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: $785 in Marondera versus $1,056 in Harare.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,172 in Marondera versus $1,734 in Harare.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,559 in Marondera versus $2,411 in Harare.

Living in Marondera costs roughly 26% less than in Harare, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Marondera 43% lower, Harare 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.96 ZWL 132

$9.98 ZWL 266

-50.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.97 ZWL 1,065

$39.89 ZWL 1,063

0.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.08 ZWL 162

$5.85 ZWL 156

3.93%

Cappuccino

$2.05 ZWL 54.7

$3.19 ZWL 85.1

-35.74%

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

$1.00 ZWL 26.77

$0.93 ZWL 24.81

7.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 ZWL 14.12

$0.53 ZWL 14.02

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.53 ZWL 40.84

$1.51 ZWL 40.36

1.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 ZWL 53.8

$1.98 ZWL 52.8

2.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 ZWL 26.38

$1.54 ZWL 40.97

-35.71%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 ZWL 27.45

$1.02 ZWL 27.29

0.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.97 ZWL 25.87

$1.69 ZWL 44.93

-42.60%

Eggs

$1.85 ZWL 49.24

$1.95 ZWL 52.0

-5.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.07 ZWL 268

$11.86 ZWL 316

-15.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.96 ZWL 132

$5.47 ZWL 146

-9.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.02 ZWL 134

$6.76 ZWL 180

-25.74%

Apples (1kg)

$3.15 ZWL 83.9

$3.04 ZWL 81.0

3.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.67 ZWL 44.57

$1.60 ZWL 42.51

4.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.94 ZWL 51.7

$2.04 ZWL 54.4

-4.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ZWL 38.81

$1.48 ZWL 39.40

-1.35%

Potato (1kg)

$1.65 ZWL 43.99

$1.73 ZWL 46.23

-4.62%

Onion (1kg)

$1.80 ZWL 47.85

$1.81 ZWL 48.31

-0.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.22 ZWL 32.53

$1.22 ZWL 32.56

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 ZWL 27.81

$1.04 ZWL 27.84

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.98 ZWL 52.7

$1.98 ZWL 52.9

Wine (Bottle)

$3.97 ZWL 106

$8.85 ZWL 236

-55.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 ZWL 36.75

$1.40 ZWL 37.40

-1.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 ZWL 54.1

$1.99 ZWL 53.1

2.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.01 ZWL 27.04

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$60.0 ZWL 1,598

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.11 ZWL 110

$3.97 ZWL 106

3.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.01 ZWL 53.6

$2.06 ZWL 54.8

-2.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.94 ZWL 132

$5.14 ZWL 137

-3.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.80 ZWL 47.99

$1.84 ZWL 48.96

-2.17%

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

$22.0K ZWL 587.4K

$22.3K ZWL 594.0K

-1.11%

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

$27.7K ZWL 737.3K

$27.0K ZWL 719.2K

2.52%

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

$53.6 ZWL 1,429

$54.3 ZWL 1,448

-1.29%

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

$21.55 ZWL 574

$21.37 ZWL 569

0.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.1 ZWL 1,789

$68.1 ZWL 1,814

-1.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.54 ZWL 1,320

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.14 ZWL 590

Cinema Ticket

$9.86 ZWL 263

$9.83 ZWL 262

0.31%

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

$453 ZWL 12.1K

$459 ZWL 12.2K

-1.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,201 ZWL 245.2K

$8,889 ZWL 236.9K

3.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.22 ZWL 645

$23.99 ZWL 639

0.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.31 ZWL 568

$21.48 ZWL 573

-0.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$40.31 ZWL 1,074

$39.84 ZWL 1,062

1.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.21 ZWL 1,098

$41.34 ZWL 1,102

-0.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$253 ZWL 6,743

$401 ZWL 10.7K

-36.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$249 ZWL 6,637

$315 ZWL 8,400

-20.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$392 ZWL 10.5K

$836 ZWL 22.3K

-53.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$348 ZWL 9,276

$746 ZWL 19.9K

-53.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$932 ZWL 24.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$394 ZWL 10.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$422 ZWL 11.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.69

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

Last update for Marondera: September 14, 2026

Last update for Harare: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $253 in Marondera and $401 in Harare. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $40.00 in Marondera vs $40.00 in Harare for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $187 vs $219 per month, with Marondera 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

Marondera vs Harare: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Marondera is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 35% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,177 in Marondera and $1,584 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: $253 in Marondera versus $401 in Harare. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 17% higher in Harare. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $785 per month in Marondera versus $1,056 in Harare – a 35% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $785 in Marondera versus $1,056 in Harare, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Marondera but tight or insufficient in Harare. The gap between the two cities makes Marondera the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 35% less than in Harare. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.