😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,263 in Lisbon versus $636 in Masvingo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $1,098 in Masvingo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,368 in Lisbon versus $1,561 in Masvingo.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 256% more expensive than Masvingo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 68% above, Masvingo is 53% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Masvingo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.94€13.73
$10.02ZWL 268
59.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.4€54.6
$49.64ZWL 1,329
27.66%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.95
$6.96ZWL 186
49.14%
Cappuccino
$2.79€2.40
$2.89ZWL 77.4
-3.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34€2.01
$0.72ZWL 19.15
225.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.35
$0.47ZWL 12.46
234.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.43€2.95
$1.52ZWL 40.71
125.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91€3.37
$1.95ZWL 52.1
100.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Masvingo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$1.56ZWL 41.88
-30.77%
White Bread(500g)
$1.77€1.52
$1.01ZWL 27.11
75.25%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71€1.47
$1.95ZWL 52.3
-12.31%
Eggs
$3.15€2.71
$2.09ZWL 56.0
50.72%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.68€11.79
$10.75ZWL 288
27.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01€6.90
$6.24ZWL 167
28.37%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.52€13.37
$6.22ZWL 166
149.52%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29€1.98
$3.00ZWL 80.3
-23.67%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64€1.41
$1.63ZWL 43.55
0.61%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.67
$2.21ZWL 59.1
-12.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.51€2.17
$1.65ZWL 44.13
52.12%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.54
$1.56ZWL 41.71
14.74%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$1.98ZWL 53.1
1.52%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.69
$1.03ZWL 27.55
91.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$0.93ZWL 25.02
-9.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79€5.85
$1.07ZWL 28.76
534.58%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.67€4.89
$9.11ZWL 244
-37.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.20
$1.14ZWL 30.39
21.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02€2.60
$1.78ZWL 47.68
69.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Masvingo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27€1.95
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.44€39.15
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.70
$5.02ZWL 134
-14.54%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85€0.73
$1.97ZWL 52.7
-56.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.28€15.75
$5.08ZWL 136
259.84%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.99€1.71
$1.54ZWL 41.11
29.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.2K
$19.9KZWL 531.5K
76.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.5K€34.1K
$23.6KZWL 631.5K
67.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Masvingo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146€126
$57.4ZWL 1,536
154.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.45€17.62
$18.01ZWL 482
13.55%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.98€33.58
$91.2ZWL 2,441
-57.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Masvingo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.98€42.21
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.83€16.22
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.52€8.21
$10.03ZWL 269
-5.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Masvingo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$608€524
$281ZWL 7,515
116.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.2K
$7,398ZWL 198.1K
123.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Masvingo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104€89.5
$19.59ZWL 524
430.32%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.12€36.29
$21.59ZWL 578
95.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.2€79.5
$34.95ZWL 935
163.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$40.15ZWL 1,075
198.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Masvingo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,621€1,397
$58.9ZWL 1,576
2655.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,268€1,092
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,048€2,626
$301ZWL 8,058
912.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,009€1,731
$153ZWL 4,083
1216.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,663€6,602
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,329€3,730
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Masvingo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,585€1,366
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
13.31
-71.37%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 8, 2026
Last update for Masvingo: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,621 in Lisbon and $58.9 in Masvingo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $50.0 in Masvingo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $217 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 Masvingo?
Lisbon and Masvingo differ by about 256% in total monthly costs ($2,263 vs $636 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 $3,394 in Lisbon and $954 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and Masvingo?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,621 in Lisbon versus $58.9 in Masvingo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 24% 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 $2,263 per month in Lisbon versus $636 in Masvingo – a 256% 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 $636 in Masvingo versus $2,263 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 256% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.