Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and MutareCost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Mutare
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,268 in Lisbon versus $797 in Mutare.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,348 in Lisbon versus $1,204 in Mutare.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,429 in Lisbon versus $1,612 in Mutare.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 185% more expensive than in Mutare, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 64% above, Mutare is 42% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Mutare
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.55€15.12
$10.08ZWL 269
74.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.5€55.6
$40.29ZWL 1,074
60.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.65€10.04
$4.46ZWL 119
161.21%
Cappuccino
$3.26€2.81
$1.23ZWL 32.66
165.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49€2.15
$0.78ZWL 20.90
219.23%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67€1.44
$0.51ZWL 13.72
227.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47€2.99
$1.34ZWL 35.63
158.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58€3.08
$1.82ZWL 48.38
96.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Mutare
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.18€1.02
$1.23ZWL 32.79
-4.07%
White Bread(500g)
$1.95€1.68
$0.98ZWL 26.23
98.98%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56€1.35
$1.28ZWL 34.08
21.88%
Eggs
$4.01€3.46
$1.85ZWL 49.29
116.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.27€11.44
$2.98ZWL 79.3
345.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.42€7.26
$4.07ZWL 108
106.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.23€15.72
$5.08ZWL 135
258.86%
Apples(1kg)
$2.32€2.00
$2.02ZWL 53.8
14.85%
Banana(1kg)
$1.73€1.49
$1.61ZWL 42.86
7.45%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93€1.67
$1.95ZWL 52.0
-1.03%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.64€2.27
$1.03ZWL 27.33
156.31%
Potato(1kg)
$1.90€1.64
$1.67ZWL 44.52
13.77%
Onion(1kg)
$2.11€1.82
$1.02ZWL 27.31
106.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.44€1.24
$0.52ZWL 13.83
176.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80€0.69
$1.03ZWL 27.47
-22.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.01€6.04
$1.19ZWL 31.61
489.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.92€5.11
$6.15ZWL 164
-3.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36€1.18
$1.22ZWL 32.58
11.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15€1.85
$1.68ZWL 44.73
27.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Mutare
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.38€2.05
$0.73ZWL 19.37
226.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.22€39.85
$27.24ZWL 726
69.68%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.19€3.61
$2.96ZWL 78.8
41.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.10€0.95
$2.03ZWL 54.2
-45.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.26€14.88
$5.08ZWL 136
239.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.25€1.94
$1.85ZWL 49.26
21.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K€29.7K
$22.3KZWL 594.4K
54.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.6K€35.9K
$24.1KZWL 642.3K
72.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Mutare
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$171€147
$54.5ZWL 1,452
213.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.01€16.38
$15.19ZWL 405
25.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.28€29.55
$58.8ZWL 1,567
-41.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Mutare
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.65€42.80
$39.65ZWL 1,057
25.22%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.51€16.81
$4.89ZWL 130
298.98%
Cinema Ticket
$10.10€8.71
$10.08ZWL 269
0.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Mutare
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$699€603
$145ZWL 3,869
381.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.8K€15.3K
$9,188ZWL 244.9K
93.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Mutare
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.2
$9.90ZWL 264
956.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.97€41.35
$9.47ZWL 252
406.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.8
$24.87ZWL 663
309.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128€111
$19.84ZWL 529
546.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Mutare
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,661€1,432
$345ZWL 9,188
381.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,228€1,059
$252ZWL 6,713
387.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,915€2,513
$739ZWL 19.7K
294.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,023€1,744
$395ZWL 10.5K
411.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,129€7,007
$245ZWL 6,531
3217.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,635€3,996
-
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💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Mutare
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,619€1,396
$250ZWL 6,650
548.92%
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 5, 2026
Last update for Mutare: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,661 in Lisbon and $345 in Mutare. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 549% 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: $64.0 in Lisbon vs $40.00 in Mutare for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $281 vs $155 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 in Mutare?
Lisbon and Mutare differ by about 185% in total monthly costs ($2,268 vs $797 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?
Average pay runs 549% higher in Lisbon, 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 in Mutare?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,661 in Lisbon versus $345 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 $699 in Lisbon versus $145 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 81% 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 $797 in Mutare versus $2,268 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 185% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.