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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $111 per month in Zimba vs $699 in Kafue, rent included.

A couple spends around $173 per month in Zimba vs $1,058 in Kafue, rent included.

A family of three spends $235 per month in Zimba vs $1,416 in Kafue, rent included.

Zimba is about 84% cheaper than Kafue, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Zimba and Kafue are more affordable than the global median – Zimba 92% lower, Kafue 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.05 ZMW 123

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.10 ZMW 439

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.43 ZMW 42.52

$3.77 ZMW 65.8

-35.54%

Cappuccino

$1.22 ZMW 21.39

$1.97 ZMW 34.38

-38.07%

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

$0.60 ZMW 10.42

$0.68 ZMW 11.84

-11.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 ZMW 4.85

$0.36 ZMW 6.37

-22.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.63 ZMW 11.05

$0.95 ZMW 16.60

-33.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 ZMW 14.86

$1.81 ZMW 31.64

-53.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 ZMW 22.13

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 ZMW 14.68

$0.80 ZMW 13.90

5.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.26 ZMW 21.99

$1.58 ZMW 27.65

-20.25%

Eggs

$1.06 ZMW 18.44

$1.83 ZMW 31.93

-42.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.69 ZMW 134

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.97 ZMW 69.5

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$2.88 ZMW 50.4

$4.63 ZMW 80.9

-37.80%

Apples (1kg)

$1.49 ZMW 26.02

$2.57 ZMW 44.91

-42.02%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ZMW 21.39

$1.63 ZMW 28.52

-25.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.56 ZMW 44.80

$2.70 ZMW 47.24

-5.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.64 ZMW 11.26

$1.13 ZMW 19.74

-43.36%

Potato (1kg)

$1.88 ZMW 32.87

Onion (1kg)

$0.59 ZMW 10.37

$1.36 ZMW 23.82

-56.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 ZMW 12.75

$0.88 ZMW 15.37

-17.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 ZMW 7.35

$0.49 ZMW 8.51

-14.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.42 ZMW 42.24

Wine (Bottle)

$6.87 ZMW 120

$11.34 ZMW 198

-39.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ZMW 11.20

$1.08 ZMW 18.89

-40.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 ZMW 15.09

$1.52 ZMW 26.54

-43.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.61 ZMW 28.22

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.10 ZMW 806

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 ZMW 49.17

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.37 ZMW 164

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ZMW 20.97

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

$8,105 ZMW 141.7K

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

$28.4K ZMW 496.4K

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

$91.0 ZMW 1,590

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

$52.2 ZMW 912

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$126 ZMW 2,210

Cinema Ticket

$4.25 ZMW 74.2

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

$174 ZMW 3,035

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,402 ZMW 164.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.99 ZMW 332

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.28 ZMW 302

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.4 ZMW 1,457

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.6 ZMW 1,287

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Zimba: June 8, 2026

Last update for Kafue: June 8, 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: $111 in Zimba, $699 in Kafue – roughly 532% apart. Kafue costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $166 per month in Zimba and $1,049 in Kafue. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $111 in Zimba and $699 in Kafue. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 117% 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 $111 in Zimba and $699 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.