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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,264 per month in Phuket vs $601 in Gweru, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,256 per month in Phuket vs $1,074 in Gweru, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,248 per month in Phuket vs $1,548 in Gweru, rent included.

Phuket costs about 110% more than Gweru, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Gweru are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 5% lower, Gweru 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.48 ฿150

$2.46 ZWL 65.6

82.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.59 ฿1,521

$51.0 ZWL 1,360

-10.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.76 ฿292

$6.12 ZWL 163

43.14%

Cappuccino

$2.97 ฿99.0

$2.78 ZWL 74.2

6.83%

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

$0.69 ฿22.90

$0.48 ZWL 12.91

43.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 ฿13.04

$0.47 ZWL 12.51

-17.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.53 ฿84.4

$1.46 ZWL 39.06

73.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 ฿125

$1.02 ZWL 27.28

267.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 ฿71.6

$1.52 ZWL 40.61

41.45%

White Bread (500g)

$1.82 ฿60.6

$0.97 ZWL 25.94

87.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.18 ฿72.9

$1.86 ZWL 49.75

17.20%

Eggs

$2.25 ฿75.0

$1.97 ZWL 52.6

14.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$20.00 ฿667

$10.93 ZWL 292

82.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿121

$3.71 ZWL 99.1

-2.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.56 ฿452

$5.60 ZWL 149

142.14%

Apples (1kg)

$3.24 ฿108

$2.04 ZWL 54.3

58.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ฿54.6

$1.69 ZWL 44.96

-2.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.33 ฿77.8

$2.04 ZWL 54.5

14.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.07 ฿69.1

$1.02 ZWL 27.14

102.94%

Potato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.6

$1.56 ZWL 41.68

-0.64%

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.54

$0.98 ZWL 26.14

48.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ฿32.86

$0.95 ZWL 25.47

3.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.09

$1.03 ZWL 27.44

-53.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.35 ฿145

$1.11 ZWL 29.74

291.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.57 ฿620

$9.22 ZWL 246

101.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿61.9

$1.18 ZWL 31.60

57.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 ฿88.6

$1.71 ZWL 45.58

54.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.42 ฿47.28

$0.51 ZWL 13.61

178.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.57 ฿386

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 ฿106

$5.07 ZWL 135

-37.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.03 ฿34.41

$0.88 ZWL 23.48

17.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.89 ฿463

$5.11 ZWL 136

171.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ฿44.84

$1.56 ZWL 41.52

-14.10%

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

$27.8K ฿927.1K

$19.7K ZWL 524.5K

41.35%

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

$33.4K ฿1.1M

$23.3K ZWL 622.7K

43.02%

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

$123 ฿4,105

$30.34 ZWL 810

305.57%

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

$13.77 ฿459

$17.29 ZWL 461

-20.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.33 ฿611

$91.7 ZWL 2,448

-80.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.7 ฿2,025

$39.76 ZWL 1,061

52.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.16 ฿573

$1.96 ZWL 52.2

775.51%

Cinema Ticket

$8.87 ฿296

$10.03 ZWL 268

-11.57%

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

$688 ฿22.9K

$246 ZWL 6,571

179.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K ฿526.4K

$5,774 ZWL 154.1K

173.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.3 ฿1,978

$19.73 ZWL 526

200.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.69 ฿1,157

$20.18 ZWL 538

71.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,843

$34.88 ZWL 931

230.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.8 ฿2,794

$39.70 ZWL 1,059

110.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$621 ฿20.7K

$152 ZWL 4,061

308.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$446 ฿14.9K

$68.6 ZWL 1,831

549.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,034 ฿67.8K

$542 ZWL 14.5K

275.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,496 ฿49.9K

$299 ZWL 7,965

401.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,455 ฿115.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,531 ฿84.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.5K

$252 ZWL 6,721

95.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

-23.86%

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

Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026

Last update for Gweru: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $621 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 96% 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 $46.00 in Phuket versus $51.0 in Gweru. Groceries tell a different story – $291 in Phuket vs $193 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: $1,264 in Phuket, $601 in Gweru – roughly 110% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,896 per month in Phuket and $902 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 $1,264 in Phuket and $601 in Gweru. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $688 per month in Phuket and $246 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 $601, than in Phuket at $1,264. 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 $601 in Gweru to $1,264 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.