Cost of Living Comparison Between Masvingo and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Masvingo and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $636 per month in Masvingo vs $1,261 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,098 per month in Masvingo vs $2,286 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,561 per month in Masvingo vs $3,310 in Phuket, rent included.

Masvingo is about 50% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Masvingo and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Masvingo 53% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.02 ZWL 268

$4.56 ฿149

119.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.64 ZWL 1,329

$46.63 ฿1,519

6.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.96 ZWL 186

$8.47 ฿276

-17.83%

Cappuccino

$2.89 ZWL 77.4

$3.03 ฿98.6

-4.62%

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

$0.72 ZWL 19.15

$0.69 ฿22.45

4.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 ZWL 12.46

$0.37 ฿11.92

27.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.52 ZWL 40.71

$2.49 ฿81.0

-38.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 ZWL 52.1

$3.66 ฿119

-46.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.56 ZWL 41.88

$2.18 ฿71.0

-28.44%

White Bread (500g)

$1.01 ZWL 27.11

$1.90 ฿62.0

-46.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.95 ZWL 52.3

$2.20 ฿71.6

-11.36%

Eggs

$2.09 ZWL 56.0

$2.22 ฿72.4

-5.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.75 ZWL 288

$19.99 ฿651

-46.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.24 ZWL 167

$3.66 ฿119

70.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.22 ZWL 166

$13.25 ฿432

-53.06%

Apples (1kg)

$3.00 ZWL 80.3

$3.23 ฿105

-7.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 ZWL 43.55

$1.70 ฿55.3

-4.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 ZWL 59.1

$2.39 ฿78.0

-7.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.65 ZWL 44.13

$2.08 ฿67.7

-20.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.56 ZWL 41.71

$1.59 ฿51.8

-1.89%

Onion (1kg)

$1.98 ZWL 53.1

$1.48 ฿48.31

33.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 ZWL 27.55

$1.03 ฿33.54

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 ZWL 25.02

$0.52 ฿16.83

78.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.07 ZWL 28.76

$4.25 ฿138

-74.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.11 ZWL 244

$18.79 ฿612

-51.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 ZWL 30.39

$1.76 ฿57.2

-35.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.78 ZWL 47.68

$2.76 ฿89.8

-35.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 ฿44.32

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.36 ฿370

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.02 ZWL 134

$3.14 ฿102

59.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.97 ZWL 52.7

$1.04 ฿33.74

89.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.08 ZWL 136

$13.77 ฿448

-63.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 ZWL 41.11

$1.34 ฿43.79

14.93%

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

$19.9K ZWL 531.5K

$27.7K ฿901.4K

-28.26%

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

$23.6K ZWL 631.5K

$33.9K ฿1.1M

-30.34%

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

$57.4 ZWL 1,536

$124 ฿4,025

-53.57%

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

$18.01 ZWL 482

$13.52 ฿440

33.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$91.2 ZWL 2,441

$18.69 ฿609

387.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 ฿2,013

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.25 ฿562

Cinema Ticket

$10.03 ZWL 269

$9.14 ฿298

9.74%

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

$281 ZWL 7,515

$703 ฿22.9K

-60.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,398 ZWL 198.1K

$15.9K ฿517.0K

-53.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.59 ZWL 524

$59.5 ฿1,937

-67.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.59 ZWL 578

$35.07 ฿1,142

-38.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$34.95 ZWL 935

$115 ฿3,754

-69.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.15 ZWL 1,075

$84.1 ฿2,737

-52.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$58.9 ZWL 1,576

$619 ฿20.1K

-90.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$433 ฿14.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$301 ZWL 8,058

$2,062 ฿67.2K

-85.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$153 ZWL 4,083

$1,511 ฿49.2K

-89.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,646 ฿118.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,626 ฿85.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$507 ฿16.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.31

5.33

149.72%

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

Last update for Masvingo: June 7, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $58.9 in Masvingo versus $619 in Phuket. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $50.0 in Masvingo versus $47.00 in Phuket. Groceries tell a different story – $217 in Masvingo vs $293 in Phuket – so Masvingo wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $636 in Masvingo, $1,261 in Phuket – roughly 98% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $954 per month in Masvingo and $1,892 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Masvingo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $636 in Masvingo and $1,261 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $281 per month in Masvingo and $703 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Masvingo, where all-in costs run around $636, than in Phuket at $1,261. In Masvingo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $636 in Masvingo to $1,261 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Masvingo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.