Cost of Living Comparison Between Mutare and Harare Cost of Living Comparison Between Mutare and Harare

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $794 in Mutare versus $1,002 in Harare.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,254 in Mutare versus $1,678 in Harare.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,714 in Mutare versus $2,354 in Harare.

Living in Mutare costs roughly 21% less than in Harare, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mutare 40% lower, Harare 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.82 ZWL 262

$10.10 ZWL 269

-2.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.05 ZWL 1,309

$49.37 ZWL 1,317

-0.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.38 ZWL 117

$7.20 ZWL 192

-39.17%

Cappuccino

$1.24 ZWL 32.96

$2.95 ZWL 78.6

-57.97%

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

$0.66 ZWL 17.65

$0.71 ZWL 18.86

-7.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.43 ZWL 11.43

$0.46 ZWL 12.35

-6.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.39 ZWL 37.06

$1.48 ZWL 39.53

-6.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.78 ZWL 47.41

$2.03 ZWL 54.1

-12.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 ZWL 32.72

$1.60 ZWL 42.70

-23.13%

White Bread (500g)

$1.01 ZWL 27.04

$1.02 ZWL 27.34

-0.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 ZWL 35.35

$1.90 ZWL 50.7

-30.00%

Eggs

$1.93 ZWL 51.6

$2.09 ZWL 55.8

-7.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.06 ZWL 81.5

$10.97 ZWL 293

-72.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.90 ZWL 104

$6.55 ZWL 175

-40.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.89 ZWL 130

$6.25 ZWL 167

-21.76%

Apples (1kg)

$2.02 ZWL 53.9

$3.02 ZWL 80.6

-33.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ZWL 43.14

$1.67 ZWL 44.63

-2.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.99 ZWL 53.0

$2.24 ZWL 59.9

-11.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.97 ZWL 26.01

$1.64 ZWL 43.77

-40.85%

Potato (1kg)

$1.54 ZWL 41.09

$1.49 ZWL 39.87

3.36%

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 ZWL 27.35

$1.99 ZWL 53.1

-48.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.49 ZWL 12.97

$1.00 ZWL 26.76

-51.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ZWL 26.54

$1.03 ZWL 27.44

-3.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.08 ZWL 28.90

$1.13 ZWL 30.19

-4.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.15 ZWL 164

$9.28 ZWL 248

-33.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 ZWL 31.38

$1.18 ZWL 31.57

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 ZWL 46.29

$1.74 ZWL 46.32

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 ZWL 12.71

$1.03 ZWL 27.43

-53.40%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.97 ZWL 719

$42.17 ZWL 1,125

-36.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.92 ZWL 78.0

$5.13 ZWL 137

-43.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 ZWL 52.4

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.10 ZWL 136

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.56 ZWL 41.59

$1.62 ZWL 43.15

-3.70%

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

$20.1K ZWL 535.5K

$19.7K ZWL 526.1K

1.78%

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

$23.3K ZWL 622.6K

$23.6K ZWL 629.1K

-1.04%

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

$57.8 ZWL 1,541

$59.4 ZWL 1,585

-2.81%

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

$15.22 ZWL 406

$17.75 ZWL 474

-14.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.3 ZWL 1,610

$93.8 ZWL 2,501

-35.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.37 ZWL 1,077

$53.7 ZWL 1,434

-24.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.94 ZWL 132

$14.35 ZWL 383

-65.57%

Cinema Ticket

$10.09 ZWL 269

$9.84 ZWL 263

2.54%

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

$148 ZWL 3,951

$273 ZWL 7,285

-45.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,359 ZWL 196.3K

$7,310 ZWL 195.0K

0.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$10.03 ZWL 268

$19.62 ZWL 523

-48.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$9.58 ZWL 255

$21.62 ZWL 577

-55.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$24.60 ZWL 656

$35.26 ZWL 941

-30.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$20.04 ZWL 535

$40.29 ZWL 1,075

-50.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$351 ZWL 9,353

$405 ZWL 10.8K

-13.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$255 ZWL 6,791

$279 ZWL 7,435

-8.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$763 ZWL 20.4K

$975 ZWL 26.0K

-21.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$399 ZWL 10.6K

$706 ZWL 18.8K

-43.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$251 ZWL 6,705

$915 ZWL 24.4K

-72.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$387 ZWL 10.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$248 ZWL 6,606

$401 ZWL 10.7K

-38.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.31

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

Last update for Mutare: July 25, 2026

Last update for Harare: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $351 in Mutare and $405 in Harare. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Harare pays 62% 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: $49.00 in Mutare vs $49.00 in Harare for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $154 vs $222 per month, with Mutare 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

Mutare vs Harare: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mutare is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 26% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 62% lower in Harare. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $351 in Mutare versus $405 in Harare. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $148 in Mutare versus $273 in Harare. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 44% higher in Harare. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Mutare gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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 Mutare gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% less than in Harare. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.