Cost of Living Comparison Between Zimba and Ndola Cost of Living Comparison Between Zimba and Ndola

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $136 per month in Zimba vs $751 in Ndola, rent included.

A couple spends around $217 per month in Zimba vs $1,768 in Ndola, rent included.

A family of three spends $299 per month in Zimba vs $2,784 in Ndola, rent included.

Zimba is about 82% cheaper than Ndola, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Zimba and Ndola are more affordable than the global median – Zimba 90% lower, Ndola 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.75 ZMW 110

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.73 ZMW 608

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.12 ZMW 59.8

$5.13 ZMW 98.2

-39.18%

Cappuccino

$1.61 ZMW 30.81

$2.89 ZMW 55.4

-44.29%

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

$0.76 ZMW 14.58

$0.56 ZMW 10.63

35.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ZMW 6.85

$0.25 ZMW 4.75

44.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.76 ZMW 14.64

$1.29 ZMW 24.64

-41.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.03 ZMW 19.71

$2.35 ZMW 45.02

-56.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 ZMW 33.29

White Bread (500g)

$1.07 ZMW 20.51

$1.19 ZMW 22.76

-10.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 ZMW 29.72

$2.14 ZMW 41.01

-27.57%

Eggs

$1.36 ZMW 26.02

$1.65 ZMW 31.56

-17.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.73 ZMW 205

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.47 ZMW 124

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.78 ZMW 72.3

$6.81 ZMW 130

-44.49%

Apples (1kg)

$1.87 ZMW 35.73

$1.59 ZMW 30.49

17.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 ZMW 30.01

$2.51 ZMW 48.00

-37.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.25 ZMW 62.2

$3.76 ZMW 72.0

-13.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.83 ZMW 15.81

$1.65 ZMW 31.61

-49.70%

Potato (1kg)

$2.61 ZMW 49.89

Onion (1kg)

$0.82 ZMW 15.74

$1.95 ZMW 37.32

-57.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.86 ZMW 16.53

$1.16 ZMW 22.22

-25.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ZMW 9.78

$0.66 ZMW 12.54

-22.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.12 ZMW 59.7

Wine (Bottle)

$6.24 ZMW 120

$10.45 ZMW 200

-40.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 ZMW 15.67

$1.52 ZMW 29.17

-46.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.07 ZMW 20.51

$2.42 ZMW 46.43

-55.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.75 ZMW 14.41

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 ZMW 49.81

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.56 ZMW 29.85

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.22 ZMW 99.9

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ZMW 28.20

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

$7,874 ZMW 150.8K

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

$27.2K ZMW 520.4K

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

$84.6 ZMW 1,620

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

$10.89 ZMW 209

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.9 ZMW 1,109

Cinema Ticket

$6.17 ZMW 118

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

$143 ZMW 2,732

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.7K ZMW 320.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.07 ZMW 461

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.45 ZMW 315

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$47.47 ZMW 909

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.9 ZMW 1,453

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$181 ZMW 3,474

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$157 ZMW 3,009

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$388 ZMW 7,439

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,519 ZMW 29.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$591 ZMW 11.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Zimba: August 31, 2026

Last update for Ndola: September 1, 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 Ndola: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ndola is pricier by about 452%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $204 per month in Zimba and $1,127 in Ndola. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $136 in Zimba and $751 in Ndola. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 135% more in Ndola, 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 $136 in Zimba and $751 in Ndola, 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, Ndola makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.