😐A single person spends $2,215 per month in Canada vs $487 in Zimbabwe, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,237 per month in Canada vs $803 in Zimbabwe, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,258 per month in Canada vs $1,119 in Zimbabwe, rent included.
🌍The cost of living in Canada is about 355% higher than in Zimbabwe on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.
📊Canada sits 62% above the global median, while Zimbabwe is 64% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Canada
Zimbabwe
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.71CA$24.77
$6.51ZWL 174
172.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.1CA$99.4
$38.17ZWL 1,023
86.14%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.90CA$15.25
$6.17ZWL 165
76.66%
Cappuccino
$3.82CA$5.34
$2.63ZWL 70.6
45.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12CA$2.97
$0.73ZWL 19.65
190.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75CA$2.45
$0.52ZWL 13.98
236.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.77CA$8.07
$1.49ZWL 39.83
287.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.72CA$8.00
$2.05ZWL 54.9
179.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Canada
Zimbabwe
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.27CA$3.18
$1.51ZWL 40.45
50.33%
White Bread(500g)
$2.60CA$3.63
$0.98ZWL 26.13
165.31%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.57CA$4.99
$1.50ZWL 40.15
138.00%
Eggs
$3.64CA$5.09
$1.89ZWL 50.5
92.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.03CA$15.43
$10.05ZWL 269
9.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.02CA$16.82
$4.82ZWL 129
149.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.70CA$21.97
$5.86ZWL 157
167.92%
Apples(1kg)
$4.18CA$5.84
$2.77ZWL 74.1
50.90%
Banana(1kg)
$1.40CA$1.96
$1.71ZWL 45.70
-18.13%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.80CA$5.31
$1.98ZWL 53.0
91.92%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.98CA$5.57
$1.37ZWL 36.81
190.51%
Potato(1kg)
$2.65CA$3.71
$1.56ZWL 41.69
69.87%
Onion(1kg)
$2.54CA$3.55
$1.60ZWL 42.77
58.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.64CA$3.70
$1.16ZWL 30.99
127.59%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.79CA$2.50
$1.07ZWL 28.56
67.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.23CA$19.91
$2.01ZWL 54.0
607.96%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.22CA$18.49
$7.15ZWL 191
84.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.98CA$4.17
$1.30ZWL 34.84
129.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20CA$4.48
$1.96ZWL 52.6
63.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Canada
Zimbabwe
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.47CA$3.45
$0.97ZWL 26.12
154.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$73.5CA$103
$45.40ZWL 1,216
61.96%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.26CA$4.56
$2.97ZWL 79.6
9.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.54CA$2.15
$2.06ZWL 55.1
-25.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$27.66CA$38.69
$5.06ZWL 136
446.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.20CA$1.67
$1.76ZWL 47.20
-31.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0KCA$39.1K
$24.5KZWL 657.6K
13.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.4KCA$27.1K
$27.3KZWL 732.3K
-29.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Canada
Zimbabwe
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$151CA$212
$52.9ZWL 1,418
185.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.37CA$60.7
$18.34ZWL 491
136.48%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.8CA$83.6
$67.4ZWL 1,807
-11.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Canada
Zimbabwe
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.88CA$57.2
$42.60ZWL 1,141
-4.04%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.81CA$27.71
$20.14ZWL 540
-1.64%
Cinema Ticket
$11.39CA$15.93
$9.88ZWL 265
15.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Canada
Zimbabwe
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$783CA$1,095
$329ZWL 8,821
137.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.6KCA$20.5K
$8,311ZWL 222.7K
75.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Canada
Zimbabwe
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.1CA$77.1
$19.78ZWL 530
178.77%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.66CA$55.5
$18.25ZWL 489
117.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.3CA$125
$40.70ZWL 1,090
119.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103CA$145
$43.94ZWL 1,177
135.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Canada
Zimbabwe
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,299CA$1,817
$288ZWL 7,726
350.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,157CA$1,618
$230ZWL 6,159
403.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,025CA$2,833
$634ZWL 17.0K
219.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,779CA$2,489
$519ZWL 13.9K
242.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,679CA$6,545
$916ZWL 24.5K
410.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,883CA$5,432
$395ZWL 10.6K
883.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Canada
Zimbabwe
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,043CA$4,257
$359ZWL 9,619
747.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.86
13.77
-64.71%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Canada: September 14, 2026
Last update for Zimbabwe: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $1,221 in Canada vs $102 in Zimbabwe. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,493 in Ottawa and $401 in Harare.
💰Average salary: $2,963 in Canada vs $361 in Zimbabwe. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 1097% higher in Canada.
⭐Dining out costs 141% more in Canada.
⭐Public transport is 567% more expensive in Canada.
⭐Salaries are 721% higher in Canada, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Canada.
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
Canada vs Zimbabwe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Canada more expensive than Zimbabwe?
Zimbabwe is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 338% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in Canada, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Canada consistently has higher rents.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Zimbabwe, contributing to the overall 338% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in Canada or in Zimbabwe?
$1,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Zimbabwe, but in Canada it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Canada or to Zimbabwe?
Zimbabwe is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.