Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Zimba and Kabwe

For one person, living is cheaper in Zimba: $129 a month against $556 in Kabwe, rent and utilities included – about $5,100 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Kabwe
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Kabwe Living Index

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Zimba

🇿🇲 Zambia

$129

/mo nomad

Kabwe

🇿🇲 Zambia

$556

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Zimba and in Kabwe

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Zimba and in Kabwe actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $129 per month in Zimba vs $556 in Kabwe, rent included.

Zimba $129
Kabwe $556

A couple spends around $202 per month in Zimba vs $884 in Kabwe, rent included.

Zimba $202
Kabwe $884

A family of three spends $275 per month in Zimba vs $1,213 in Kabwe, rent included.

Zimba $275
Kabwe $1,213

Zimba is about 77% cheaper than Kabwe, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Zimba and Kabwe are more affordable than the global median – Zimba 90% lower, Kabwe 59% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.44 ZMW 110

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.24 ZMW 592

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.99 ZMW 60.5

$4.83 ZMW 97.8

-38.10%

Cappuccino

$1.44 ZMW 29.11

$2.84 ZMW 57.4

-49.30%

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

$0.76 ZMW 15.38

$0.75 ZMW 15.19

1.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ZMW 7.30

$0.48 ZMW 9.64

-25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.72 ZMW 14.66

$1.21 ZMW 24.51

-40.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.01 ZMW 20.53

$2.24 ZMW 45.36

-54.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 ZMW 35.15

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 ZMW 20.78

$1.17 ZMW 23.62

-11.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.50 ZMW 30.46

$1.99 ZMW 40.23

-24.62%

Eggs

$1.31 ZMW 26.58

$1.19 ZMW 24.06

10.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.03 ZMW 203

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.30 ZMW 128

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.38 ZMW 68.4

$6.60 ZMW 134

-48.79%

Apples (1kg)

$1.77 ZMW 35.84

$3.37 ZMW 68.3

-47.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 ZMW 30.28

$0.96 ZMW 19.45

56.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.94 ZMW 59.5

$3.30 ZMW 66.9

-10.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.73 ZMW 14.74

$1.49 ZMW 30.20

-51.01%

Potato (1kg)

$2.47 ZMW 50.0

Onion (1kg)

$0.77 ZMW 15.66

$1.82 ZMW 36.75

-57.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.86 ZMW 17.42

$1.15 ZMW 23.35

-25.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 ZMW 9.54

$0.78 ZMW 15.75

-39.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.93 ZMW 59.4

Wine (Bottle)

$5.76 ZMW 117

$10.13 ZMW 205

-43.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 ZMW 14.46

$1.40 ZMW 28.34

-49.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.04 ZMW 21.02

$2.30 ZMW 46.49

-54.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.54 ZMW 51.5

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.44 ZMW 29.16

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.90 ZMW 99.2

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 ZMW 27.72

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

$7,496 ZMW 151.8K

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

$25.1K ZMW 508.0K

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

$70.7 ZMW 1,432

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

$10.67 ZMW 216

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.9 ZMW 1,092

Cinema Ticket

$6.00 ZMW 121

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

$151 ZMW 3,048

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.0K ZMW 404.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.17 ZMW 489

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.13 ZMW 347

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.38 ZMW 899

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$66.0 ZMW 1,337

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Zimba: November 1, 2026

Last update for Kabwe: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Groceries & Markets

Zimba

–

Kabwe

$223 40.2%

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Zimba

–

Kabwe

$135 24.3%

Eating Out

Zimba

–

Kabwe

$108 19.3%

Clothing & Footwear

Zimba

–

Kabwe

$68 12.3%

Sport & Entertainment

Zimba

–

Kabwe

$12 * 2.2%

Getting Around

Zimba

–

Kabwe

$9.7 * 1.8%

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Good to know

🇿🇲 Zimba

🇿🇲 Kabwe

🕒 Local time

20:42 8:42 PM

Same time as Zimba

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

117,517

💱 Currency

Zambian Kwacha ZMW ZK

📈 Exchange rate

100 ZMW = 4.94 USD

100 ZMW = 4.41 EUR

100 ZMW = 4.94 USD

100 ZMW = 4.41 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Zimba Kabwe 400 km

From you

Zimba
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Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 331% more than Zimba, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $194 per month in Zimba and $834 in Kabwe. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $129 in Zimba and $556 in Kabwe. That makes Zimba about 77% cheaper.

Groceries cost about 141% more in Kabwe, though the gap depends on what you buy.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $129 in Zimba and $556 in Kabwe, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.