Cost of Living Comparison Between Kariba and Harare Cost of Living Comparison Between Kariba and Harare

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.90 ZWL 251

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.08 ZWL 1,242

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.80 ZWL 172

Cappuccino

$3.00 ZWL 75.8

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

$0.66 ZWL 16.72

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 ZWL 11.81

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.48 ZWL 37.39

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 ZWL 50.3

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 ZWL 40.70

White Bread (500g)

$1.01 ZWL 25.58

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.92 ZWL 48.64

Eggs

$2.08 ZWL 52.7

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.06 ZWL 280

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.53 ZWL 165

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.23 ZWL 158

Apples (1kg)

$3.04 ZWL 76.9

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 ZWL 43.04

Oranges (1kg)

$2.22 ZWL 56.1

Tomato (1kg)

$1.66 ZWL 42.07

Potato (1kg)

$1.55 ZWL 39.30

Onion (1kg)

$1.98 ZWL 50.1

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 ZWL 26.24

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 ZWL 25.46

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.08 ZWL 27.35

Wine (Bottle)

$8.69 ZWL 220

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 ZWL 29.56

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.80 ZWL 45.54

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 ZWL 24.78

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.32 ZWL 1,071

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.06 ZWL 128

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 ZWL 49.25

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.03 ZWL 127

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.61 ZWL 40.85

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

$20.1K ZWL 508.8K

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

$23.3K ZWL 589.4K

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

$57.3 ZWL 1,450

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

$17.82 ZWL 451

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$93.1 ZWL 2,355

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.6 ZWL 1,332

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.42 ZWL 365

Cinema Ticket

$9.85 ZWL 249

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

$275 ZWL 6,952

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,312 ZWL 185.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.61 ZWL 496

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.59 ZWL 546

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$34.05 ZWL 862

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.85 ZWL 1,008

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$393 ZWL 9,941

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$274 ZWL 6,936

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$971 ZWL 24.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$707 ZWL 17.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$892 ZWL 22.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$394 ZWL 9,977

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$395 ZWL 9,992

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 Kariba: April 27, 2026

Last update for Harare: April 25, 2026

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

Kariba vs Harare: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For families, Kariba is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Harare, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Kariba and Harare are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

It comes down to priorities – Kariba wins on affordability, Harare on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.