Cost of Living Comparison Between Bulawayo and Victoria Falls Cost of Living Comparison Between Bulawayo and Victoria Falls

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $784 per month in Bulawayo vs $886 in Victoria Falls, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,259 per month in Bulawayo vs $1,468 in Victoria Falls, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,734 per month in Bulawayo vs $2,050 in Victoria Falls, rent included.

Bulawayo is about 12% cheaper than Victoria Falls, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Bulawayo and Victoria Falls are more affordable than the global median – Bulawayo 41% lower, Victoria Falls 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.39 ZWL 117

$10.02 ZWL 268

-56.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.52 ZWL 789

$45.70 ZWL 1,221

-35.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.34 ZWL 143

Cappuccino

$2.32 ZWL 62.0

$5.82 ZWL 156

-60.14%

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

$0.48 ZWL 12.88

$0.98 ZWL 26.14

-51.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.43 ZWL 11.49

$0.51 ZWL 13.76

-15.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.80 ZWL 48.01

$1.77 ZWL 47.26

1.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 ZWL 66.0

Milk (1 liter)

$1.56 ZWL 41.80

$1.97 ZWL 52.7

-20.81%

White Bread (500g)

$1.00 ZWL 26.81

$1.02 ZWL 27.29

-1.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.78 ZWL 47.60

$2.04 ZWL 54.4

-12.75%

Eggs

$1.75 ZWL 46.85

$3.51 ZWL 93.9

-50.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.45 ZWL 279

$2.53 ZWL 67.5

313.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.84 ZWL 103

$6.02 ZWL 161

-36.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.42 ZWL 118

$7.99 ZWL 213

-44.68%

Apples (1kg)

$1.46 ZWL 39.11

$3.06 ZWL 81.7

-52.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 ZWL 39.32

$2.98 ZWL 79.7

-50.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.23 ZWL 59.6

$3.06 ZWL 81.8

-27.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.12 ZWL 29.90

$4.08 ZWL 109

-72.55%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 ZWL 30.70

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 ZWL 36.29

$1.94 ZWL 51.9

-29.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ZWL 26.06

$1.98 ZWL 52.8

-50.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 ZWL 26.93

$1.48 ZWL 39.56

-31.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.54 ZWL 41.02

$1.35 ZWL 35.95

14.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.07 ZWL 135

$19.76 ZWL 528

-74.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.53 ZWL 41.00

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 ZWL 58.5

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ZWL 13.68

$0.85 ZWL 22.80

-40.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.34 ZWL 811

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.08 ZWL 82.2

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.23 ZWL 59.5

$1.02 ZWL 27.25

118.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.96 ZWL 133

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.66 ZWL 44.42

$1.84 ZWL 49.16

-9.78%

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

$72.5 ZWL 1,936

$24.64 ZWL 658

194.07%

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

$18.00 ZWL 481

$25.40 ZWL 679

-29.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$135 ZWL 3,618

$68.9 ZWL 1,840

96.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.96 ZWL 667

$59.4 ZWL 1,588

-57.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.90 ZWL 398

Cinema Ticket

$10.17 ZWL 272

$19.68 ZWL 526

-48.32%

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

$140 ZWL 3,734

$98.7 ZWL 2,636

41.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,018 ZWL 160.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.40 ZWL 572

$14.89 ZWL 398

43.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.10 ZWL 350

$24.84 ZWL 664

-47.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.7 ZWL 1,862

$59.0 ZWL 1,577

18.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.3 ZWL 1,478

$44.59 ZWL 1,191

24.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$183 ZWL 4,881

$252 ZWL 6,738

-27.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$109 ZWL 2,904

$179 ZWL 4,794

-39.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$473 ZWL 12.6K

$500 ZWL 13.4K

-5.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$420 ZWL 11.2K

$351 ZWL 9,373

19.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,089 ZWL 55.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,041 ZWL 54.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$294 ZWL 7,865

$804 ZWL 21.5K

-63.41%

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

Last update for Bulawayo: July 26, 2026

Last update for Victoria Falls: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $183 in Bulawayo versus $252 in Victoria Falls. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 173% higher in Victoria Falls, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in Bulawayo versus $46.00 in Victoria Falls. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $179 vs $249 – making Bulawayo the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Bulawayo vs Victoria Falls: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Victoria Falls is pricier by about 13%, 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 $1,176 per month in Bulawayo and $1,329 in Victoria Falls. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bulawayo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $784 in Bulawayo and $886 in Victoria Falls. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $140 per month in Bulawayo and $98.7 in Victoria Falls. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Bulawayo, where all-in costs run around $784, than in Victoria Falls at $886. In Bulawayo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Victoria Falls it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Bulawayo – 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 Bulawayo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Victoria Falls makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.