Cost of Living Comparison Between Zimba and Kafue Cost of Living Comparison Between Zimba and Kafue

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $135 per month in Zimba vs $605 in Kafue, rent included.

A couple spends around $211 per month in Zimba vs $953 in Kafue, rent included.

A family of three spends $286 per month in Zimba vs $1,302 in Kafue, rent included.

Zimba is about 78% cheaper than Kafue, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Zimba and Kafue are more affordable than the global median – Zimba 90% lower, Kafue 56% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.73 ZMW 112

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.86 ZMW 605

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.10 ZMW 60.8

$5.16 ZMW 101

-39.92%

Cappuccino

$1.59 ZMW 31.24

$2.85 ZMW 55.9

-44.21%

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

$0.81 ZMW 15.94

$0.75 ZMW 14.63

8.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ZMW 7.52

$0.50 ZMW 9.81

-24.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.82 ZMW 15.98

$1.28 ZMW 25.08

-35.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.03 ZMW 20.19

$2.30 ZMW 45.11

-55.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.83 ZMW 35.96

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 ZMW 20.03

$1.26 ZMW 24.71

-19.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.53 ZMW 30.02

$2.13 ZMW 41.74

-28.17%

Eggs

$1.34 ZMW 26.35

$1.97 ZMW 38.63

-31.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.78 ZMW 211

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.75 ZMW 132

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.59 ZMW 70.4

$6.72 ZMW 132

-46.58%

Apples (1kg)

$1.81 ZMW 35.41

$3.57 ZMW 69.9

-49.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 ZMW 29.96

$2.55 ZMW 50.0

-40.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.18 ZMW 62.4

$3.79 ZMW 74.4

-16.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.79 ZMW 15.54

$1.56 ZMW 30.63

-49.36%

Potato (1kg)

$2.60 ZMW 51.0

Onion (1kg)

$0.75 ZMW 14.73

$1.94 ZMW 38.05

-61.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 ZMW 16.69

$1.20 ZMW 23.59

-29.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ZMW 10.45

$0.81 ZMW 15.88

-34.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.19 ZMW 62.5

Wine (Bottle)

$6.11 ZMW 120

$10.60 ZMW 208

-42.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 ZMW 14.90

$1.52 ZMW 29.83

-50.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.07 ZMW 20.92

$2.34 ZMW 45.90

-54.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.59 ZMW 50.8

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.62 ZMW 31.67

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.13 ZMW 100

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.61 ZMW 31.55

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

$7,734 ZMW 151.6K

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

$27.2K ZMW 532.7K

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

$82.0 ZMW 1,607

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

$10.99 ZMW 215

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.5 ZMW 1,127

Cinema Ticket

$6.38 ZMW 125

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

$146 ZMW 2,868

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.8K ZMW 328.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.80 ZMW 466

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$15.75 ZMW 309

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$46.80 ZMW 917

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.4 ZMW 1,458

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 Kafue: September 12, 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 Kafue: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $135 in Zimba, $605 in Kafue – roughly 347% apart. Kafue costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $203 per month in Zimba and $907 in Kafue. 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 $605 in Kafue. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 158% more in Kafue, 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 $605 in Kafue, 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, Kafue makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.