Cost of Living Comparison Between Canada and Zimbabwe Cost of Living Comparison Between Canada and Zimbabwe

Monthly Cost of Living

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
$17.71 CA$24.77
$6.51 ZWL 174
172.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.1 CA$99.4
$38.17 ZWL 1,023
86.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.90 CA$15.25
$6.17 ZWL 165
76.66%
Cappuccino
$3.82 CA$5.34
$2.63 ZWL 70.6
45.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 CA$2.97
$0.73 ZWL 19.65
190.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 CA$2.45
$0.52 ZWL 13.98
236.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.77 CA$8.07
$1.49 ZWL 39.83
287.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.72 CA$8.00
$2.05 ZWL 54.9
179.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Canada
Zimbabwe
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.27 CA$3.18
$1.51 ZWL 40.45
50.33%
White Bread (500g)
$2.60 CA$3.63
$0.98 ZWL 26.13
165.31%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.57 CA$4.99
$1.50 ZWL 40.15
138.00%
Eggs
$3.64 CA$5.09
$1.89 ZWL 50.5
92.59%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.03 CA$15.43
$10.05 ZWL 269
9.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.02 CA$16.82
$4.82 ZWL 129
149.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.70 CA$21.97
$5.86 ZWL 157
167.92%
Apples (1kg)
$4.18 CA$5.84
$2.77 ZWL 74.1
50.90%
Banana (1kg)
$1.40 CA$1.96
$1.71 ZWL 45.70
-18.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.80 CA$5.31
$1.98 ZWL 53.0
91.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.98 CA$5.57
$1.37 ZWL 36.81
190.51%
Potato (1kg)
$2.65 CA$3.71
$1.56 ZWL 41.69
69.87%
Onion (1kg)
$2.54 CA$3.55
$1.60 ZWL 42.77
58.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.64 CA$3.70
$1.16 ZWL 30.99
127.59%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 CA$2.50
$1.07 ZWL 28.56
67.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.23 CA$19.91
$2.01 ZWL 54.0
607.96%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.22 CA$18.49
$7.15 ZWL 191
84.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.98 CA$4.17
$1.30 ZWL 34.84
129.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 CA$4.48
$1.96 ZWL 52.6
63.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Canada
Zimbabwe
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.47 CA$3.45
$0.97 ZWL 26.12
154.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$73.5 CA$103
$45.40 ZWL 1,216
61.96%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.26 CA$4.56
$2.97 ZWL 79.6
9.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.54 CA$2.15
$2.06 ZWL 55.1
-25.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$27.66 CA$38.69
$5.06 ZWL 136
446.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.20 CA$1.67
$1.76 ZWL 47.20
-31.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K CA$39.1K
$24.5K ZWL 657.6K
13.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.4K CA$27.1K
$27.3K ZWL 732.3K
-29.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Canada
Zimbabwe
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$151 CA$212
$52.9 ZWL 1,418
185.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.37 CA$60.7
$18.34 ZWL 491
136.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.8 CA$83.6
$67.4 ZWL 1,807
-11.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Canada
Zimbabwe
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.88 CA$57.2
$42.60 ZWL 1,141
-4.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.81 CA$27.71
$20.14 ZWL 540
-1.64%
Cinema Ticket
$11.39 CA$15.93
$9.88 ZWL 265
15.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Canada
Zimbabwe
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$783 CA$1,095
$329 ZWL 8,821
137.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.6K CA$20.5K
$8,311 ZWL 222.7K
75.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Canada
Zimbabwe
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.1 CA$77.1
$19.78 ZWL 530
178.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.66 CA$55.5
$18.25 ZWL 489
117.32%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.3 CA$125
$40.70 ZWL 1,090
119.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 CA$145
$43.94 ZWL 1,177
135.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Canada
Zimbabwe
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,299 CA$1,817
$288 ZWL 7,726
350.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,157 CA$1,618
$230 ZWL 6,159
403.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,025 CA$2,833
$634 ZWL 17.0K
219.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,779 CA$2,489
$519 ZWL 13.9K
242.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,679 CA$6,545
$916 ZWL 24.5K
410.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,883 CA$5,432
$395 ZWL 10.6K
883.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Canada
Zimbabwe
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,043 CA$4,257
$359 ZWL 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.

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