Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Gweru Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Gweru

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $600 in Gweru, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,054 per month in Phuket vs $1,064 in Gweru, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,876 per month in Phuket vs $1,528 in Gweru, rent included.

Phuket costs about 105% more than Gweru, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Gweru are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 10% lower, Gweru 56% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.41 ฿147

$3.71 ZWL 98.7

18.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.26 ฿1,075

$39.57 ZWL 1,055

-18.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.93 ฿298

$6.13 ZWL 163

45.68%

Cappuccino

$2.90 ฿96.5

$2.86 ZWL 76.3

1.40%

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

$0.88 ฿29.33

$0.49 ZWL 12.96

79.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.03

$0.38 ZWL 10.22

26.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ฿78.3

$1.28 ZWL 34.04

83.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿124

$1.74 ZWL 46.24

113.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ฿62.2

$1.47 ZWL 39.09

27.21%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 ฿48.86

$1.03 ZWL 27.40

42.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.7

$1.70 ZWL 45.30

-8.82%

Eggs

$2.10 ฿70.0

$1.93 ZWL 51.4

8.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.59 ฿653

$11.92 ZWL 318

64.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.42 ฿114

$3.87 ZWL 103

-11.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.38 ฿379

$5.35 ZWL 142

112.71%

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 ฿99.4

$1.97 ZWL 52.5

51.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 ฿56.1

$1.63 ZWL 43.40

3.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 ฿73.6

$1.96 ZWL 52.2

12.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.16 ฿72.0

$0.97 ZWL 25.88

122.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.8

$1.64 ZWL 43.73

-7.32%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.59

$0.97 ZWL 25.98

38.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ฿37.60

$1.20 ZWL 32.06

-5.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ฿18.21

$1.01 ZWL 26.95

-45.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.26 ฿142

$1.95 ZWL 52.1

118.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.09 ฿636

$8.85 ZWL 236

115.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿59.3

$1.38 ZWL 36.65

28.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿92.7

$2.03 ZWL 54.0

36.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.23 ฿74.3

$0.52 ZWL 13.76

328.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.74 ฿758

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 ฿101

$3.97 ZWL 106

-23.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ฿34.09

$0.86 ZWL 22.79

18.60%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.89 ฿130

$4.89 ZWL 130

-20.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.68

$1.67 ZWL 44.45

-10.78%

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

$26.6K ฿885.7K

$21.8K ZWL 580.0K

22.14%

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

$27.0K ฿900.6K

$27.1K ZWL 721.4K

-0.15%

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

$102 ฿3,414

$29.78 ZWL 794

244.09%

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

$11.33 ฿377

$17.05 ZWL 454

-33.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.40 ฿580

$65.8 ZWL 1,754

-73.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.1 ฿1,735

$39.36 ZWL 1,049

32.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ฿369

$1.96 ZWL 52.2

464.80%

Cinema Ticket

$7.69 ฿256

$9.89 ZWL 263

-22.24%

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

$561 ฿18.7K

$250 ZWL 6,660

124.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ฿383.4K

$5,889 ZWL 156.9K

95.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.0 ฿2,100

$24.18 ZWL 644

160.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.52 ฿984

$20.27 ZWL 540

45.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.0 ฿3,266

$39.75 ZWL 1,059

146.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.5 ฿2,949

$41.12 ZWL 1,096

115.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$738 ฿24.6K

$152 ZWL 4,058

384.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.1K

$68.7 ZWL 1,832

601.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,107 ฿70.2K

$546 ZWL 14.6K

285.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,226 ฿40.8K

$302 ZWL 8,052

305.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,617 ฿120.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,603 ฿86.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.4K

$249 ZWL 6,641

98.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-20.43%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Last update for Gweru: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $738 in Phuket versus $152 in Gweru. 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 98% higher in Phuket, 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 $32.00 in Phuket versus $40.00 in Gweru. Groceries tell a different story – $274 in Phuket vs $195 in Gweru – so Gweru 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

Phuket vs Gweru: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,232 in Phuket, $600 in Gweru – roughly 105% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $900 in Gweru. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Gweru, 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 $1,232 in Phuket and $600 in Gweru. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $561 per month in Phuket and $250 in Gweru. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Gweru, where all-in costs run around $600, than in Phuket at $1,232. In Gweru it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $600 in Gweru to $1,232 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

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