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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,264 per month in Phuket vs $619 in Masvingo, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,256 per month in Phuket vs $1,111 in Masvingo, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,248 per month in Phuket vs $1,604 in Masvingo, rent included.

Phuket costs about 104% more than Masvingo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Phuket and Masvingo are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 5% lower, Masvingo 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.48 ฿150

$9.86 ZWL 263

-54.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.59 ฿1,521

$50.9 ZWL 1,358

-10.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.76 ฿292

$7.09 ZWL 189

23.55%

Cappuccino

$2.97 ฿99.0

$2.98 ZWL 79.5

-0.34%

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

$0.69 ฿22.90

$0.71 ZWL 18.94

-2.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 ฿13.04

$0.46 ZWL 12.32

-15.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.53 ฿84.4

$1.46 ZWL 38.90

73.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 ฿125

$2.02 ZWL 54.0

85.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 ฿71.6

$1.56 ZWL 41.56

37.82%

White Bread (500g)

$1.82 ฿60.6

$1.02 ZWL 27.19

78.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.18 ฿72.9

$1.95 ZWL 52.1

11.79%

Eggs

$2.25 ฿75.0

$2.07 ZWL 55.1

8.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$20.00 ฿667

$11.04 ZWL 295

81.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿121

$6.54 ZWL 174

-44.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.56 ฿452

$6.58 ZWL 176

106.08%

Apples (1kg)

$3.24 ฿108

$2.87 ZWL 76.6

12.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ฿54.6

$1.64 ZWL 43.76

Oranges (1kg)

$2.33 ฿77.8

$2.27 ZWL 60.6

2.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.07 ฿69.1

$1.70 ZWL 45.42

21.76%

Potato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.6

$1.56 ZWL 41.68

-0.64%

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.54

$1.98 ZWL 52.8

-26.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ฿32.86

$1.02 ZWL 27.20

-3.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.09

$0.97 ZWL 25.84

-50.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.35 ฿145

$1.09 ZWL 28.96

299.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.57 ฿620

$9.77 ZWL 261

90.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿61.9

$1.13 ZWL 30.11

64.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 ฿88.6

$1.74 ZWL 46.39

52.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.42 ฿47.28

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.57 ฿386

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 ฿106

$4.87 ZWL 130

-34.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.03 ฿34.41

$1.95 ZWL 52.0

-47.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.89 ฿463

$4.87 ZWL 130

185.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ฿44.84

$1.62 ZWL 43.21

-17.28%

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

$27.8K ฿927.1K

$19.9K ZWL 531.2K

39.59%

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

$33.4K ฿1.1M

$23.6K ZWL 628.7K

41.65%

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

$123 ฿4,105

$57.7 ZWL 1,539

113.33%

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

$13.77 ฿459

$17.62 ZWL 470

-21.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.33 ฿611

$93.7 ZWL 2,499

-80.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.7 ฿2,025

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.16 ฿573

Cinema Ticket

$8.87 ฿296

$9.90 ZWL 264

-10.40%

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

$688 ฿22.9K

$275 ZWL 7,335

150.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K ฿526.4K

$7,208 ZWL 192.3K

118.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.3 ฿1,978

$19.12 ZWL 510

210.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.69 ฿1,157

$20.96 ZWL 559

65.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,843

$34.80 ZWL 928

231.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.8 ฿2,794

$40.56 ZWL 1,082

106.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$621 ฿20.7K

$60.2 ZWL 1,607

931.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$446 ฿14.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,034 ฿67.8K

$297 ZWL 7,916

585.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,496 ฿49.9K

$148 ZWL 3,950

910.41%

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

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Masvingo: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $621 in Phuket versus $60.2 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 $46.00 in Phuket versus $51.0 in Masvingo. Groceries tell a different story – $291 in Phuket vs $222 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: $1,264 in Phuket, $619 in Masvingo – roughly 104% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,896 per month in Phuket and $928 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 $1,264 in Phuket and $619 in Masvingo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $688 per month in Phuket and $275 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 $619, than in Phuket at $1,264. 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 $619 in Masvingo 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 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.