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 $607 in Gweru, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,255 per month in Phuket vs $1,097 in Gweru, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,279 per month in Phuket vs $1,588 in Gweru, rent included.

Phuket costs about 103% more than Gweru, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Gweru are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 8% lower, Gweru 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.63 ฿151

$2.45 ZWL 62.0

88.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.84 ฿1,532

$50.9 ZWL 1,288

-7.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.84 ฿289

$5.84 ZWL 148

51.37%

Cappuccino

$3.00 ฿98.0

$2.73 ZWL 69.1

9.89%

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

$0.74 ฿24.25

$0.48 ZWL 12.24

54.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.95

$0.47 ZWL 11.83

-21.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 ฿79.8

$1.47 ZWL 37.26

65.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 ฿118

$1.03 ZWL 25.97

250.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ฿73.9

$1.46 ZWL 36.94

54.79%

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 ฿60.1

$0.98 ZWL 24.76

87.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.24 ฿73.4

$1.94 ZWL 49.19

15.46%

Eggs

$2.32 ฿75.7

$1.96 ZWL 49.57

18.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.67 ฿643

$10.85 ZWL 275

81.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.65 ฿119

$3.89 ZWL 98.3

-6.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.10 ฿428

$5.62 ZWL 142

133.10%

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 ฿111

$1.95 ZWL 49.22

73.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.7

$1.70 ZWL 43.08

-3.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿79.0

$1.95 ZWL 49.33

23.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 ฿66.4

$1.02 ZWL 25.83

99.02%

Potato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿50.9

$1.56 ZWL 39.44

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ฿48.94

$1.02 ZWL 25.81

47.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 ฿33.50

$1.02 ZWL 25.73

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.00

$0.94 ZWL 23.77

-47.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.45 ฿145

$1.09 ZWL 27.51

308.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.88 ฿617

$8.73 ZWL 221

116.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

$1.18 ZWL 29.81

50.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$1.70 ZWL 42.99

61.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.40 ฿45.81

$0.49 ZWL 12.31

185.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.48 ฿376

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.12 ฿102

$5.09 ZWL 129

-38.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.00 ฿32.67

$0.86 ZWL 21.83

16.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.09 ฿461

$4.90 ZWL 124

187.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 ฿44.19

$1.56 ZWL 39.37

-13.46%

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

$27.2K ฿888.9K

$20.4K ZWL 515.1K

33.52%

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

$32.9K ฿1.1M

$23.8K ZWL 602.2K

38.31%

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

$125 ฿4,087

$30.03 ZWL 760

316.18%

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

$13.57 ฿444

$16.92 ZWL 428

-19.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.52 ฿606

$94.0 ZWL 2,378

-80.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.5 ฿2,010

$40.50 ZWL 1,025

51.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.84 ฿551

$1.99 ZWL 50.3

746.23%

Cinema Ticket

$9.19 ฿300

$10.10 ZWL 256

-9.01%

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

$698 ฿22.8K

$247 ZWL 6,243

182.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.6K ฿509.9K

$5,912 ZWL 149.6K

163.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.8 ฿1,889

$19.45 ZWL 492

196.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.24 ฿1,152

$19.67 ZWL 498

79.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 ฿3,699

$34.30 ZWL 868

229.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.4 ฿2,825

$40.90 ZWL 1,035

111.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$616 ฿20.1K

$147 ZWL 3,726

318.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$446 ฿14.6K

$68.7 ZWL 1,738

549.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,048 ฿67.0K

$561 ZWL 14.2K

265.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,492 ฿48.8K

$297 ZWL 7,515

402.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,779 ฿123.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,649 ฿86.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$524 ฿17.1K

$250 ZWL 6,318

109.75%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Gweru: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $616 in Phuket versus $147 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 110% 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 $47.00 in Phuket versus $51.0 in Gweru. Groceries tell a different story – $292 in Phuket vs $191 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, $607 in Gweru – roughly 103% 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 $910 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 $607 in Gweru. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $698 per month in Phuket and $247 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 $607, 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 $607 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.