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: $751 in Ndola versus $455 in Chingola.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,768 in Ndola versus $776 in Chingola.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,784 in Ndola versus $1,097 in Chingola.

Living in Ndola is roughly 65% more expensive than in Chingola, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ndola 45% lower, Chingola 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.75 ZMW 110

$16.07 ZMW 308

-64.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.73 ZMW 608

$25.85 ZMW 495

22.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.13 ZMW 98.2

Cappuccino

$2.89 ZMW 55.4

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

$0.56 ZMW 10.63

$0.54 ZMW 10.40

3.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 ZMW 4.75

$0.38 ZMW 7.31

-34.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.29 ZMW 24.64

$0.65 ZMW 12.38

98.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 ZMW 45.02

$1.30 ZMW 24.97

80.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 ZMW 33.29

$1.88 ZMW 36.03

-7.45%

White Bread (500g)

$1.19 ZMW 22.76

$1.28 ZMW 24.44

-7.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.14 ZMW 41.01

$2.58 ZMW 49.48

-17.05%

Eggs

$1.65 ZMW 31.56

$1.93 ZMW 37.04

-14.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.73 ZMW 205

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.47 ZMW 124

$5.16 ZMW 98.8

25.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.81 ZMW 130

$4.85 ZMW 92.9

40.41%

Apples (1kg)

$1.59 ZMW 30.49

$2.08 ZMW 39.83

-23.56%

Banana (1kg)

$2.51 ZMW 48.00

$2.15 ZMW 41.09

16.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.76 ZMW 72.0

$2.07 ZMW 39.70

81.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.65 ZMW 31.61

$2.15 ZMW 41.22

-23.26%

Potato (1kg)

$2.61 ZMW 49.89

$3.13 ZMW 59.9

-16.61%

Onion (1kg)

$1.95 ZMW 37.32

$1.59 ZMW 30.52

22.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.16 ZMW 22.22

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 ZMW 12.54

$0.88 ZMW 16.89

-25.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.12 ZMW 59.7

$1.54 ZMW 29.49

102.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.45 ZMW 200

$5.34 ZMW 102

95.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 ZMW 29.17

$0.65 ZMW 12.52

133.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 ZMW 46.43

$0.81 ZMW 15.60

198.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.75 ZMW 14.41

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 ZMW 49.81

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.56 ZMW 29.85

$0.60 ZMW 11.48

160.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.22 ZMW 99.9

$10.57 ZMW 202

-50.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ZMW 28.20

$1.41 ZMW 27.03

4.26%

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

$7,874 ZMW 150.8K

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

$27.2K ZMW 520.4K

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

$84.6 ZMW 1,620

$53.4 ZMW 1,022

58.44%

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

$10.89 ZMW 209

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.9 ZMW 1,109

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.59 ZMW 203

Cinema Ticket

$6.17 ZMW 118

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

$143 ZMW 2,732

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.7K ZMW 320.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.07 ZMW 461

$21.26 ZMW 407

13.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.45 ZMW 315

$13.00 ZMW 249

26.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$47.47 ZMW 909

$53.4 ZMW 1,023

-11.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.9 ZMW 1,453

$79.5 ZMW 1,522

-4.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$181 ZMW 3,474

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$157 ZMW 3,009

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$388 ZMW 7,439

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,519 ZMW 29.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$15.7K ZMW 299.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$591 ZMW 11.3K

$115 ZMW 2,198

414.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Ndola: September 1, 2026

Last update for Chingola: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Ndola pays 415% 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: $32.00 in Ndola vs $26.00 in Chingola for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $233 vs $171 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, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 65% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 415% 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 36% 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 $26.00 versus $32.00 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 65% less than in Ndola. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.