Cost of Living Comparison Between Mutare and Victoria Falls Cost of Living Comparison Between Mutare and Victoria Falls

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $779 per month in Mutare vs $902 in Victoria Falls, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,247 per month in Mutare vs $1,450 in Victoria Falls, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,715 per month in Mutare vs $1,997 in Victoria Falls, rent included.

Mutare is about 14% cheaper than Victoria Falls, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Mutare and Victoria Falls are more affordable than the global median – Mutare 42% lower, Victoria Falls 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.07 ZWL 270

$10.09 ZWL 270

-0.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.8 ZWL 1,359

$45.80 ZWL 1,226

10.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.63 ZWL 124

Cappuccino

$1.27 ZWL 34.11

$6.15 ZWL 165

-79.35%

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

$0.67 ZWL 18.04

$0.97 ZWL 26.03

-30.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.43 ZWL 11.51

$0.48 ZWL 12.75

-10.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.31 ZWL 35.11

$1.76 ZWL 47.22

-25.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 ZWL 48.65

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 ZWL 33.12

$1.96 ZWL 52.5

-36.73%

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 ZWL 27.41

$0.99 ZWL 26.44

3.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 ZWL 35.64

$1.95 ZWL 52.1

-31.79%

Eggs

$1.92 ZWL 51.5

$3.59 ZWL 96.0

-46.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.01 ZWL 80.7

$2.44 ZWL 65.4

23.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.07 ZWL 109

$5.94 ZWL 159

-31.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.17 ZWL 139

$8.14 ZWL 218

-36.49%

Apples (1kg)

$2.03 ZWL 54.3

$2.91 ZWL 78.0

-30.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ZWL 43.93

$2.93 ZWL 78.6

-44.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.02 ZWL 54.0

$2.97 ZWL 79.6

-31.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.99 ZWL 26.43

$3.90 ZWL 104

-74.62%

Potato (1kg)

$1.57 ZWL 41.97

Onion (1kg)

$0.98 ZWL 26.17

$1.97 ZWL 52.8

-50.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.51 ZWL 13.70

$2.02 ZWL 54.2

-74.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 ZWL 27.21

$1.54 ZWL 41.33

-33.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.12 ZWL 29.91

$1.33 ZWL 35.71

-15.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.89 ZWL 158

$20.30 ZWL 543

-70.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 ZWL 31.39

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 ZWL 44.96

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ZWL 13.77

$0.92 ZWL 24.57

-44.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.01 ZWL 723

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.06 ZWL 81.9

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.97 ZWL 52.7

$0.97 ZWL 26.02

103.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.85 ZWL 130

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.56 ZWL 41.72

$1.82 ZWL 48.67

-14.29%

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

$19.8K ZWL 530.2K

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

$23.5K ZWL 628.4K

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

$57.5 ZWL 1,540

$25.06 ZWL 671

129.61%

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

$14.83 ZWL 397

$25.46 ZWL 681

-41.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.8 ZWL 1,627

$66.8 ZWL 1,789

-9.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.97 ZWL 1,070

$60.6 ZWL 1,622

-34.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.90 ZWL 131

$14.84 ZWL 397

-66.98%

Cinema Ticket

$9.98 ZWL 267

$20.20 ZWL 541

-50.59%

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

$148 ZWL 3,961

$101 ZWL 2,708

46.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,258 ZWL 194.3K

$5,939 ZWL 159.0K

22.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$9.85 ZWL 264

$14.79 ZWL 396

-33.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$9.39 ZWL 251

$24.75 ZWL 662

-62.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$25.10 ZWL 672

$58.9 ZWL 1,576

-57.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$19.78 ZWL 529

$44.10 ZWL 1,181

-55.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$355 ZWL 9,491

$253 ZWL 6,764

40.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$252 ZWL 6,748

$181 ZWL 4,843

39.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$753 ZWL 20.2K

$509 ZWL 13.6K

47.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$398 ZWL 10.7K

$346 ZWL 9,263

14.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$253 ZWL 6,783

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$247 ZWL 6,599

$791 ZWL 21.2K

-68.83%

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: June 6, 2026

Last update for Victoria Falls: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $355 in Mutare versus $253 in Victoria Falls. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 221% higher in Victoria Falls, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $51.0 in Mutare versus $46.00 in Victoria Falls. Groceries tell a different story – $155 in Mutare vs $248 in Victoria Falls – so Mutare 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

Mutare vs Victoria Falls: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Victoria Falls is pricier by about 16%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,168 per month in Mutare and $1,353 in Victoria Falls. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Mutare, 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 $779 in Mutare and $902 in Victoria Falls. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $148 per month in Mutare and $101 in Victoria Falls. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Mutare, where all-in costs run around $779, than in Victoria Falls at $902. In Mutare it covers expenses comfortably, while in Victoria Falls it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Mutare – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Mutare. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Victoria Falls makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.