Cost of Living Comparison Between Gweru and Harare Cost of Living Comparison Between Gweru and Harare

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $620 per month in Gweru vs $991 in Harare, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,094 per month in Gweru vs $1,663 in Harare, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,567 per month in Gweru vs $2,335 in Harare, rent included.

Gweru is about 37% cheaper than Harare, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Gweru and Harare are more affordable than the global median – Gweru 54% lower, Harare 26% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gweru
Harare
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.54 ZWL 68.0
$10.11 ZWL 271
-74.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.5 ZWL 1,352
$49.12 ZWL 1,315
2.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.16 ZWL 165
$7.01 ZWL 188
-12.13%
Cappuccino
$2.86 ZWL 76.7
$2.92 ZWL 78.1
-2.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 ZWL 12.97
$0.68 ZWL 18.12
-29.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43 ZWL 11.52
$0.43 ZWL 11.59
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.48 ZWL 39.57
$1.52 ZWL 40.73
-2.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99 ZWL 26.38
$1.94 ZWL 52.0
-48.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gweru
Harare
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.46 ZWL 39.05
$1.62 ZWL 43.48
-9.88%
White Bread (500g)
$1.03 ZWL 27.49
$1.02 ZWL 27.41
0.98%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.96 ZWL 52.4
$1.93 ZWL 51.7
1.55%
Eggs
$1.94 ZWL 52.1
$2.09 ZWL 56.0
-7.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.86 ZWL 291
$10.86 ZWL 291
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.87 ZWL 104
$6.46 ZWL 173
-40.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.37 ZWL 144
$6.21 ZWL 166
-13.53%
Apples (1kg)
$1.97 ZWL 52.7
$3.01 ZWL 80.6
-34.55%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 ZWL 43.40
$1.68 ZWL 45.09
-3.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.99 ZWL 53.2
$2.20 ZWL 59.0
-9.55%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.03 ZWL 27.56
$1.71 ZWL 45.73
-39.77%
Potato (1kg)
$1.50 ZWL 40.25
$1.49 ZWL 39.76
0.67%
Onion (1kg)
$0.97 ZWL 26.07
$2.06 ZWL 55.2
-52.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.96 ZWL 25.81
$1.03 ZWL 27.55
-6.80%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.00 ZWL 26.72
$0.95 ZWL 25.47
5.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.13 ZWL 30.19
$1.11 ZWL 29.74
1.80%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.89 ZWL 238
$8.94 ZWL 239
-0.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.17 ZWL 31.26
$1.12 ZWL 30.03
4.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 ZWL 46.58
$1.77 ZWL 47.25
-1.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Gweru
Harare
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 ZWL 13.69
$1.02 ZWL 27.37
-50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$42.56 ZWL 1,139
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.07 ZWL 136
$5.05 ZWL 135
0.40%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.91 ZWL 24.43
$1.98 ZWL 53.1
-54.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.12 ZWL 137
$5.14 ZWL 137
-0.39%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.62 ZWL 43.43
$1.61 ZWL 43.06
0.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.1K ZWL 538.1K
$20.0K ZWL 535.8K
0.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8K ZWL 636.4K
$23.6K ZWL 632.9K
0.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gweru
Harare
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$29.93 ZWL 801
$58.9 ZWL 1,576
-49.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.27 ZWL 462
$17.40 ZWL 466
-0.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$93.7 ZWL 2,509
$94.1 ZWL 2,519
-0.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gweru
Harare
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.67 ZWL 1,062
$53.3 ZWL 1,426
-25.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$2.04 ZWL 54.7
$14.15 ZWL 379
-85.58%
Cinema Ticket
$10.17 ZWL 272
$9.94 ZWL 266
2.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gweru
Harare
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$254 ZWL 6,809
$279 ZWL 7,477
-8.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,774 ZWL 154.6K
$7,278 ZWL 194.8K
-20.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gweru
Harare
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.40 ZWL 519
$19.51 ZWL 522
-0.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.14 ZWL 539
$21.18 ZWL 567
-4.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$35.17 ZWL 942
$34.22 ZWL 916
2.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.76 ZWL 1,064
$40.55 ZWL 1,085
-1.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gweru
Harare
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$149 ZWL 3,994
$403 ZWL 10.8K
-63.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$71.0 ZWL 1,900
$280 ZWL 7,502
-74.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$539 ZWL 14.4K
$967 ZWL 25.9K
-44.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$299 ZWL 8,011
$695 ZWL 18.6K
-56.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$919 ZWL 24.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$387 ZWL 10.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gweru
Harare
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$246 ZWL 6,589
$393 ZWL 10.5K
-37.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7
13.31
-47.41%

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

Last update for Gweru: June 6, 2026

Last update for Harare: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $149 in Gweru versus $403 in Harare. 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 60% higher in Harare, 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 $51.0 in Gweru versus $49.00 in Harare. Groceries tell a different story – $191 in Gweru vs $220 in Harare – so Gweru wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Gweru vs Harare: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Gweru and Harare compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $620 in Gweru, $991 in Harare – roughly 60% apart. Harare costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Gweru compared to Harare?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $931 per month in Gweru and $1,487 in Harare. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Gweru and Harare?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Gweru, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Gweru or Harare?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $620 in Gweru and $991 in Harare. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Gweru and Harare?
Kindergarten costs $254 per month in Gweru and $279 in Harare. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Gweru, where all-in costs run around $620, than in Harare at $991. In Gweru it covers expenses comfortably, while in Harare it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Gweru or Harare?
Families tend to lean toward Gweru – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How do I decide between Gweru and Harare?
If budget matters most, go with Gweru. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Harare makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Gweru vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities