Cost of Living Comparison Between Marondera and Harare Cost of Living Comparison Between Marondera and Harare

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $780 in Marondera versus $1,002 in Harare.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,200 in Marondera versus $1,678 in Harare.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,620 in Marondera versus $2,354 in Harare.

Living in Marondera costs roughly 22% less than in Harare, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Marondera 41% lower, Harare 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.03 ZWL 134

$10.10 ZWL 269

-50.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.68 ZWL 1,325

$49.37 ZWL 1,317

0.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.19 ZWL 192

$7.20 ZWL 192

-0.14%

Cappuccino

$1.97 ZWL 52.7

$2.95 ZWL 78.6

-33.22%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 ZWL 18.03

$0.71 ZWL 18.86

-4.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 ZWL 12.42

$0.46 ZWL 12.35

2.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.52 ZWL 40.67

$1.48 ZWL 39.53

2.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 ZWL 52.1

$2.03 ZWL 54.1

-3.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 ZWL 27.02

$1.60 ZWL 42.70

-36.88%

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 ZWL 26.07

$1.02 ZWL 27.34

-3.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.01 ZWL 26.98

$1.90 ZWL 50.7

-46.84%

Eggs

$2.15 ZWL 57.4

$2.09 ZWL 55.8

2.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.08 ZWL 269

$10.97 ZWL 293

-8.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.13 ZWL 137

$6.55 ZWL 175

-21.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.90 ZWL 131

$6.25 ZWL 167

-21.60%

Apples (1kg)

$2.99 ZWL 79.7

$3.02 ZWL 80.6

-0.99%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ZWL 43.08

$1.67 ZWL 44.63

-3.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.04 ZWL 54.4

$2.24 ZWL 59.9

-8.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.69 ZWL 45.20

$1.64 ZWL 43.77

3.05%

Potato (1kg)

$1.50 ZWL 40.14

$1.49 ZWL 39.87

0.67%

Onion (1kg)

$2.05 ZWL 54.7

$1.99 ZWL 53.1

3.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.97 ZWL 25.96

$1.00 ZWL 26.76

-3.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 ZWL 24.90

$1.03 ZWL 27.44

-9.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.13 ZWL 30.16

$1.13 ZWL 30.19

Wine (Bottle)

$3.93 ZWL 105

$9.28 ZWL 248

-57.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 ZWL 30.30

$1.18 ZWL 31.57

-3.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.80 ZWL 47.92

$1.74 ZWL 46.32

3.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.03 ZWL 27.43

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.17 ZWL 1,125

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.02 ZWL 134

$5.13 ZWL 137

-2.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 ZWL 52.0

$1.96 ZWL 52.4

-0.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.07 ZWL 135

$5.10 ZWL 136

-0.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 ZWL 41.00

$1.62 ZWL 43.15

-4.94%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$19.8K ZWL 529.4K

$19.7K ZWL 526.1K

0.62%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.7K ZWL 632.3K

$23.6K ZWL 629.1K

0.50%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$58.9 ZWL 1,570

$59.4 ZWL 1,585

-0.94%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$17.57 ZWL 469

$17.75 ZWL 474

-1.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$94.1 ZWL 2,510

$93.8 ZWL 2,501

0.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.7 ZWL 1,434

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.35 ZWL 383

Cinema Ticket

$9.83 ZWL 262

$9.84 ZWL 263

-0.10%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$274 ZWL 7,311

$273 ZWL 7,285

0.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,385 ZWL 197.0K

$7,310 ZWL 195.0K

1.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.28 ZWL 514

$19.62 ZWL 523

-1.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.07 ZWL 562

$21.62 ZWL 577

-2.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$35.05 ZWL 935

$35.26 ZWL 941

-0.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.91 ZWL 1,065

$40.29 ZWL 1,075

-0.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$249 ZWL 6,636

$405 ZWL 10.8K

-38.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$253 ZWL 6,752

$279 ZWL 7,435

-9.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$403 ZWL 10.8K

$975 ZWL 26.0K

-58.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$354 ZWL 9,439

$706 ZWL 18.8K

-49.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$915 ZWL 24.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$387 ZWL 10.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$401 ZWL 10.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.31

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Marondera: July 26, 2026

Last update for Harare: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $249 in Marondera and $405 in Harare. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $50.0 in Marondera vs $49.00 in Harare. Groceries flip the comparison at $185 vs $222, with Marondera cheaper for home cooking.

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

Marondera vs Harare: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Marondera is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 29% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,169 in Marondera and $1,503 in Harare 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $249 in Marondera versus $405 in Harare. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 20% higher in Harare. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $780 per month in Marondera versus $1,002 in Harare – a 29% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Marondera gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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.

Expats usually find Marondera gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in Harare. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.