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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $619 per month in Masvingo vs $1,264 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,111 per month in Masvingo vs $2,256 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,604 per month in Masvingo vs $3,248 in Phuket, rent included.

Masvingo is about 51% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Masvingo and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Masvingo 54% lower, Phuket 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.86 ZWL 263

$4.48 ฿150

120.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.9 ZWL 1,358

$45.59 ฿1,521

11.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 ZWL 189

$8.76 ฿292

-19.06%

Cappuccino

$2.98 ZWL 79.5

$2.97 ฿99.0

0.34%

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

$0.71 ZWL 18.94

$0.69 ฿22.90

2.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ZWL 12.32

$0.39 ฿13.04

17.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.46 ZWL 38.90

$2.53 ฿84.4

-42.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 ZWL 54.0

$3.75 ฿125

-46.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.56 ZWL 41.56

$2.15 ฿71.6

-27.44%

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 ZWL 27.19

$1.82 ฿60.6

-43.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.95 ZWL 52.1

$2.18 ฿72.9

-10.55%

Eggs

$2.07 ZWL 55.1

$2.25 ฿75.0

-8.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.04 ZWL 295

$20.00 ฿667

-44.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.54 ZWL 174

$3.63 ฿121

80.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.58 ZWL 176

$13.56 ฿452

-51.47%

Apples (1kg)

$2.87 ZWL 76.6

$3.24 ฿108

-11.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ZWL 43.76

$1.64 ฿54.6

Oranges (1kg)

$2.27 ZWL 60.6

$2.33 ฿77.8

-2.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.70 ZWL 45.42

$2.07 ฿69.1

-17.87%

Potato (1kg)

$1.56 ZWL 41.68

$1.55 ฿51.6

0.65%

Onion (1kg)

$1.98 ZWL 52.8

$1.46 ฿48.54

35.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 ZWL 27.20

$0.98 ฿32.86

4.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 ZWL 25.84

$0.48 ฿16.09

102.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.09 ZWL 28.96

$4.35 ฿145

-74.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.77 ZWL 261

$18.57 ฿620

-47.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 ZWL 30.11

$1.86 ฿61.9

-39.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 ZWL 46.39

$2.65 ฿88.6

-34.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.42 ฿47.28

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.57 ฿386

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.87 ZWL 130

$3.17 ฿106

53.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 ZWL 52.0

$1.03 ฿34.41

89.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.87 ZWL 130

$13.89 ฿463

-64.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.62 ZWL 43.21

$1.34 ฿44.84

20.90%

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

$19.9K ZWL 531.2K

$27.8K ฿927.1K

-28.36%

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

$23.6K ZWL 628.7K

$33.4K ฿1.1M

-29.40%

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

$57.7 ZWL 1,539

$123 ฿4,105

-53.12%

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

$17.62 ZWL 470

$13.77 ฿459

27.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$93.7 ZWL 2,499

$18.33 ฿611

411.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.7 ฿2,025

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.16 ฿573

Cinema Ticket

$9.90 ZWL 264

$8.87 ฿296

11.61%

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

$275 ZWL 7,335

$688 ฿22.9K

-60.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,208 ZWL 192.3K

$15.8K ฿526.4K

-54.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.12 ZWL 510

$59.3 ฿1,978

-67.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.96 ZWL 559

$34.69 ฿1,157

-39.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$34.80 ZWL 928

$115 ฿3,843

-69.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.56 ZWL 1,082

$83.8 ฿2,794

-51.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$60.2 ZWL 1,607

$621 ฿20.7K

-90.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$446 ฿14.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$297 ZWL 7,916

$2,034 ฿67.8K

-85.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$148 ZWL 3,950

$1,496 ฿49.9K

-90.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,455 ฿115.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,531 ฿84.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $60.2 in Masvingo versus $621 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 $46.00 in Phuket. Groceries tell a different story – $222 in Masvingo vs $291 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: $619 in Masvingo, $1,264 in Phuket – roughly 104% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $928 per month in Masvingo and $1,896 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 $619 in Masvingo and $1,264 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $275 per month in Masvingo and $688 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 $619, than in Phuket at $1,264. 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 $619 in Masvingo to $1,264 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.