😐A single person spends $2,319 per month in Canada vs $491 in Zimbabwe, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,378 per month in Canada vs $821 in Zimbabwe, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,437 per month in Canada vs $1,151 in Zimbabwe, rent included.
🌍The cost of living in Canada is about 372% higher than in Zimbabwe on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.
📊Canada sits 74% above the global median, while Zimbabwe is 63% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Canada
Zimbabwe
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.63CA$26.11
$7.10ZWL 190
162.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.0CA$104
$50.9ZWL 1,359
45.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.92CA$15.31
$6.06ZWL 162
80.20%
Cappuccino
$3.76CA$5.28
$2.69ZWL 71.7
39.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19CA$3.07
$0.73ZWL 19.36
200.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74CA$2.43
$0.49ZWL 12.99
255.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.93CA$8.31
$1.47ZWL 39.29
303.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.95CA$8.35
$1.96ZWL 52.4
203.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Canada
Zimbabwe
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.28CA$3.20
$1.57ZWL 42.02
45.22%
White Bread(500g)
$2.67CA$3.74
$1.03ZWL 27.38
159.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.78CA$5.30
$1.83ZWL 48.77
106.56%
Eggs
$3.50CA$4.90
$2.05ZWL 54.8
70.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.70CA$16.40
$10.19ZWL 272
14.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.30CA$17.24
$5.51ZWL 147
123.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.44CA$21.65
$5.84ZWL 156
164.38%
Apples(1kg)
$4.28CA$6.00
$2.65ZWL 70.6
61.51%
Banana(1kg)
$1.45CA$2.04
$1.72ZWL 45.84
-15.70%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.01CA$5.62
$2.07ZWL 55.1
93.72%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.27CA$5.98
$1.61ZWL 42.97
165.22%
Potato(1kg)
$2.69CA$3.77
$1.56ZWL 41.64
72.44%
Onion(1kg)
$2.65CA$3.71
$1.80ZWL 48.15
47.22%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.64CA$3.70
$1.09ZWL 29.02
142.20%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.89CA$2.65
$1.08ZWL 28.74
75.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.77CA$20.71
$1.38ZWL 36.83
970.29%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.32CA$18.67
$6.84ZWL 182
94.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.96CA$4.15
$1.15ZWL 30.56
157.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.28CA$4.59
$1.79ZWL 47.65
83.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Canada
Zimbabwe
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.62CA$3.67
$1.01ZWL 27.00
159.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$78.1CA$110
$29.60ZWL 790
163.85%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.42CA$4.79
$5.14ZWL 137
-33.46%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.50CA$2.10
$2.02ZWL 53.8
-25.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.07CA$40.76
$5.13ZWL 137
466.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.20CA$1.68
$1.62ZWL 43.12
-25.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.5KCA$35.7K
$23.1KZWL 616.7K
10.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.6KCA$28.8K
$24.4KZWL 650.7K
-15.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Canada
Zimbabwe
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$152CA$212
$53.8ZWL 1,435
181.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$46.70CA$65.5
$17.22ZWL 459
171.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.8CA$86.7
$90.0ZWL 2,401
-31.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Canada
Zimbabwe
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.36CA$60.8
$47.26ZWL 1,261
-8.25%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.05CA$25.31
$11.08ZWL 295
62.91%
Cinema Ticket
$11.51CA$16.13
$10.13ZWL 270
13.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Canada
Zimbabwe
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$806CA$1,130
$225ZWL 5,995
258.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.1KCA$17.0K
$8,093ZWL 215.9K
50.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Canada
Zimbabwe
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4CA$77.6
$19.09ZWL 509
190.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.80CA$58.6
$19.59ZWL 523
113.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.7CA$126
$37.25ZWL 994
140.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106CA$149
$41.76ZWL 1,114
153.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Canada
Zimbabwe
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,329CA$1,864
$332ZWL 8,862
300.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,207CA$1,692
$229ZWL 6,115
426.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,112CA$2,961
$810ZWL 21.6K
160.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,833CA$2,570
$546ZWL 14.6K
235.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,639CA$6,503
$936ZWL 25.0K
395.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,849CA$5,396
$395ZWL 10.5K
875.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Canada
Zimbabwe
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,948CA$4,133
$341ZWL 9,090
765.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.33
13.5
-53.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Canada: July 14, 2026
Last update for Zimbabwe: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $1,281 in Canada vs $105 in Zimbabwe. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,481 in Ottawa and $398 in Harare.
💰Average salary: $2,904 in Canada vs $355 in Zimbabwe. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 1120% higher in Canada.
⭐Dining out costs 113% more in Canada.
⭐Public transport is 713% more expensive in Canada.
⭐Salaries are 718% 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 352% 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 352% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $800 a realistic budget in Canada or in Zimbabwe?
$800 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.