Cost of Living Comparison Between Ndola and Zimba Cost of Living Comparison Between Ndola and Zimba

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $722 per month in Ndola vs $113 in Zimba, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,700 per month in Ndola vs $176 in Zimba, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,678 per month in Ndola vs $239 in Zimba, rent included.

Ndola costs about 537% more than Zimba, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Ndola and Zimba are more affordable than the global median – Ndola 46% lower, Zimba 92% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.10 ZMW 127

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.46 ZMW 437

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.66 ZMW 65.3

$2.48 ZMW 44.24

47.58%

Cappuccino

$1.94 ZMW 34.61

$1.25 ZMW 22.33

55.20%

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

$0.38 ZMW 6.70

$0.63 ZMW 11.33

-39.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 ZMW 3.09

$0.30 ZMW 5.40

-43.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.94 ZMW 16.76

$0.60 ZMW 10.70

56.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 ZMW 32.88

$0.80 ZMW 14.27

130.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 ZMW 22.15

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 ZMW 14.08

$0.85 ZMW 15.21

-7.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 ZMW 28.09

$1.27 ZMW 22.73

23.62%

Eggs

$1.26 ZMW 22.58

$1.11 ZMW 19.85

13.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.55 ZMW 135

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.95 ZMW 70.5

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.69 ZMW 83.8

$2.88 ZMW 51.4

62.85%

Apples (1kg)

$1.23 ZMW 21.87

$1.48 ZMW 26.34

-16.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 ZMW 29.45

$1.26 ZMW 22.50

30.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.78 ZMW 49.57

$2.42 ZMW 43.16

14.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 ZMW 20.94

$0.60 ZMW 10.68

95.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.80 ZMW 32.20

Onion (1kg)

$1.32 ZMW 23.49

$0.61 ZMW 10.89

116.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 ZMW 16.36

$0.74 ZMW 13.18

24.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ZMW 9.12

$0.39 ZMW 6.97

30.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.50 ZMW 44.66

Wine (Bottle)

$10.85 ZMW 194

$6.58 ZMW 117

64.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 ZMW 20.36

$0.61 ZMW 10.82

86.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 ZMW 27.88

$0.82 ZMW 14.64

90.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 ZMW 9.90

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.83 ZMW 32.63

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.44 ZMW 168

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 ZMW 21.31

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

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

$36.35 ZMW 649

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$124 ZMW 2,206

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

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.14 ZMW 306

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.6 ZMW 1,510

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.2 ZMW 1,307

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

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$610 ZMW 10.9K

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 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

Ndola vs Zimba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ndola is pricier by about 537%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,083 per month in Ndola and $170 in Zimba. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $722 in Ndola and $113 in Zimba. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 109% more in Ndola, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $722 in Ndola and $113 in Zimba, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Zimba – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Zimba. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ndola makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.