Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mutare and Austin, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Mutare: $789 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $22,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Mutare
🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
$789
/mo nomad
Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,663
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Mutare and in Austin, TX

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Mutare and in Austin, TX actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $789 in Mutare versus $2,663 in Austin, TX.

  • Mutare $789
  • Austin, TX $2,663

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,220 in Mutare versus $4,133 in Austin, TX.

  • Mutare $1,220
  • Austin, TX $4,133

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,651 in Mutare versus $5,603 in Austin, TX.

  • Mutare $1,651
  • Austin, TX $5,603

Living in Mutare costs roughly 70% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mutare is 42% below, Austin, TX is 97% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mutare
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.15 ZWL 270
$20.77 $20.77
-51.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.07 ZWL 1,199
$84.6 $84.6
-46.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.42 ZWL 118
$12.32 $12.32
-64.12%
Cappuccino
$1.28 ZWL 34.07
$5.63 $5.63
-77.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 ZWL 19.54
$3.72 $3.72
-80.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ZWL 12.11
$2.50 $2.50
-81.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.22 ZWL 32.33
$8.05 $8.05
-84.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78 ZWL 47.47
$9.01 $9.01
-80.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mutare
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.22 ZWL 32.42
$1.12 $1.12
8.93%
White Bread (500g)
$0.98 ZWL 26.14
$3.75 $3.75
-73.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 ZWL 35.28
$3.26 $3.26
-59.20%
Eggs
$1.87 ZWL 49.72
$4.17 $4.17
-55.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$2.92 ZWL 77.8
$12.90 $12.90
-77.36%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.04 ZWL 107
$14.16 $14.16
-71.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.01 ZWL 133
$16.22 $16.22
-69.11%
Apples (1kg)
$2.04 ZWL 54.3
$4.33 $4.33
-52.89%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 ZWL 45.15
$1.46 $1.46
16.44%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.05 ZWL 54.6
$4.51 $4.51
-54.55%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.98 ZWL 26.18
$4.34 $4.34
-77.42%
Potato (1kg)
$1.75 ZWL 46.52
$2.58 $2.58
-32.17%
Onion (1kg)
$0.99 ZWL 26.33
$2.35 $2.35
-57.87%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.48 ZWL 12.83
$1.78 $1.78
-73.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.99 ZWL 26.41
$2.22 $2.22
-55.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.18 ZWL 31.32
$9.88 $9.88
-88.06%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.09 ZWL 162
$15.08 $15.08
-59.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 ZWL 31.32
$2.92 $2.92
-59.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 ZWL 45.96
$3.46 $3.46
-50.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Mutare
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.77 ZWL 20.48
$1.49 $1.49
-48.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.46 ZWL 704
$41.72 $41.72
-36.58%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ZWL 80.3
$2.73 $2.73
10.62%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.98 ZWL 52.6
$1.66 $1.66
19.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.94 ZWL 131
$35.30 $35.30
-86.01%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.86 ZWL 49.42
$0.95 $0.95
95.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K ZWL 575.1K
$36.0K $36.0K
-40.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6K ZWL 629.3K
$27.1K $27.1K
-12.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mutare
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$50.7 ZWL 1,349
$229 $229
-77.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.72 ZWL 392
$59.4 $59.4
-75.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.4 ZWL 1,580
$69.9 $69.9
-15.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mutare
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.95 ZWL 1,063
$57.2 $57.2
-30.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.05 ZWL 134
$16.33 $16.33
-69.08%
Cinema Ticket
$9.89 ZWL 263
$14.28 $14.28
-30.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mutare
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$150 ZWL 4,002
$1,506 $1,506
-90.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,553 ZWL 227.6K
$21.5K $21.5K
-60.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mutare
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$10.06 ZWL 268
$52.8 $52.8
-80.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$9.48 ZWL 252
$43.82 $43.82
-78.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$24.80 ZWL 660
$84.8 $84.8
-70.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$20.27 ZWL 539
$103 $103
-80.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mutare
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$356 ZWL 9,462
$1,907 $1,907
-81.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$253 ZWL 6,742
$1,274 $1,274
-80.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$750 ZWL 19.9K
$3,664 $3,664
-79.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$395 ZWL 10.5K
$2,538 $2,538
-84.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$246 ZWL 6,539
$7,614 $7,614
-96.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$3,157 $3,157
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mutare
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$247 ZWL 6,566
$5,121 $5,121
-95.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.69
6.79
101.62%

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

Last update for Mutare: October 12, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Mutare
$253
Austin, TX
$1.3K 403% $1K
Groceries & Markets
Mutare
$155
Austin, TX
$405 161% $250
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mutare
$125
Austin, TX
$358 187% $233
Eating Out
Mutare
$124
Austin, TX
$354 185% $230
Sport & Entertainment
Mutare
$60
Austin, TX
$86 43.6% $26
Getting Around
Mutare
$42
Austin, TX
$59 38.3% $16
Clothing & Footwear
Mutare
$29
Austin, TX
$128 340% $99

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $356 in Mutare and $1,907 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 1975% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $45.00 in Mutare vs $85.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $155 vs $405 per month, with Mutare cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇿🇼 Mutare
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🕒 Local time
01:05 1:05 AM
18:05 6:05 PM
7 h behind Mutare
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
188,243
974,447
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to ZWL – Zimbabwean Dollar Converter

Zimbabwean Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 26.61 ZWL (100 ZWL = 3.76 USD). 1 EUR = 29.92 ZWL (100 ZWL = 3.34 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Mutare Austin, TX 14,890 km ≈ 19 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Mutare
  • Austin, TX

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Mutare vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mutare or Austin, TX?
Mutare wins on cost – living expenses run 238% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mutare the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Mutare or in Austin, TX?
On paper, salaries run 1975% lower in Austin, TX. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Mutare compared to Austin, TX?
Rent for a central apartment: $356 in Mutare versus $1,907 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Mutare compared to Austin, TX?
All in, you'll spend $789 per month in Mutare versus $2,663 in Austin, TX – a 238% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Mutare compared to Austin, TX?
A monthly transit pass in Mutare runs roughly 58% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Mutare or in Austin, TX?
At $789 in Mutare versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Mutare but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Mutare the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Mutare or Austin, TX?
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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Mutare gentler on the wallet – expenses run 238% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Mutare vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?