Cost of Living Comparison Between Zimba and Kabwe Cost of Living Comparison Between Zimba and Kabwe

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $135 per month in Zimba vs $579 in Kabwe, rent included.

A couple spends around $211 per month in Zimba vs $932 in Kabwe, rent included.

A family of three spends $286 per month in Zimba vs $1,286 in Kabwe, rent included.

Zimba is about 77% cheaper than Kabwe, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Zimba and Kabwe are more affordable than the global median – Zimba 90% lower, Kabwe 58% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.75 ZMW 113

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.62 ZMW 620

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.10 ZMW 60.8

$5.07 ZMW 99.4

-38.86%

Cappuccino

$1.59 ZMW 31.24

$2.90 ZMW 56.8

-45.17%

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

$0.81 ZMW 15.94

$0.79 ZMW 15.56

2.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ZMW 7.52

$0.51 ZMW 9.91

-25.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.82 ZMW 15.98

$1.31 ZMW 25.63

-37.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.03 ZMW 20.19

$2.38 ZMW 46.73

-56.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 ZMW 34.10

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 ZMW 20.03

$1.25 ZMW 24.59

-18.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.53 ZMW 30.02

$2.10 ZMW 41.11

-27.14%

Eggs

$1.34 ZMW 26.35

$1.20 ZMW 23.44

11.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.72 ZMW 210

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.63 ZMW 130

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.59 ZMW 70.4

$6.55 ZMW 128

-45.19%

Apples (1kg)

$1.81 ZMW 35.41

$3.38 ZMW 66.3

-46.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 ZMW 29.96

$1.05 ZMW 20.65

45.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.18 ZMW 62.4

$3.65 ZMW 71.5

-12.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.79 ZMW 15.54

$1.62 ZMW 31.81

-51.23%

Potato (1kg)

$2.70 ZMW 52.8

Onion (1kg)

$0.75 ZMW 14.73

$1.90 ZMW 37.31

-60.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 ZMW 16.69

$1.14 ZMW 22.34

-25.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ZMW 10.45

$0.82 ZMW 16.05

-35.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.13 ZMW 61.4

Wine (Bottle)

$6.11 ZMW 120

$10.18 ZMW 200

-39.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 ZMW 14.90

$1.45 ZMW 28.52

-47.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.07 ZMW 20.92

$2.33 ZMW 45.76

-54.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.53 ZMW 49.52

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.52 ZMW 29.81

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.31 ZMW 104

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 ZMW 27.42

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

$7,757 ZMW 152.0K

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

$27.7K ZMW 542.3K

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

$82.0 ZMW 1,608

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

$10.60 ZMW 208

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.2 ZMW 1,121

Cinema Ticket

$6.13 ZMW 120

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

$140 ZMW 2,742

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.9K ZMW 330.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.73 ZMW 465

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$15.98 ZMW 313

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.64 ZMW 894

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.8 ZMW 1,446

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Zimba: September 13, 2026

Last update for Kabwe: September 14, 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

Zimba vs Kabwe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kabwe costs about 328% more than Zimba, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $203 per month in Zimba and $869 in Kabwe. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $135 in Zimba and $579 in Kabwe. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 140% more in Kabwe, 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 $135 in Zimba and $579 in Kabwe, 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, Kabwe makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.