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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,261 per month in Phuket vs $636 in Masvingo, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,286 per month in Phuket vs $1,098 in Masvingo, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,310 per month in Phuket vs $1,561 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 6% lower, Masvingo 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.56 ฿149

$10.02 ZWL 268

-54.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.63 ฿1,519

$49.64 ZWL 1,329

-6.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.47 ฿276

$6.96 ZWL 186

21.70%

Cappuccino

$3.03 ฿98.6

$2.89 ZWL 77.4

4.84%

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

$0.69 ฿22.45

$0.72 ZWL 19.15

-4.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.92

$0.47 ZWL 12.46

-21.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.49 ฿81.0

$1.52 ZWL 40.71

63.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$1.95 ZWL 52.1

87.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.18 ฿71.0

$1.56 ZWL 41.88

39.74%

White Bread (500g)

$1.90 ฿62.0

$1.01 ZWL 27.11

88.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.20 ฿71.6

$1.95 ZWL 52.3

12.82%

Eggs

$2.22 ฿72.4

$2.09 ZWL 56.0

6.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.99 ฿651

$10.75 ZWL 288

85.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.66 ฿119

$6.24 ZWL 167

-41.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.25 ฿432

$6.22 ZWL 166

113.02%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ฿105

$3.00 ZWL 80.3

7.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.3

$1.63 ZWL 43.55

4.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 ฿78.0

$2.21 ZWL 59.1

8.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿67.7

$1.65 ZWL 44.13

26.06%

Potato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.56 ZWL 41.71

1.92%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.31

$1.98 ZWL 53.1

-25.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 ฿33.54

$1.03 ZWL 27.55

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿16.83

$0.93 ZWL 25.02

-44.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.25 ฿138

$1.07 ZWL 28.76

297.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.79 ฿612

$9.11 ZWL 244

106.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 ฿57.2

$1.14 ZWL 30.39

54.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 ฿89.8

$1.78 ZWL 47.68

55.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 ฿44.32

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.36 ฿370

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 ฿102

$5.02 ZWL 134

-37.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿33.74

$1.97 ZWL 52.7

-47.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.77 ฿448

$5.08 ZWL 136

171.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ฿43.79

$1.54 ZWL 41.11

-12.99%

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

$27.7K ฿901.4K

$19.9K ZWL 531.5K

39.40%

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

$33.9K ฿1.1M

$23.6K ZWL 631.5K

43.55%

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

$124 ฿4,025

$57.4 ZWL 1,536

115.39%

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

$13.52 ฿440

$18.01 ZWL 482

-24.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.69 ฿609

$91.2 ZWL 2,441

-79.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 ฿2,013

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.25 ฿562

Cinema Ticket

$9.14 ฿298

$10.03 ZWL 269

-8.87%

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

$703 ฿22.9K

$281 ZWL 7,515

150.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K ฿517.0K

$7,398 ZWL 198.1K

114.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,937

$19.59 ZWL 524

203.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.07 ฿1,142

$21.59 ZWL 578

62.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,754

$34.95 ZWL 935

229.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.1 ฿2,737

$40.15 ZWL 1,075

109.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$619 ฿20.1K

$58.9 ZWL 1,576

951.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$433 ฿14.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,062 ฿67.2K

$301 ZWL 8,058

584.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,511 ฿49.2K

$153 ZWL 4,083

890.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,646 ฿118.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,626 ฿85.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$507 ฿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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Masvingo: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $619 in Phuket versus $58.9 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 $50.0 in Masvingo. Groceries tell a different story – $293 in Phuket vs $217 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: $1,261 in Phuket, $636 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 $1,892 per month in Phuket and $954 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 $1,261 in Phuket and $636 in Masvingo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $703 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 $636, than in Phuket at $1,261. 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 $636 in Masvingo to $1,261 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.