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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $742 per month in Ndola vs $113 in Zimba, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,740 per month in Ndola vs $174 in Zimba, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,738 per month in Ndola vs $235 in Zimba, rent included.

Ndola costs about 554% more than Zimba, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Ndola and Zimba are more affordable than the global median – Ndola 44% lower, Zimba 92% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.08 ZMW 129

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.36 ZMW 462

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.68 ZMW 67.0

$2.43 ZMW 44.19

51.44%

Cappuccino

$1.96 ZMW 35.69

$1.28 ZMW 23.22

53.12%

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

$0.35 ZMW 6.34

$0.64 ZMW 11.74

-45.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 ZMW 3.25

$0.30 ZMW 5.52

-40.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.88 ZMW 15.98

$0.63 ZMW 11.47

39.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 ZMW 31.67

$0.85 ZMW 15.44

104.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 ZMW 23.62

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 ZMW 14.39

$0.80 ZMW 14.54

-1.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 ZMW 29.99

$1.20 ZMW 21.90

37.50%

Eggs

$1.32 ZMW 24.09

$1.05 ZMW 19.18

25.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.82 ZMW 142

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.95 ZMW 71.9

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.67 ZMW 85.0

$2.93 ZMW 53.4

59.39%

Apples (1kg)

$1.23 ZMW 22.38

$1.43 ZMW 25.98

-13.99%

Banana (1kg)

$1.60 ZMW 29.19

$1.27 ZMW 23.04

25.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.67 ZMW 48.58

$2.43 ZMW 44.15

9.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 ZMW 21.31

$0.63 ZMW 11.48

85.71%

Potato (1kg)

$1.82 ZMW 33.14

Onion (1kg)

$1.32 ZMW 24.10

$0.63 ZMW 11.53

109.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.86 ZMW 15.57

$0.69 ZMW 12.47

24.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ZMW 9.46

$0.39 ZMW 7.13

33.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.55 ZMW 46.49

Wine (Bottle)

$10.79 ZMW 196

$6.62 ZMW 121

62.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 ZMW 19.93

$0.64 ZMW 11.63

70.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 ZMW 28.83

$0.85 ZMW 15.45

85.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.56 ZMW 10.19

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.85 ZMW 33.69

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.45 ZMW 172

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ZMW 22.37

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

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

$36.46 ZMW 664

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$123 ZMW 2,241

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

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.17 ZMW 312

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ZMW 1,543

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.2 ZMW 1,333

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

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$608 ZMW 11.1K

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 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

Ndola vs Zimba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ndola is pricier by about 554%, 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 $1,113 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 $742 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 112% 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 $742 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.