Cost of Living Comparison Between Masvingo and Harare Cost of Living Comparison Between Masvingo and Harare

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $618 in Masvingo versus $990 in Harare.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,108 in Masvingo versus $1,688 in Harare.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,599 in Masvingo versus $2,385 in Harare.

Living in Masvingo costs roughly 38% less than in Harare, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Masvingo 54% lower, Harare 26% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.87 ZWL 263

$9.92 ZWL 265

-0.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.50 ZWL 1,321

$49.31 ZWL 1,316

0.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.12 ZWL 190

$7.09 ZWL 189

0.42%

Cappuccino

$3.00 ZWL 80.2

$2.96 ZWL 78.9

1.35%

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

$0.72 ZWL 19.19

$0.70 ZWL 18.70

2.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ZWL 12.35

$0.46 ZWL 12.36

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.51 ZWL 40.34

$1.53 ZWL 40.70

-1.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 ZWL 53.1

$2.05 ZWL 54.6

-2.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 ZWL 43.11

$1.57 ZWL 42.01

3.18%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 ZWL 27.44

$0.97 ZWL 25.93

6.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.95 ZWL 52.0

$1.86 ZWL 49.50

4.84%

Eggs

$2.08 ZWL 55.4

$2.10 ZWL 55.9

-0.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.85 ZWL 289

$10.83 ZWL 289

0.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.26 ZWL 167

$6.23 ZWL 166

0.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.22 ZWL 166

$6.21 ZWL 166

0.16%

Apples (1kg)

$3.02 ZWL 80.7

$2.87 ZWL 76.6

5.23%

Banana (1kg)

$1.67 ZWL 44.60

$1.69 ZWL 45.01

-1.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.26 ZWL 60.3

$2.17 ZWL 57.9

4.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.71 ZWL 45.67

$1.70 ZWL 45.39

0.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.56 ZWL 41.52

$1.55 ZWL 41.36

0.65%

Onion (1kg)

$2.06 ZWL 54.9

$2.00 ZWL 53.3

3.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ZWL 26.89

$1.03 ZWL 27.49

-1.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ZWL 24.95

$0.95 ZWL 25.31

-1.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.07 ZWL 28.57

$1.08 ZWL 28.83

-0.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.32 ZWL 249

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 ZWL 31.49

$1.12 ZWL 29.98

5.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 ZWL 45.36

$1.71 ZWL 45.70

-0.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 ZWL 26.27

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.84 ZWL 1,116

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.05 ZWL 135

$4.98 ZWL 133

1.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.06 ZWL 54.9

$1.98 ZWL 52.9

4.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.09 ZWL 136

$5.03 ZWL 134

1.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.53 ZWL 40.94

$1.55 ZWL 41.37

-1.29%

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

$20.4K ZWL 544.0K

$19.9K ZWL 531.5K

2.35%

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

$23.1K ZWL 615.5K

$23.0K ZWL 613.8K

0.27%

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

$58.5 ZWL 1,562

$58.0 ZWL 1,547

0.95%

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

$17.53 ZWL 468

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$92.1 ZWL 2,457

$92.1 ZWL 2,456

0.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.1 ZWL 1,442

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.23 ZWL 380

Cinema Ticket

$10.10 ZWL 269

$10.11 ZWL 270

-0.10%

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

$275 ZWL 7,346

$277 ZWL 7,384

-0.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,255 ZWL 193.6K

$7,215 ZWL 192.5K

0.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.70 ZWL 526

$19.55 ZWL 522

0.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.61 ZWL 576

$21.55 ZWL 575

0.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$34.69 ZWL 925

$35.11 ZWL 937

-1.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.11 ZWL 1,070

$40.98 ZWL 1,093

-2.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$60.3 ZWL 1,608

$398 ZWL 10.6K

-84.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$279 ZWL 7,436

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$300 ZWL 7,998

$954 ZWL 25.5K

-68.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$152 ZWL 4,065

$695 ZWL 18.5K

-78.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$934 ZWL 24.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$390 ZWL 10.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$400 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 Masvingo: July 12, 2026

Last update for Harare: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $60.3 in Masvingo and $398 in Harare. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $50.0 in Masvingo vs $49.00 in Harare for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $220 vs $217 per month, with Harare 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

Masvingo vs Harare: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Masvingo is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 60% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $927 in Masvingo and $1,485 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: $60.3 in Masvingo versus $398 in Harare. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Harare pay roughly 1% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $618 per month in Masvingo versus $990 in Harare – a 60% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $618 in Masvingo versus $990 in Harare, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Masvingo but tight or insufficient in Harare. The gap between the two cities makes Masvingo 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 Masvingo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 60% less than in Harare. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.