Cost of Living Comparison Between Zimba and Lusaka Cost of Living Comparison Between Zimba and Lusaka

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $113 in Zimba versus $876 in Lusaka.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $176 in Zimba versus $1,489 in Lusaka.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $239 in Zimba versus $2,103 in Lusaka.

Living in Zimba costs roughly 87% less than in Lusaka, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Zimba 92% lower, Lusaka 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.11 ZMW 127

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.96 ZMW 446

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.48 ZMW 44.24

$3.63 ZMW 64.8

-31.68%

Cappuccino

$1.25 ZMW 22.33

$2.01 ZMW 35.86

-37.81%

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

$0.63 ZMW 11.33

$0.73 ZMW 13.05

-13.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ZMW 5.40

$0.34 ZMW 6.04

-11.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.60 ZMW 10.70

$0.96 ZMW 17.05

-37.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 ZMW 14.27

$1.82 ZMW 32.42

-56.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 ZMW 22.53

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 ZMW 15.21

$0.74 ZMW 13.16

14.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 ZMW 22.73

$1.58 ZMW 28.26

-19.62%

Eggs

$1.11 ZMW 19.85

$1.77 ZMW 31.65

-37.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.86 ZMW 140

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.83 ZMW 68.4

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$2.88 ZMW 51.4

$4.57 ZMW 81.6

-36.98%

Apples (1kg)

$1.48 ZMW 26.34

$2.50 ZMW 44.69

-40.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.26 ZMW 22.50

$1.58 ZMW 28.28

-20.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.42 ZMW 43.16

$2.69 ZMW 47.96

-10.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 ZMW 10.68

$1.17 ZMW 20.91

-48.72%

Potato (1kg)

$1.87 ZMW 33.43

Onion (1kg)

$0.61 ZMW 10.89

$1.38 ZMW 24.63

-55.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ZMW 13.18

$0.87 ZMW 15.54

-14.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 ZMW 6.97

$0.52 ZMW 9.30

-25.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.54 ZMW 45.39

Wine (Bottle)

$6.58 ZMW 117

$10.95 ZMW 195

-39.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 ZMW 10.82

$1.13 ZMW 20.24

-46.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 ZMW 14.64

$1.50 ZMW 26.75

-45.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.96 ZMW 17.11

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.24 ZMW 683

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.79 ZMW 49.72

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.15 ZMW 20.50

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.92 ZMW 159

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 ZMW 21.29

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

$7,968 ZMW 142.2K

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

$28.4K ZMW 506.8K

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

$90.1 ZMW 1,608

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

$53.6 ZMW 956

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$127 ZMW 2,263

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.11 ZMW 805

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.99 ZMW 250

Cinema Ticket

$4.29 ZMW 76.6

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

$177 ZMW 3,161

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,528 ZMW 170.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.25 ZMW 344

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.27 ZMW 308

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.0 ZMW 1,535

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.7 ZMW 1,316

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$224 ZMW 4,007

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$120 ZMW 2,148

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,053 ZMW 18.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$585 ZMW 10.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,973 ZMW 35.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,281 ZMW 76.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$296 ZMW 5,286

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Zimba: May 30, 2026

Last update for Lusaka: May 31, 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 Lusaka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Zimba and Lusaka differ by about 673% in total monthly costs ($113 vs $876 including rent). Zimba is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $170 in Zimba and $1,313 in Lusaka to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 119% higher in Lusaka. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $113 per month in Zimba versus $876 in Lusaka – a 673% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Zimba gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Zimba gentler on the wallet – expenses run 673% less than in Lusaka. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.