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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $751 per month in Ndola vs $136 in Zimba, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,768 per month in Ndola vs $217 in Zimba, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,784 per month in Ndola vs $299 in Zimba, rent included.

Ndola costs about 452% more than Zimba, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Ndola and Zimba are more affordable than the global median – Ndola 45% lower, Zimba 90% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.75 ZMW 110

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.73 ZMW 608

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.13 ZMW 98.2

$3.12 ZMW 59.8

64.42%

Cappuccino

$2.89 ZMW 55.4

$1.61 ZMW 30.81

79.50%

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

$0.56 ZMW 10.63

$0.76 ZMW 14.58

-26.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 ZMW 4.75

$0.36 ZMW 6.85

-30.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.29 ZMW 24.64

$0.76 ZMW 14.64

69.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 ZMW 45.02

$1.03 ZMW 19.71

128.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 ZMW 33.29

White Bread (500g)

$1.19 ZMW 22.76

$1.07 ZMW 20.51

11.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.14 ZMW 41.01

$1.55 ZMW 29.72

38.06%

Eggs

$1.65 ZMW 31.56

$1.36 ZMW 26.02

21.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.73 ZMW 205

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.47 ZMW 124

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.81 ZMW 130

$3.78 ZMW 72.3

80.16%

Apples (1kg)

$1.59 ZMW 30.49

$1.87 ZMW 35.73

-14.97%

Banana (1kg)

$2.51 ZMW 48.00

$1.57 ZMW 30.01

59.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.76 ZMW 72.0

$3.25 ZMW 62.2

15.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.65 ZMW 31.61

$0.83 ZMW 15.81

98.80%

Potato (1kg)

$2.61 ZMW 49.89

Onion (1kg)

$1.95 ZMW 37.32

$0.82 ZMW 15.74

137.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.16 ZMW 22.22

$0.86 ZMW 16.53

34.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 ZMW 12.54

$0.51 ZMW 9.78

29.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.12 ZMW 59.7

Wine (Bottle)

$10.45 ZMW 200

$6.24 ZMW 120

67.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 ZMW 29.17

$0.82 ZMW 15.67

85.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 ZMW 46.43

$1.07 ZMW 20.51

126.17%

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

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.22 ZMW 99.9

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ZMW 28.20

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

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

$10.89 ZMW 209

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.9 ZMW 1,109

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

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.45 ZMW 315

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$47.47 ZMW 909

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.9 ZMW 1,453

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

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$591 ZMW 11.3K

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 Zimba: August 31, 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 452%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,127 per month in Ndola and $204 in Zimba. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $751 in Ndola and $136 in Zimba. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 135% 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 $751 in Ndola and $136 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.