Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Masvingo Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Masvingo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $621 in Masvingo, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,255 per month in Phuket vs $1,117 in Masvingo, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,279 per month in Phuket vs $1,612 in Masvingo, rent included.

Phuket costs about 98% more than Masvingo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Phuket and Masvingo are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 8% lower, Masvingo 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.63 ฿151

$9.96 ZWL 252

-53.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.84 ฿1,532

$51.0 ZWL 1,290

-8.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.84 ฿289

$6.85 ZWL 173

29.05%

Cappuccino

$3.00 ฿98.0

$2.99 ZWL 75.8

0.33%

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

$0.74 ฿24.25

$0.66 ZWL 16.76

12.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.95

$0.43 ZWL 10.93

-13.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 ฿79.8

$1.47 ZWL 37.15

65.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 ฿118

$1.95 ZWL 49.33

85.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ฿73.9

$1.58 ZWL 39.91

43.04%

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 ฿60.1

$1.02 ZWL 25.70

80.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.24 ฿73.4

$1.94 ZWL 49.16

15.46%

Eggs

$2.32 ฿75.7

$2.07 ZWL 52.4

12.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.67 ฿643

$11.11 ZWL 281

77.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.65 ฿119

$6.36 ZWL 161

-42.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.10 ฿428

$6.31 ZWL 160

107.61%

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 ฿111

$2.89 ZWL 73.0

17.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.7

$1.64 ZWL 41.55

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿79.0

$2.22 ZWL 56.1

8.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 ฿66.4

$1.67 ZWL 42.20

21.56%

Potato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿50.9

$1.50 ZWL 37.83

4.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ฿48.94

$1.98 ZWL 50.0

-24.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 ฿33.50

$1.03 ZWL 26.08

-0.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.00

$1.01 ZWL 25.61

-51.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.45 ฿145

$1.13 ZWL 28.52

293.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.88 ฿617

$8.72 ZWL 221

116.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

$1.18 ZWL 29.77

50.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$1.72 ZWL 43.60

59.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.40 ฿45.81

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.48 ฿376

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.12 ฿102

$4.94 ZWL 125

-36.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.00 ฿32.67

$1.94 ZWL 49.10

-48.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.09 ฿461

$5.10 ZWL 129

176.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 ฿44.19

$1.60 ZWL 40.47

-15.63%

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

$27.2K ฿888.9K

$20.2K ZWL 510.2K

34.81%

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

$32.9K ฿1.1M

$23.3K ZWL 590.6K

41.02%

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

$125 ฿4,087

$57.7 ZWL 1,460

116.64%

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

$13.57 ฿444

$17.80 ZWL 450

-23.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.52 ฿606

$90.8 ZWL 2,297

-79.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.5 ฿2,010

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.84 ฿551

Cinema Ticket

$9.19 ฿300

$10.01 ZWL 253

-8.19%

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

$698 ฿22.8K

$281 ZWL 7,117

148.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.6K ฿509.9K

$7,348 ZWL 185.9K

112.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.8 ฿1,889

$19.23 ZWL 486

200.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.24 ฿1,152

$21.50 ZWL 544

63.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 ฿3,699

$35.08 ZWL 888

222.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.4 ฿2,825

$41.10 ZWL 1,040

110.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$616 ฿20.1K

$60.3 ZWL 1,525

921.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$446 ฿14.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,048 ฿67.0K

$294 ZWL 7,445

595.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,492 ฿48.8K

$150 ZWL 3,802

892.89%

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

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

13.31

-59.95%

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

Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026

Last update for Masvingo: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $616 in Phuket versus $60.3 in Masvingo. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket versus $51.0 in Masvingo. Groceries tell a different story – $292 in Phuket vs $219 in Masvingo – so Masvingo 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 Masvingo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,232 in Phuket, $621 in Masvingo – roughly 98% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $932 in Masvingo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Masvingo, 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 $621 in Masvingo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $698 per month in Phuket and $281 in Masvingo. 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 Masvingo, where all-in costs run around $621, than in Phuket at $1,232. In Masvingo 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 $621 in Masvingo 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 Masvingo. 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.