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The average cost of living in November 2022 stood at K6,089.86,reflecting a K35.13 reduction compared to October 2022.
This remained at K1,698.86 above the national average income of K4,911, according to Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) Basic Need National Basket (BNNB) survey released on Wednesday, December 14, 2022.
The survey indicated that Zambia’s capital city, Lusaka still remained the most expensive city to live in.
According to the survey, the city has not registered significant change from September 2022 and registered a drop of only K29.42 as it stood at K8,567.20 for November 2022.
It started that Solwezi was the second most expensive town to live in after Lusaka with its basket recorded at K8, 129.49, largely attributed to the higher cost of housing in the district.
On the other end, Mansa continued to be the cheapest town to live in November 2022.
It recorded a drop of K47.94 from October 2022 as it stood at K4402.59 for November 2022.
Kasama was right behind Mansa having recorded a sharp drop of K368.50 from October 2022 as it stood at K 4404.1 for November 2022.
In the same vein, Livingstone saw a sharp drop of K621.70.
The survey indicated that towns like Solwezi showed a sharp increase of up to K318.67.
This was attributed to increases in food items such as cassava flour and Kapenta especially as the national moves into the fish ban season.
About 50 percent of the towns under review did register a drop in their fruit baskets. This was attributed to a fall in other food section of the basket.
The Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection indicated that seasonality continues to be an influence of price movements.
The availability of mangoes during this period for example has driven the drop in prices in the section of other fruits.
The towns below recorded a reduction in the basket;Chinsali dropped to K4, 964 from K5, 098.48, Chipata to K5283.36 from 5376.21 and Kabwe to K6, 875.24 from K6, 884.91.
Others were Kasama to K4404.1 from K4772.6, Livingstone to K6366.17 from K6987.87, Mpika from K5935.08 to K6007.25 and Ndola from K7275.24 to K7,416.64 respectively.
The towns below recorded an increase in the basket: Choma increased to K6048.3 from K 6044, Lusaka to K 8567.2 from 8537.78 and Mazabuka to K6059.26 from K 5911.49.
Other towns like Mongu moved to K 4952.2 from K 4797.78, Monze K5603.29 from K5496.65 and Solwezi K8129.49 from K7810.82.
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