😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,280 in Lisbon versus $619 in Masvingo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,294 in Lisbon versus $1,111 in Masvingo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,307 in Lisbon versus $1,604 in Masvingo.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 269% more expensive than in Masvingo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Masvingo is 54% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Masvingo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.75€13.64
$9.86ZWL 263
59.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.5€55.0
$50.9ZWL 1,358
24.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.45€9.05
$7.09ZWL 189
47.39%
Cappuccino
$2.91€2.52
$2.98ZWL 79.5
-2.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€1.98
$0.71ZWL 18.94
222.54%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.30
$0.46ZWL 12.32
226.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.56€3.09
$1.46ZWL 38.90
143.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96€3.43
$2.02ZWL 54.0
96.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Masvingo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.94
$1.56ZWL 41.56
-30.77%
White Bread(500g)
$1.76€1.53
$1.02ZWL 27.19
72.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70€1.47
$1.95ZWL 52.1
-12.82%
Eggs
$3.25€2.81
$2.07ZWL 55.1
57.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.25€11.47
$11.04ZWL 295
20.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.70€6.67
$6.54ZWL 174
17.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.77€13.66
$6.58ZWL 176
139.67%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.97
$2.87ZWL 76.6
-20.56%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66€1.43
$1.64ZWL 43.76
1.22%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.02€1.75
$2.27ZWL 60.6
-11.01%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.47€2.14
$1.70ZWL 45.42
45.29%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.55
$1.56ZWL 41.68
14.74%
Onion(1kg)
$2.07€1.79
$1.98ZWL 52.8
4.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.71
$1.02ZWL 27.20
93.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83€0.72
$0.97ZWL 25.84
-14.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.55€5.68
$1.09ZWL 28.96
500.92%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.57€4.82
$9.77ZWL 261
-42.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.15
$1.13ZWL 30.11
17.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01€2.60
$1.74ZWL 46.39
72.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Masvingo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27€1.97
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.35€40.14
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.66
$4.87ZWL 130
-13.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85€0.73
$1.95ZWL 52.0
-56.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.83€16.31
$4.87ZWL 130
286.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.02€1.75
$1.62ZWL 43.21
24.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.3K
$19.9KZWL 531.2K
75.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6K€34.3K
$23.6KZWL 628.7K
68.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Masvingo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€128
$57.7ZWL 1,539
156.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.77
$17.62ZWL 470
16.46%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.52€34.23
$93.7ZWL 2,499
-57.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Masvingo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.17€41.72
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39€15.92
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.10€7.88
$9.90ZWL 264
-8.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Masvingo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$615€532
$275ZWL 7,335
123.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.1K
$7,208ZWL 192.3K
125.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Masvingo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€88.0
$19.12ZWL 510
431.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.09€36.45
$20.96ZWL 559
100.81%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.3€79.9
$34.80ZWL 928
165.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€106
$40.56ZWL 1,082
200.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Masvingo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,612€1,396
$60.2ZWL 1,607
2576.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,254€1,086
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,069€2,658
$297ZWL 7,916
934.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,037€1,764
$148ZWL 3,950
1275.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,751€6,712
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,286€3,712
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Masvingo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,602€1,387
-
-
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Masvingo: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,612 in Lisbon and $60.2 in Masvingo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $51.0 in Masvingo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $222 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 269% in total monthly costs ($2,280 vs $619 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 $3,420 in Lisbon and $928 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 in Masvingo?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,612 in Lisbon versus $60.2 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 20% 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 $2,280 per month in Lisbon versus $619 in Masvingo – a 269% 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 $619 in Masvingo versus $2,280 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 269% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.