Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Mutare Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Mutare

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $780 in Mutare.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $1,231 in Mutare.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $1,682 in Mutare.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 183% more expensive than Mutare, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Mutare is 42% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Mutare
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91 €13.69
$10.03 ZWL 269
58.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8 €55.7
$49.07 ZWL 1,318
32.00%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 €9.04
$4.53 ZWL 122
132.01%
Cappuccino
$2.87 €2.47
$1.26 ZWL 33.84
127.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 €1.93
$0.71 ZWL 19.19
215.49%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.29
$0.44 ZWL 11.74
240.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €3.00
$1.38 ZWL 37.02
152.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88 €3.34
$1.83 ZWL 49.20
112.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Mutare
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 €0.98
$1.22 ZWL 32.86
-6.56%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.51
$1.02 ZWL 27.47
71.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.51
$1.34 ZWL 35.89
31.34%
Eggs
$3.22 €2.77
$1.92 ZWL 51.5
67.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.49 €11.61
$3.02 ZWL 81.0
346.69%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.91 €6.81
$3.94 ZWL 106
100.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.87 €13.65
$4.90 ZWL 131
223.88%
Apples (1kg)
$2.31 €1.99
$1.97 ZWL 53.0
17.26%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 €1.46
$1.69 ZWL 45.48
0.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$2.06 ZWL 55.3
-2.43%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.46 €2.12
$0.98 ZWL 26.41
151.02%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.59
$1.57 ZWL 42.09
17.20%
Onion (1kg)
$2.00 €1.72
$0.99 ZWL 26.48
102.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.93 €1.66
$0.52 ZWL 13.85
271.15%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 €0.68
$0.95 ZWL 25.63
-16.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61 €5.68
$1.07 ZWL 28.78
517.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.72 €4.92
$5.91 ZWL 159
-3.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.17
$1.17 ZWL 31.53
17.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.56
$1.72 ZWL 46.13
72.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Mutare
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.37 €2.04
$0.52 ZWL 13.99
355.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.56 €39.19
$26.71 ZWL 717
70.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.69
$2.97 ZWL 79.8
44.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.70
$2.06 ZWL 55.2
-60.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.30 €15.74
$4.97 ZWL 134
268.21%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.06 €1.78
$1.57 ZWL 42.10
31.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K €29.5K
$20.0K ZWL 536.3K
71.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K €33.8K
$23.6K ZWL 633.4K
66.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Mutare
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €127
$57.6 ZWL 1,547
156.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52 €17.65
$14.79 ZWL 397
38.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61 €34.08
$60.7 ZWL 1,629
-34.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Mutare
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.85 €41.16
$40.43 ZWL 1,086
18.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 €16.28
$5.01 ZWL 135
277.64%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18 €7.90
$10.08 ZWL 271
-8.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Mutare
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$614 €528
$147 ZWL 3,943
318.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K €13.8K
$7,177 ZWL 192.7K
123.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Mutare
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.0
$9.84 ZWL 264
963.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06 €36.18
$9.37 ZWL 252
348.88%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.0 €80.8
$24.77 ZWL 665
279.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €103
$20.04 ZWL 538
497.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Mutare
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,628 €1,400
$347 ZWL 9,314
369.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,255 €1,080
$247 ZWL 6,627
408.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,030 €2,607
$756 ZWL 20.3K
300.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 €1,738
$393 ZWL 10.6K
413.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,800 €6,709
$247 ZWL 6,645
3051.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,273 €3,675
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Mutare
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,603 €1,379
$252 ZWL 6,766
536.32%
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 1, 2026

Last update for Mutare: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $347 in Mutare. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 536% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $49.00 in Mutare for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $153 per month, with Mutare 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 Mutare: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Mutare?
Lisbon and Mutare differ by about 183% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $780 including rent). Mutare is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Mutare?
Lisbon pays 536% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and Mutare?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $347 in Mutare. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Lisbon and Mutare?
Childcare runs $614 in Lisbon versus $147 in Mutare. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 76% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $780 in Mutare versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Mutare but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Mutare the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Mutare?
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 Mutare safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Mutare 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 Mutare?
Expats usually find Mutare gentler on the wallet – expenses run 183% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Lisbon vs other spots: cost of living compared

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