😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,296 in Lisbon versus $598 in Masvingo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,376 in Lisbon versus $987 in Masvingo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,457 in Lisbon versus $1,376 in Masvingo.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 284% more expensive than in Masvingo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 68% above, Masvingo is 56% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Masvingo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.59€15.32
$10.03ZWL 267
75.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.9€54.8
$39.92ZWL 1,064
57.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.58€10.09
$5.88ZWL 157
96.94%
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.70
$3.03ZWL 80.8
2.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49€2.17
$0.98ZWL 26.22
154.08%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74€1.52
$0.53ZWL 14.00
228.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.48€3.03
$1.49ZWL 39.66
133.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44€3.00
$1.96ZWL 52.3
75.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Masvingo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15€1.00
$1.59ZWL 42.25
-27.67%
White Bread(500g)
$1.91€1.66
$1.03ZWL 27.53
85.44%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.50€1.31
$1.69ZWL 45.03
-11.24%
Eggs
$3.98€3.47
$1.93ZWL 51.5
106.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.29€11.58
$11.88ZWL 317
11.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01€6.98
$5.70ZWL 152
40.53%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.04€15.71
$6.60ZWL 176
173.33%
Apples(1kg)
$2.35€2.05
$3.02ZWL 80.4
-22.19%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75€1.52
$1.62ZWL 43.12
8.02%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85€1.62
$1.98ZWL 52.7
-6.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55€2.22
$1.54ZWL 41.11
65.58%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.61
$1.72ZWL 45.88
6.98%
Onion(1kg)
$2.10€1.83
$1.81ZWL 48.12
16.02%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.49€1.29
$1.16ZWL 31.03
28.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82€0.71
$1.04ZWL 27.67
-21.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.10€6.18
$2.05ZWL 54.6
246.34%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.91€5.14
$8.76ZWL 234
-32.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31€1.15
$1.40ZWL 37.39
-6.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13€1.86
$2.01ZWL 53.6
5.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Masvingo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.36€2.05
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.62€40.60
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.55
$3.93ZWL 105
3.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14€0.99
$1.97ZWL 52.5
-42.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.09€14.89
$5.10ZWL 136
235.10%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.31€2.01
$1.86ZWL 49.57
24.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K€29.7K
$21.7KZWL 577.4K
57.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K€36.0K
$27.3KZWL 727.4K
51.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Masvingo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169€147
$53.8ZWL 1,433
213.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.33€16.84
$21.55ZWL 574
-10.30%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.51€29.19
$66.1ZWL 1,762
-49.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Masvingo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.84€42.54
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.43€16.93
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.57€8.33
$9.97ZWL 266
-4.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Masvingo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$696€606
$466ZWL 12.4K
49.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.4K€15.1K
$9,100ZWL 242.5K
90.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Masvingo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€91.7
$24.67ZWL 657
326.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.75€41.59
$21.57ZWL 575
121.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101€87.6
$39.25ZWL 1,046
156.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124€108
$41.16ZWL 1,097
202.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Masvingo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,662€1,447
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,246€1,085
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,965€2,582
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,049€1,784
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,834€6,823
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,464€3,888
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Masvingo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,632€1,421
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.78
13.69
-72.39%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026
Last update for Masvingo: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $40.00 in Masvingo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $219 per month, with Masvingo cheaper across the board.
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
Lisbon vs Masvingo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Masvingo?
Lisbon and Masvingo differ by about 284% in total monthly costs ($2,296 vs $598 including rent). Masvingo is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Lisbon compared to Masvingo?
You'd need roughly $3,444 in Lisbon and $897 in Masvingo 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.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 26% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lisbon or Masvingo?
All in, you'll spend $2,296 per month in Lisbon versus $598 in Masvingo – a 284% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $598 in Masvingo versus $2,296 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Masvingo but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Masvingo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Masvingo?
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.
Is Lisbon or Masvingo safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Masvingo are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Lisbon or Masvingo?
Expats usually find Masvingo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 284% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.