Cost of Living Comparison Between Mutare and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Mutare and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $780 in Mutare versus $2,210 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,231 in Mutare versus $3,311 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,682 in Mutare versus $4,411 in Lisbon.

Living in Mutare costs roughly 65% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mutare is 42% below, Lisbon is 65% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mutare
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.03 ZWL 269
$15.91 €13.69
-36.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.07 ZWL 1,318
$64.8 €55.7
-24.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.53 ZWL 122
$10.51 €9.04
-56.90%
Cappuccino
$1.26 ZWL 33.84
$2.87 €2.47
-56.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 ZWL 19.19
$2.24 €1.93
-68.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 ZWL 11.74
$1.50 €1.29
-70.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.38 ZWL 37.02
$3.49 €3.00
-60.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 ZWL 49.20
$3.88 €3.34
-52.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mutare
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.22 ZWL 32.86
$1.14 €0.98
7.02%
White Bread (500g)
$1.02 ZWL 27.47
$1.75 €1.51
-41.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.34 ZWL 35.89
$1.76 €1.51
-23.86%
Eggs
$1.92 ZWL 51.5
$3.22 €2.77
-40.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.02 ZWL 81.0
$13.49 €11.61
-77.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.94 ZWL 106
$7.91 €6.81
-50.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.90 ZWL 131
$15.87 €13.65
-69.12%
Apples (1kg)
$1.97 ZWL 53.0
$2.31 €1.99
-14.72%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ZWL 45.48
$1.70 €1.46
-0.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.06 ZWL 55.3
$2.01 €1.73
2.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.98 ZWL 26.41
$2.46 €2.12
-60.16%
Potato (1kg)
$1.57 ZWL 42.09
$1.84 €1.59
-14.67%
Onion (1kg)
$0.99 ZWL 26.48
$2.00 €1.72
-50.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.52 ZWL 13.85
$1.93 €1.66
-73.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95 ZWL 25.63
$0.79 €0.68
20.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.07 ZWL 28.78
$6.61 €5.68
-83.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.91 ZWL 159
$5.72 €4.92
3.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.17 ZWL 31.53
$1.37 €1.17
-14.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 ZWL 46.13
$2.97 €2.56
-42.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Mutare
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 ZWL 13.99
$2.37 €2.04
-78.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.71 ZWL 717
$45.56 €39.19
-41.37%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.97 ZWL 79.8
$4.29 €3.69
-30.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.06 ZWL 55.2
$0.82 €0.70
151.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.97 ZWL 134
$18.30 €15.74
-72.84%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.57 ZWL 42.10
$2.06 €1.78
-23.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.0K ZWL 536.3K
$34.3K €29.5K
-41.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6K ZWL 633.4K
$39.3K €33.8K
-39.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mutare
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$57.6 ZWL 1,547
$148 €127
-61.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.79 ZWL 397
$20.52 €17.65
-27.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.7 ZWL 1,629
$39.61 €34.08
53.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mutare
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.43 ZWL 1,086
$47.85 €41.16
-15.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.01 ZWL 135
$18.92 €16.28
-73.52%
Cinema Ticket
$10.08 ZWL 271
$9.18 €7.90
9.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mutare
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$147 ZWL 3,943
$614 €528
-76.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,177 ZWL 192.7K
$16.0K €13.8K
-55.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mutare
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$9.84 ZWL 264
$105 €90.0
-90.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$9.37 ZWL 252
$42.06 €36.18
-77.72%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$24.77 ZWL 665
$94.0 €80.8
-73.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$20.04 ZWL 538
$120 €103
-83.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mutare
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$347 ZWL 9,314
$1,628 €1,400
-78.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$247 ZWL 6,627
$1,255 €1,080
-80.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$756 ZWL 20.3K
$3,030 €2,607
-75.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$393 ZWL 10.6K
$2,020 €1,738
-80.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$247 ZWL 6,645
$7,800 €6,709
-96.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$4,273 €3,675
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mutare
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$252 ZWL 6,766
$1,603 €1,379
-84.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.31
3.81
249.34%

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

Last update for Mutare: June 1, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $347 in Mutare and $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 536% 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 $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $153 vs $269 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 Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mutare and Lisbon?
Mutare and Lisbon differ by about 183% in total monthly costs ($780 vs $2,210 including rent). Mutare is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Lisbon earns 536% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Mutare and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $347 in Mutare versus $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mutare and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $147 in Mutare versus $614 in Lisbon. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 76% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $780 in Mutare versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Mutare but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Mutare the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mutare and Lisbon?
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.
Is Mutare or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mutare and Lisbon are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Mutare or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Mutare gentler on the wallet – expenses run 183% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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