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: $607 in Masvingo versus $1,046 in Harare.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $999 in Masvingo versus $1,730 in Harare.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,391 in Masvingo versus $2,414 in Harare.

Living in Masvingo costs roughly 42% less than in Harare, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Masvingo 56% lower, Harare 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.97 ZWL 265

$10.13 ZWL 269

-1.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.21 ZWL 1,041

$39.49 ZWL 1,049

-0.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.13 ZWL 163

$5.89 ZWL 156

4.07%

Cappuccino

$3.13 ZWL 83.1

$3.11 ZWL 82.6

0.64%

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

$0.93 ZWL 24.81

$1.00 ZWL 26.54

-7.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 ZWL 14.22

$0.52 ZWL 13.92

3.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.47 ZWL 38.91

$1.49 ZWL 39.49

-1.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 ZWL 51.9

$1.96 ZWL 52.1

-0.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 ZWL 40.74

$1.52 ZWL 40.49

0.66%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 ZWL 26.34

$1.04 ZWL 27.54

-4.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 ZWL 45.11

$1.70 ZWL 45.02

Eggs

$1.92 ZWL 51.0

$1.95 ZWL 51.7

-1.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.78 ZWL 313

$12.03 ZWL 320

-2.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.62 ZWL 149

$5.66 ZWL 150

-0.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.62 ZWL 176

$6.74 ZWL 179

-1.78%

Apples (1kg)

$3.07 ZWL 81.4

$3.06 ZWL 81.2

0.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 ZWL 42.35

$1.68 ZWL 44.63

-5.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.06 ZWL 54.8

$2.08 ZWL 55.2

-0.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.48 ZWL 39.44

$1.48 ZWL 39.24

Potato (1kg)

$1.73 ZWL 45.84

$1.73 ZWL 46.04

Onion (1kg)

$1.78 ZWL 47.40

$1.79 ZWL 47.64

-0.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.16 ZWL 30.75

$1.21 ZWL 32.12

-4.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 ZWL 27.36

$1.00 ZWL 26.53

3.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.96 ZWL 52.2

$1.97 ZWL 52.3

-0.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.08 ZWL 241

$9.19 ZWL 244

-1.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 ZWL 36.35

$1.36 ZWL 36.12

0.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 ZWL 52.1

$1.96 ZWL 51.9

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.01 ZWL 26.93

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$59.4 ZWL 1,578

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.06 ZWL 108

$4.03 ZWL 107

0.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.04 ZWL 54.2

$2.06 ZWL 54.6

-0.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.11 ZWL 136

$4.98 ZWL 132

2.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.84 ZWL 48.89

$1.87 ZWL 49.57

-1.60%

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

$22.1K ZWL 587.9K

$22.2K ZWL 589.1K

-0.20%

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

$27.6K ZWL 732.7K

$27.2K ZWL 721.8K

1.51%

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

$54.4 ZWL 1,445

$55.1 ZWL 1,463

-1.23%

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

$21.34 ZWL 567

$22.06 ZWL 586

-3.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.3 ZWL 1,788

$67.6 ZWL 1,795

-0.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.71 ZWL 1,320

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.67 ZWL 602

Cinema Ticket

$10.17 ZWL 270

$9.87 ZWL 262

3.04%

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

$454 ZWL 12.1K

$459 ZWL 12.2K

-1.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,943 ZWL 237.5K

$8,938 ZWL 237.4K

0.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.35 ZWL 647

$24.74 ZWL 657

-1.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.25 ZWL 564

$20.99 ZWL 557

1.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$38.91 ZWL 1,033

$39.49 ZWL 1,049

-1.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.28 ZWL 1,096

$42.14 ZWL 1,119

-2.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$399 ZWL 10.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$314 ZWL 8,346

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 ZWL 22.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$752 ZWL 20.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$937 ZWL 24.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$385 ZWL 10.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$428 ZWL 11.4K

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 Masvingo: September 6, 2026

Last update for Harare: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $39.00 in Masvingo vs $39.00 in Harare for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $218 vs $221 per month, with Masvingo 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 Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 72% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $910 in Masvingo and $1,569 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 1% higher in Harare. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $607 per month in Masvingo versus $1,046 in Harare – a 72% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $607 in Masvingo versus $1,046 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 72% less than in Harare. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.