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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $621 per month in Masvingo vs $1,232 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,117 per month in Masvingo vs $2,255 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,612 per month in Masvingo vs $3,279 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 54% lower, Phuket 8% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.96 ZWL 252

$4.63 ฿151

115.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.0 ZWL 1,290

$46.84 ฿1,532

8.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.85 ZWL 173

$8.84 ฿289

-22.51%

Cappuccino

$2.99 ZWL 75.8

$3.00 ฿98.0

-0.33%

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

$0.66 ZWL 16.76

$0.74 ฿24.25

-10.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.43 ZWL 10.93

$0.37 ฿11.95

16.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.47 ZWL 37.15

$2.44 ฿79.8

-39.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 ZWL 49.33

$3.61 ฿118

-45.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.58 ZWL 39.91

$2.26 ฿73.9

-30.09%

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 ZWL 25.70

$1.84 ฿60.1

-44.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.94 ZWL 49.16

$2.24 ฿73.4

-13.39%

Eggs

$2.07 ZWL 52.4

$2.32 ฿75.7

-10.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.11 ZWL 281

$19.67 ฿643

-43.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.36 ZWL 161

$3.65 ฿119

74.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.31 ZWL 160

$13.10 ฿428

-51.83%

Apples (1kg)

$2.89 ZWL 73.0

$3.39 ฿111

-14.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ZWL 41.55

$1.64 ฿53.7

Oranges (1kg)

$2.22 ZWL 56.1

$2.41 ฿79.0

-7.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.67 ZWL 42.20

$2.03 ฿66.4

-17.73%

Potato (1kg)

$1.50 ZWL 37.83

$1.56 ฿50.9

-3.85%

Onion (1kg)

$1.98 ZWL 50.0

$1.50 ฿48.94

32.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 ZWL 26.08

$1.02 ฿33.50

0.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 ZWL 25.61

$0.49 ฿16.00

106.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.13 ZWL 28.52

$4.45 ฿145

-74.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.72 ZWL 221

$18.88 ฿617

-53.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 ZWL 29.77

$1.78 ฿58.1

-33.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 ZWL 43.60

$2.75 ฿90.1

-37.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.40 ฿45.81

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.48 ฿376

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.94 ZWL 125

$3.12 ฿102

58.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.94 ZWL 49.10

$1.00 ฿32.67

94.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.10 ZWL 129

$14.09 ฿461

-63.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.60 ZWL 40.47

$1.35 ฿44.19

18.52%

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

$20.2K ZWL 510.2K

$27.2K ฿888.9K

-25.82%

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

$23.3K ZWL 590.6K

$32.9K ฿1.1M

-29.09%

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

$57.7 ZWL 1,460

$125 ฿4,087

-53.84%

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

$17.80 ZWL 450

$13.57 ฿444

31.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$90.8 ZWL 2,297

$18.52 ฿606

390.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.5 ฿2,010

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.84 ฿551

Cinema Ticket

$10.01 ZWL 253

$9.19 ฿300

8.92%

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

$281 ZWL 7,117

$698 ฿22.8K

-59.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,348 ZWL 185.9K

$15.6K ฿509.9K

-52.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.23 ZWL 486

$57.8 ฿1,889

-66.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.50 ZWL 544

$35.24 ฿1,152

-38.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$35.08 ZWL 888

$113 ฿3,699

-68.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.10 ZWL 1,040

$86.4 ฿2,825

-52.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$60.3 ZWL 1,525

$616 ฿20.1K

-90.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$446 ฿14.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$294 ZWL 7,445

$2,048 ฿67.0K

-85.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$150 ZWL 3,802

$1,492 ฿48.8K

-89.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,779 ฿123.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,649 ฿86.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$524 ฿17.1K

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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $60.3 in Masvingo versus $616 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 $51.0 in Masvingo versus $47.00 in Phuket. Groceries tell a different story – $219 in Masvingo vs $292 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: $621 in Masvingo, $1,232 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 $932 per month in Masvingo and $1,847 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 $621 in Masvingo and $1,232 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 $698 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 $621, than in Phuket at $1,232. 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 $621 in Masvingo to $1,232 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.