Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Mutare

For one person, living is cheaper in Mutare: $780 a month against $1,294 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $6,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

62

Cost of Living Index in Phuket
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Phuket Living Index
38

Cost of Living Index in Mutare
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Mutare Living Index

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Phuket

🇹🇭 Thailand

$1,294

/mo nomad

Mutare

🇿🇼 Zimbabwe

$780

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Mutare

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Phuket and in Mutare actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,294 per month in Phuket vs $780 in Mutare, rent included.

Phuket $1,294
Mutare $780

A couple spends around $2,204 per month in Phuket vs $1,212 in Mutare, rent included.

Phuket $2,204
Mutare $1,212

A family of three spends $3,115 per month in Phuket vs $1,643 in Mutare, rent included.

Phuket $3,115
Mutare $1,643

Phuket costs about 66% more than Mutare, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Phuket and Mutare are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 4% lower, Mutare 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.39 ฿147

$9.80 ZWL 260

-55.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.31 ฿1,078

$44.81 ZWL 1,189

-27.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.70 ฿290

$4.48 ZWL 119

94.20%

Cappuccino

$2.72 ฿90.9

$1.21 ZWL 32.22

124.79%

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

$0.93 ฿31.06

$0.73 ZWL 19.31

27.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.67

$0.47 ZWL 12.35

6.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.53 ฿84.5

$1.24 ZWL 32.84

104.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿121

$1.84 ZWL 48.80

97.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 ฿58.1

$1.22 ZWL 32.51

42.62%

White Bread (500g)

$1.45 ฿48.42

$0.98 ZWL 26.02

47.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.1

$1.27 ZWL 33.79

18.11%

Eggs

$2.17 ฿72.5

$1.92 ZWL 50.9

13.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.09 ฿637

$2.97 ZWL 78.9

542.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.40 ฿113

$3.91 ZWL 104

-13.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿364

$5.12 ZWL 136

112.89%

Apples (1kg)

$2.94 ฿98.2

$2.06 ZWL 54.6

42.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.5

$1.72 ZWL 45.56

-1.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.19 ฿73.2

$2.05 ZWL 54.5

6.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.12 ฿70.9

$1.03 ZWL 27.31

105.83%

Potato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.68

$1.67 ZWL 44.33

-12.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.37 ฿45.66

$0.97 ZWL 25.80

41.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 ฿35.91

$0.52 ZWL 13.81

107.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ฿18.21

$1.00 ZWL 26.47

-45.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.43 ฿148

$1.19 ZWL 31.49

272.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.25 ฿609

$5.85 ZWL 155

211.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 ฿59.2

$1.22 ZWL 32.45

45.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 ฿96.2

$1.67 ZWL 44.26

72.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.45 ฿48.32

$0.73 ZWL 19.26

98.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.9 ฿1,832

$27.36 ZWL 726

100.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.51 ฿50.5

$2.98 ZWL 79.1

-49.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.78 ฿25.90

$2.03 ZWL 53.9

-61.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.84 ฿128

$5.05 ZWL 134

-23.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.65

$1.81 ZWL 47.99

-17.68%

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

$26.9K ฿897.3K

$21.8K ZWL 577.9K

23.45%

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

$26.3K ฿879.4K

$24.1K ZWL 640.4K

9.18%

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

$97.8 ฿3,265

$50.3 ZWL 1,336

94.30%

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

$11.29 ฿377

$14.71 ZWL 390

-23.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.19 ฿574

$59.6 ZWL 1,583

-71.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.3 ฿2,281

$39.90 ZWL 1,059

71.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.92 ฿365

$4.95 ZWL 131

120.61%

Cinema Ticket

$7.43 ฿248

$10.17 ZWL 270

-26.94%

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

$530 ฿17.7K

$150 ZWL 3,983

253.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.8K ฿626.9K

$8,598 ZWL 228.2K

118.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.7 ฿2,059

$9.93 ZWL 263

521.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.25 ฿943

$9.69 ZWL 257

191.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.0 ฿3,204

$25.39 ZWL 674

278.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.8 ฿2,898

$20.14 ZWL 534

331.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$721 ฿24.1K

$356 ZWL 9,447

102.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$509 ฿17.0K

$247 ZWL 6,542

106.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,950 ฿65.1K

$747 ZWL 19.8K

160.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,397 ฿46.6K

$393 ZWL 10.4K

255.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,192 ฿139.9K

$254 ZWL 6,751

1548.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,298 ฿110.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$492 ฿16.4K

$254 ZWL 6,728

93.91%

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: November 2, 2026

Last update for Mutare: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Phuket

$509 39.3%

Mutare

$247 31.6% 51.6% $262

Groceries & Markets

Phuket

$267 20.6%

Mutare

$155 19.8% 42% $112

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Phuket

$126 9.8%

Mutare

$125 16% 1.3% $1.6

Clothing & Footwear

Phuket

$123 9.5%

Mutare

$29 3.8% 76.1% $93

Eating Out

Phuket

$120 9.2%

Mutare

$121 15.5% 1.2% $1.5

Sport & Entertainment

Phuket

$83 6.4%

Mutare

$60 7.7% 27.6% $23

Getting Around

Phuket

$66 5.1%

Mutare

$43 5.6% 34.3% $23

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $721 in Phuket versus $356 in Mutare. 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 94% higher in Phuket. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32 in Phuket versus $45 in Mutare. Groceries tell a different story – $267 in Phuket vs $155 in Mutare – so Mutare wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Phuket

🇿🇼 Mutare

🕒 Local time

22:53 10:53 PM

17:53 5:53 PM

5 h behind Phuket

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

79,308

188,243

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Zimbabwean Dollar ZWL $

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 3 USD

100 THB = 2.67 EUR

100 ZWL = 3.77 USD

100 ZWL = 3.35 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

ZWL, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 33.38 THB (100 THB = 3 USD). 1 EUR = 37.51 THB (100 THB = 2.67 EUR).

Zimbabwean Dollar exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 26.54 ZWL (100 ZWL = 3.77 USD). 1 EUR = 29.82 ZWL (100 ZWL = 3.35 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Phuket Mutare 7,790 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight

From you

Phuket
Mutare

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Mutare: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 66%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,940 per month in Phuket and $1,170 in Mutare. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Mutare, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $356 there versus $721 in Phuket.

Public transport costs about 50% less in Mutare. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $530 per month in Phuket and $150 in Mutare. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Mutare, where all-in costs run around $780, than in Phuket at $1,294. In Mutare it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Mutare – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Mutare. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.