Cost of Living Comparison Between Gweru and HarareCost 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 – Gweru54% lower, Harare26% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gweru
Harare
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.54ZWL 68.0
$10.11ZWL 271
-74.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.5ZWL 1,352
$49.12ZWL 1,315
2.85%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.16ZWL 165
$7.01ZWL 188
-12.13%
Cappuccino
$2.86ZWL 76.7
$2.92ZWL 78.1
-2.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48ZWL 12.97
$0.68ZWL 18.12
-29.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43ZWL 11.52
$0.43ZWL 11.59
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.48ZWL 39.57
$1.52ZWL 40.73
-2.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99ZWL 26.38
$1.94ZWL 52.0
-48.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gweru
Harare
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.46ZWL 39.05
$1.62ZWL 43.48
-9.88%
White Bread(500g)
$1.03ZWL 27.49
$1.02ZWL 27.41
0.98%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.96ZWL 52.4
$1.93ZWL 51.7
1.55%
Eggs
$1.94ZWL 52.1
$2.09ZWL 56.0
-7.18%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.86ZWL 291
$10.86ZWL 291
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.87ZWL 104
$6.46ZWL 173
-40.09%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.37ZWL 144
$6.21ZWL 166
-13.53%
Apples(1kg)
$1.97ZWL 52.7
$3.01ZWL 80.6
-34.55%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62ZWL 43.40
$1.68ZWL 45.09
-3.57%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99ZWL 53.2
$2.20ZWL 59.0
-9.55%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.03ZWL 27.56
$1.71ZWL 45.73
-39.77%
Potato(1kg)
$1.50ZWL 40.25
$1.49ZWL 39.76
0.67%
Onion(1kg)
$0.97ZWL 26.07
$2.06ZWL 55.2
-52.91%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.96ZWL 25.81
$1.03ZWL 27.55
-6.80%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.00ZWL 26.72
$0.95ZWL 25.47
5.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.13ZWL 30.19
$1.11ZWL 29.74
1.80%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.89ZWL 238
$8.94ZWL 239
-0.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.17ZWL 31.26
$1.12ZWL 30.03
4.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74ZWL 46.58
$1.77ZWL 47.25
-1.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Gweru
Harare
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51ZWL 13.69
$1.02ZWL 27.37
-50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$42.56ZWL 1,139
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.07ZWL 136
$5.05ZWL 135
0.40%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.91ZWL 24.43
$1.98ZWL 53.1
-54.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.12ZWL 137
$5.14ZWL 137
-0.39%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.62ZWL 43.43
$1.61ZWL 43.06
0.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.1KZWL 538.1K
$20.0KZWL 535.8K
0.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KZWL 636.4K
$23.6KZWL 632.9K
0.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gweru
Harare
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$29.93ZWL 801
$58.9ZWL 1,576
-49.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.27ZWL 462
$17.40ZWL 466
-0.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$93.7ZWL 2,509
$94.1ZWL 2,519
-0.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gweru
Harare
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.67ZWL 1,062
$53.3ZWL 1,426
-25.52%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$2.04ZWL 54.7
$14.15ZWL 379
-85.58%
Cinema Ticket
$10.17ZWL 272
$9.94ZWL 266
2.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gweru
Harare
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$254ZWL 6,809
$279ZWL 7,477
-8.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,774ZWL 154.6K
$7,278ZWL 194.8K
-20.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gweru
Harare
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.40ZWL 519
$19.51ZWL 522
-0.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.14ZWL 539
$21.18ZWL 567
-4.91%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$35.17ZWL 942
$34.22ZWL 916
2.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.76ZWL 1,064
$40.55ZWL 1,085
-1.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gweru
Harare
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$149ZWL 3,994
$403ZWL 10.8K
-63.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$71.0ZWL 1,900
$280ZWL 7,502
-74.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$539ZWL 14.4K
$967ZWL 25.9K
-44.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$299ZWL 8,011
$695ZWL 18.6K
-56.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$919ZWL 24.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$387ZWL 10.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gweru
Harare
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$246ZWL 6,589
$393ZWL 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.