173.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.59 ZMW 338

$16.57 ZMW 302

12.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.17 ZMW 312

$10.28 ZMW 187

67.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ZMW 1,543

$40.97 ZMW 746

106.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.2 ZMW 1,333

$62.6 ZMW 1,139

17.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$126 ZMW 2,295

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$109 ZMW 1,979

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$276 ZMW 5,020

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,485 ZMW 27.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$16.9K ZMW 306.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$608 ZMW 11.1K

$120 ZMW 2,183

407.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Ndola: July 12, 2026

Last update for Chingola: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Ndola pays 407% 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: $25.00 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, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 120% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 407% higher in Ndola, 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 $25.00 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 120% less than in Ndola. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.