Cost of Living Comparison Between Tagbilaran City and Ndola Cost of Living Comparison Between Tagbilaran City and Ndola

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $619 per month in Tagbilaran City vs $751 in Ndola, rent included.

A couple spends around $999 per month in Tagbilaran City vs $1,768 in Ndola, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,378 per month in Tagbilaran City vs $2,784 in Ndola, rent included.

Tagbilaran City is about 18% cheaper than Ndola, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Tagbilaran City and Ndola are more affordable than the global median – Tagbilaran City 55% lower, Ndola 45% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tagbilaran City
Ndola
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.01 ₱188
$5.75 ZMW 110
-47.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.53 ₱1,098
$31.73 ZMW 608
-44.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.80 ₱176
$5.13 ZMW 98.2
-45.42%
Cappuccino
$2.57 ₱161
$2.89 ZMW 55.4
-11.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92 ₱57.3
$0.56 ZMW 10.63
64.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42 ₱26.33
$0.25 ZMW 4.75
68.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.82 ₱51.5
$1.29 ZMW 24.64
-36.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21 ₱138
$2.35 ZMW 45.02
-5.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tagbilaran City
Ndola
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 ₱97.8
$1.74 ZMW 33.29
-10.34%
White Bread (500g)
$1.01 ₱63.3
$1.19 ZMW 22.76
-15.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.89 ₱55.9
$2.14 ZMW 41.01
-58.41%
Eggs
$1.80 ₱113
$1.65 ZMW 31.56
9.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.88 ₱619
$10.73 ZMW 205
-7.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.56 ₱286
$6.47 ZMW 124
-29.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.44 ₱466
$6.81 ZMW 130
9.25%
Apples (1kg)
$2.82 ₱177
$1.59 ZMW 30.49
77.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.35 ₱84.8
$2.51 ZMW 48.00
-46.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.31 ₱144
$3.76 ZMW 72.0
-38.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.56 ₱97.9
$1.65 ZMW 31.61
-5.45%
Potato (1kg)
$2.45 ₱153
$2.61 ZMW 49.89
-6.13%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 ₱119
$1.95 ZMW 37.32
-2.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.65 ₱40.52
$1.16 ZMW 22.22
-43.97%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50 ₱31.02
$0.66 ZMW 12.54
-24.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.39 ₱150
$3.12 ZMW 59.7
-23.40%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.23 ₱390
$10.45 ZMW 200
-40.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.93 ₱58.5
$1.52 ZMW 29.17
-38.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07 ₱66.9
$2.42 ZMW 46.43
-55.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Tagbilaran City
Ndola
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.50 ₱31.32
$0.75 ZMW 14.41
-33.33%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.75 ₱47.23
$2.60 ZMW 49.81
-71.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.21 ₱13.14
$1.56 ZMW 29.85
-86.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.38 ₱274
$5.22 ZMW 99.9
-16.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 ₱67.6
$1.47 ZMW 28.20
-26.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K ₱1.4M
$7,874 ZMW 150.8K
177.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.7K ₱1.2M
$27.2K ZMW 520.4K
-27.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tagbilaran City
Ndola
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.3 ₱4,963
$84.6 ZMW 1,620
-6.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.82 ₱928
$10.89 ZMW 209
36.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.23 ₱1,580
$57.9 ZMW 1,109
-56.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tagbilaran City
Ndola
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$11.18 ₱700
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.29 ₱206
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.56 ₱223
$6.17 ZMW 118
-42.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tagbilaran City
Ndola
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$277 ₱17.3K
$143 ZMW 2,732
94.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,083 ₱506.1K
$16.7K ZMW 320.4K
-51.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tagbilaran City
Ndola
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.16 ₱2,390
$24.07 ZMW 461
58.54%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$17.97 ₱1,126
$16.45 ZMW 315
9.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$65.8 ₱4,117
$47.47 ZMW 909
38.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$58.7 ₱3,679
$75.9 ZMW 1,453
-22.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tagbilaran City
Ndola
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$196 ₱12.3K
$181 ZMW 3,474
7.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$141 ₱8,808
$157 ZMW 3,009
-10.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$481 ₱30.1K
$388 ZMW 7,439
23.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$341 ₱21.3K
$1,519 ZMW 29.1K
-77.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$806 ₱50.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$480 ₱30.1K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tagbilaran City
Ndola
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$176 ₱11.0K
$591 ZMW 11.3K
-70.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.2
29
-75.17%

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

Last update for Tagbilaran City: September 1, 2026

Last update for Ndola: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $196 in Tagbilaran City versus $181 in Ndola. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 236% higher in Ndola, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Tagbilaran City versus $32.00 in Ndola. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $189 vs $233 – making Tagbilaran City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Tagbilaran City vs Ndola: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ndola cheaper than Tagbilaran City?
Yes – Ndola is pricier by about 21%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $929 per month in Tagbilaran City and $1,127 in Ndola. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Tagbilaran City, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Tagbilaran City or in Ndola?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Tagbilaran City and $32.00 in Ndola. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Tagbilaran City and in Ndola?
Groceries cost about 23% more in Ndola, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,200 enough for either Tagbilaran City or Ndola?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $619 in Tagbilaran City and $751 in Ndola, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Tagbilaran City or Ndola more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Tagbilaran City – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Tagbilaran City or Ndola?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Tagbilaran City. 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.

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