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 $598 in Masvingo, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,054 per month in Phuket vs $987 in Masvingo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,876 per month in Phuket vs $1,376 in Masvingo, rent included.

Phuket costs about 106% more than Masvingo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.41 ฿147

$10.03 ZWL 267

-56.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.26 ฿1,075

$39.92 ZWL 1,064

-19.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.93 ฿298

$5.88 ZWL 157

51.87%

Cappuccino

$2.90 ฿96.5

$3.03 ZWL 80.8

-4.29%

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

$0.88 ฿29.33

$0.98 ZWL 26.22

-10.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.03

$0.53 ZWL 14.00

-9.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ฿78.3

$1.49 ZWL 39.66

57.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿124

$1.96 ZWL 52.3

89.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ฿62.2

$1.59 ZWL 42.25

17.61%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 ฿48.86

$1.03 ZWL 27.53

42.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.7

$1.69 ZWL 45.03

-8.28%

Eggs

$2.10 ฿70.0

$1.93 ZWL 51.5

8.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.59 ฿653

$11.88 ZWL 317

64.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.42 ฿114

$5.70 ZWL 152

-40.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.38 ฿379

$6.60 ZWL 176

72.42%

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 ฿99.4

$3.02 ZWL 80.4

-1.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 ฿56.1

$1.62 ZWL 43.12

3.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 ฿73.6

$1.98 ZWL 52.7

11.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.16 ฿72.0

$1.54 ZWL 41.11

40.26%

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.8

$1.72 ZWL 45.88

-11.63%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.59

$1.81 ZWL 48.12

-25.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ฿37.60

$1.16 ZWL 31.03

-2.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ฿18.21

$1.04 ZWL 27.67

-47.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.26 ฿142

$2.05 ZWL 54.6

107.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.09 ฿636

$8.76 ZWL 234

117.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿59.3

$1.40 ZWL 37.39

27.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿92.7

$2.01 ZWL 53.6

38.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.23 ฿74.3

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.74 ฿758

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 ฿101

$3.93 ZWL 105

-22.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ฿34.09

$1.97 ZWL 52.5

-48.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.89 ฿130

$5.10 ZWL 136

-23.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.68

$1.86 ZWL 49.57

-19.89%

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

$26.6K ฿885.7K

$21.7K ZWL 577.4K

22.68%

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

$27.0K ฿900.6K

$27.3K ZWL 727.4K

-0.97%

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

$102 ฿3,414

$53.8 ZWL 1,433

90.57%

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

$11.33 ฿377

$21.55 ZWL 574

-47.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.40 ฿580

$66.1 ZWL 1,762

-73.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.1 ฿1,735

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ฿369

Cinema Ticket

$7.69 ฿256

$9.97 ZWL 266

-22.87%

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

$561 ฿18.7K

$466 ZWL 12.4K

20.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ฿383.4K

$9,100 ZWL 242.5K

26.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.0 ฿2,100

$24.67 ZWL 657

155.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.52 ฿984

$21.57 ZWL 575

36.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.0 ฿3,266

$39.25 ZWL 1,046

149.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.5 ฿2,949

$41.16 ZWL 1,097

115.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$738 ฿24.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,107 ฿70.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,226 ฿40.8K

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

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

13.69

-59.31%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Last update for Masvingo: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Phuket versus $40.00 in Masvingo. Groceries tell a different story – $274 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, $598 in Masvingo – roughly 106% 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 $897 in Masvingo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,232 in Phuket and $598 in Masvingo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $561 per month in Phuket and $466 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 $598, 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 $598 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.