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: $2,210 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
$10.03ZWL 269
58.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.7
$49.07ZWL 1,318
32.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.04
$4.53ZWL 122
132.01%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
$1.26ZWL 33.84
127.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$0.71ZWL 19.19
215.49%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$0.44ZWL 11.74
240.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.00
$1.38ZWL 37.02
152.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.34
$1.83ZWL 49.20
112.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Mutare
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$1.22ZWL 32.86
-6.56%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$1.02ZWL 27.47
71.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$1.34ZWL 35.89
31.34%
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$1.92ZWL 51.5
67.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.61
$3.02ZWL 81.0
346.69%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.81
$3.94ZWL 106
100.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.65
$4.90ZWL 131
223.88%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$1.97ZWL 53.0
17.26%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$1.69ZWL 45.48
0.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$2.06ZWL 55.3
-2.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$0.98ZWL 26.41
151.02%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$1.57ZWL 42.09
17.20%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$0.99ZWL 26.48
102.02%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.66
$0.52ZWL 13.85
271.15%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$0.95ZWL 25.63
-16.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.68
$1.07ZWL 28.78
517.76%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.92
$5.91ZWL 159
-3.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.17
$1.17ZWL 31.53
17.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.56
$1.72ZWL 46.13
72.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Mutare
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
$0.52ZWL 13.99
355.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.19
$26.71ZWL 717
70.57%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.69
$2.97ZWL 79.8
44.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$2.06ZWL 55.2
-60.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.74
$4.97ZWL 134
268.21%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$1.57ZWL 42.10
31.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.5K
$20.0KZWL 536.3K
71.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$23.6KZWL 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
$57.6ZWL 1,547
156.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.65
$14.79ZWL 397
38.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.08
$60.7ZWL 1,629
-34.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Mutare
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.16
$40.43ZWL 1,086
18.35%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.28
$5.01ZWL 135
277.64%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.90
$10.08ZWL 271
-8.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Mutare
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€528
$147ZWL 3,943
318.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
$7,177ZWL 192.7K
123.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Mutare
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.0
$9.84ZWL 264
963.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.18
$9.37ZWL 252
348.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€80.8
$24.77ZWL 665
279.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$20.04ZWL 538
497.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Mutare
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,400
$347ZWL 9,314
369.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,080
$247ZWL 6,627
408.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,607
$756ZWL 20.3K
300.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,738
$393ZWL 10.6K
413.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,709
$247ZWL 6,645
3051.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,675
-
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💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Mutare
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,379
$252ZWL 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.