Cost of Living Comparison Between Harare and Marondera Cost of Living Comparison Between Harare and Marondera

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,002 in Harare versus $780 in Marondera.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,678 in Harare versus $1,200 in Marondera.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,354 in Harare versus $1,620 in Marondera.

Living in Harare is roughly 29% more expensive than in Marondera, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Harare 25% lower, Marondera 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.10 ZWL 269

$5.03 ZWL 134

100.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.37 ZWL 1,317

$49.68 ZWL 1,325

-0.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.20 ZWL 192

$7.19 ZWL 192

0.14%

Cappuccino

$2.95 ZWL 78.6

$1.97 ZWL 52.7

49.75%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 ZWL 18.86

$0.68 ZWL 18.03

4.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ZWL 12.35

$0.47 ZWL 12.42

-2.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.48 ZWL 39.53

$1.52 ZWL 40.67

-2.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 ZWL 54.1

$1.95 ZWL 52.1

4.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.60 ZWL 42.70

$1.01 ZWL 27.02

58.42%

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 ZWL 27.34

$0.98 ZWL 26.07

4.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.90 ZWL 50.7

$1.01 ZWL 26.98

88.12%

Eggs

$2.09 ZWL 55.8

$2.15 ZWL 57.4

-2.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.97 ZWL 293

$10.08 ZWL 269

8.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.55 ZWL 175

$5.13 ZWL 137

27.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.25 ZWL 167

$4.90 ZWL 131

27.55%

Apples (1kg)

$3.02 ZWL 80.6

$2.99 ZWL 79.7

1.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.67 ZWL 44.63

$1.61 ZWL 43.08

3.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.24 ZWL 59.9

$2.04 ZWL 54.4

9.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.64 ZWL 43.77

$1.69 ZWL 45.20

-2.96%

Potato (1kg)

$1.49 ZWL 39.87

$1.50 ZWL 40.14

-0.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 ZWL 53.1

$2.05 ZWL 54.7

-2.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.00 ZWL 26.76

$0.97 ZWL 25.96

3.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 ZWL 27.44

$0.93 ZWL 24.90

10.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.13 ZWL 30.19

$1.13 ZWL 30.16

Wine (Bottle)

$9.28 ZWL 248

$3.93 ZWL 105

136.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 ZWL 31.57

$1.14 ZWL 30.30

3.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 ZWL 46.32

$1.80 ZWL 47.92

-3.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.03 ZWL 27.43

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.17 ZWL 1,125

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.13 ZWL 137

$5.02 ZWL 134

2.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 ZWL 52.4

$1.95 ZWL 52.0

0.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.10 ZWL 136

$5.07 ZWL 135

0.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.62 ZWL 43.15

$1.54 ZWL 41.00

5.19%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$19.7K ZWL 526.1K

$19.8K ZWL 529.4K

-0.62%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.6K ZWL 629.1K

$23.7K ZWL 632.3K

-0.50%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$59.4 ZWL 1,585

$58.9 ZWL 1,570

0.95%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$17.75 ZWL 474

$17.57 ZWL 469

1.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$93.8 ZWL 2,501

$94.1 ZWL 2,510

-0.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.7 ZWL 1,434

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.35 ZWL 383

Cinema Ticket

$9.84 ZWL 263

$9.83 ZWL 262

0.10%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$273 ZWL 7,285

$274 ZWL 7,311

-0.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,310 ZWL 195.0K

$7,385 ZWL 197.0K

-1.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.62 ZWL 523

$19.28 ZWL 514

1.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.62 ZWL 577

$21.07 ZWL 562

2.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$35.26 ZWL 941

$35.05 ZWL 935

0.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.29 ZWL 1,075

$39.91 ZWL 1,065

0.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$405 ZWL 10.8K

$249 ZWL 6,636

62.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$279 ZWL 7,435

$253 ZWL 6,752

10.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$975 ZWL 26.0K

$403 ZWL 10.8K

141.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$706 ZWL 18.8K

$354 ZWL 9,439

99.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$915 ZWL 24.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$387 ZWL 10.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$401 ZWL 10.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.31

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

Last update for Harare: July 27, 2026

Last update for Marondera: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $405 in Harare and $249 in Marondera. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $49.00 in Harare vs $50.0 in Marondera. Groceries flip the comparison at $222 vs $185, with Marondera cheaper for home cooking.

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

Harare vs Marondera: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Marondera is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around, Clothing & Footwear. The 29% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,503 in Harare and $1,169 in Marondera to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $405 in Harare versus $249 in Marondera. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 20% higher in Harare. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,002 per month in Harare versus $780 in Marondera – a 29% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Marondera gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Marondera gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in Harare. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.