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 $794 per month in Mutare vs $886 in Victoria Falls, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,254 per month in Mutare vs $1,468 in Victoria Falls, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,714 per month in Mutare vs $2,050 in Victoria Falls, rent included.

Mutare is about 10% cheaper than Victoria Falls, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Mutare and Victoria Falls are more affordable than the global median – Mutare 40% lower, Victoria Falls 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.82 ZWL 262

$10.02 ZWL 267

-2.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.05 ZWL 1,309

$45.70 ZWL 1,219

7.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.38 ZWL 117

Cappuccino

$1.24 ZWL 32.96

$5.82 ZWL 155

-78.69%

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

$0.66 ZWL 17.65

$0.98 ZWL 26.10

-32.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.43 ZWL 11.43

$0.51 ZWL 13.74

-15.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.39 ZWL 37.06

$1.77 ZWL 47.18

-21.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.78 ZWL 47.41

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 ZWL 32.72

$1.97 ZWL 52.6

-37.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.01 ZWL 27.04

$1.02 ZWL 27.25

-0.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 ZWL 35.35

$2.04 ZWL 54.3

-34.80%

Eggs

$1.93 ZWL 51.6

$3.51 ZWL 93.8

-45.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.06 ZWL 81.5

$2.53 ZWL 67.4

20.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.90 ZWL 104

$6.02 ZWL 161

-35.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.89 ZWL 130

$7.99 ZWL 213

-38.80%

Apples (1kg)

$2.02 ZWL 53.9

$3.06 ZWL 81.6

-33.99%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ZWL 43.14

$2.98 ZWL 79.5

-45.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.99 ZWL 53.0

$3.06 ZWL 81.7

-34.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.97 ZWL 26.01

$4.08 ZWL 109

-76.23%

Potato (1kg)

$1.54 ZWL 41.09

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 ZWL 27.35

$1.94 ZWL 51.8

-47.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.49 ZWL 12.97

$1.98 ZWL 52.7

-75.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ZWL 26.54

$1.48 ZWL 39.50

-33.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.08 ZWL 28.90

$1.35 ZWL 35.90

-20.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.15 ZWL 164

$19.76 ZWL 527

-68.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 ZWL 31.38

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 ZWL 46.29

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 ZWL 12.71

$0.85 ZWL 22.77

-43.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.97 ZWL 719

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.92 ZWL 78.0

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 ZWL 52.4

$1.02 ZWL 27.21

92.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.10 ZWL 136

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.56 ZWL 41.59

$1.84 ZWL 49.09

-15.22%

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

$20.1K ZWL 535.5K

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

$23.3K ZWL 622.6K

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

$57.8 ZWL 1,541

$24.64 ZWL 657

134.38%

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

$15.22 ZWL 406

$25.40 ZWL 678

-40.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.3 ZWL 1,610

$68.9 ZWL 1,837

-12.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.37 ZWL 1,077

$59.4 ZWL 1,585

-32.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.94 ZWL 132

$14.90 ZWL 397

-66.85%

Cinema Ticket

$10.09 ZWL 269

$19.68 ZWL 525

-48.73%

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

$148 ZWL 3,951

$98.7 ZWL 2,632

50.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,359 ZWL 196.3K

$6,018 ZWL 160.6K

22.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$10.03 ZWL 268

$14.89 ZWL 397

-32.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$9.58 ZWL 255

$24.84 ZWL 663

-61.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$24.60 ZWL 656

$59.0 ZWL 1,575

-58.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$20.04 ZWL 535

$44.59 ZWL 1,190

-55.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$351 ZWL 9,353

$252 ZWL 6,728

39.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$255 ZWL 6,791

$179 ZWL 4,787

41.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$763 ZWL 20.4K

$500 ZWL 13.4K

52.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$399 ZWL 10.6K

$351 ZWL 9,359

13.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$251 ZWL 6,705

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$248 ZWL 6,606

$804 ZWL 21.5K

-69.22%

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 Victoria Falls: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $351 in Mutare versus $252 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 225% 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 $49.00 in Mutare versus $46.00 in Victoria Falls. Groceries tell a different story – $154 in Mutare vs $249 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 12%, 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 $1,191 per month in Mutare and $1,329 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 $794 in Mutare and $886 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 $98.7 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 $794, than in Victoria Falls at $886. 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.