Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Mutare Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Mutare

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,223 per month in Phuket vs $790 in Mutare, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,237 per month in Phuket vs $1,222 in Mutare, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,251 per month in Phuket vs $1,653 in Mutare, rent included.

Phuket costs about 55% more than Mutare, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Mutare are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 8% lower, Mutare 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.51 ฿148

$10.14 ZWL 272

-55.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.62 ฿1,528

$50.1 ZWL 1,340

-6.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.49 ฿278

$4.62 ZWL 124

83.77%

Cappuccino

$3.08 ฿101

$1.27 ZWL 34.01

142.52%

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

$0.68 ฿22.26

$0.72 ZWL 19.29

-5.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.84

$0.44 ZWL 11.71

-18.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 ฿79.5

$1.31 ZWL 35.11

85.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

$1.82 ZWL 48.82

99.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.19 ฿71.7

$1.22 ZWL 32.54

79.51%

White Bread (500g)

$1.81 ฿59.5

$1.02 ZWL 27.41

77.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.23 ฿73.1

$1.29 ZWL 34.50

72.87%

Eggs

$2.24 ฿73.3

$1.87 ZWL 50.0

19.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.60 ฿642

$3.03 ZWL 81.1

546.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.72 ฿122

$3.91 ZWL 105

-4.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.47 ฿441

$5.14 ZWL 138

162.06%

Apples (1kg)

$3.36 ฿110

$2.03 ZWL 54.3

65.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.62 ZWL 43.25

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿79.0

$2.05 ZWL 54.9

17.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.99 ฿65.2

$0.98 ZWL 26.34

103.06%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.2

$1.56 ZWL 41.83

-1.92%

Onion (1kg)

$1.45 ฿47.59

$0.99 ZWL 26.48

46.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ฿33.23

$0.52 ZWL 13.79

94.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿15.86

$0.95 ZWL 25.50

-49.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿140

$1.11 ZWL 29.80

284.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.12 ฿627

$5.91 ZWL 158

223.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 ฿60.2

$1.13 ZWL 30.28

62.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ฿89.8

$1.72 ZWL 46.14

59.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.42 ฿46.44

$0.49 ZWL 13.00

189.80%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.72 ฿384

$26.62 ZWL 713

-55.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.00 ฿98.4

$3.04 ZWL 81.4

-1.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.05 ฿34.28

$1.95 ZWL 52.2

-46.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.90 ฿456

$5.05 ZWL 135

175.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 ฿42.28

$1.62 ZWL 43.35

-20.37%

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

$28.0K ฿918.7K

$20.3K ZWL 543.0K

38.20%

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

$33.5K ฿1.1M

$23.0K ZWL 615.5K

45.71%

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

$122 ฿3,997

$58.0 ZWL 1,552

110.38%

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

$13.93 ฿457

$14.84 ZWL 397

-6.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.87 ฿618

$59.5 ZWL 1,594

-68.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.3 ฿2,008

$40.07 ZWL 1,073

52.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.84 ฿552

$5.04 ZWL 135

234.13%

Cinema Ticket

$8.89 ฿291

$9.90 ZWL 265

-10.20%

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

$691 ฿22.7K

$147 ZWL 3,926

371.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.2K ฿529.5K

$7,366 ZWL 197.2K

119.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.8 ฿1,894

$9.98 ZWL 267

479.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.39 ฿1,160

$9.69 ZWL 260

265.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 ฿3,716

$25.11 ZWL 672

351.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.0 ฿2,720

$19.92 ZWL 533

316.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$607 ฿19.9K

$354 ZWL 9,483

71.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$448 ฿14.7K

$249 ZWL 6,658

80.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,029 ฿66.5K

$751 ZWL 20.1K

170.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,493 ฿48.9K

$400 ZWL 10.7K

273.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,585 ฿117.5K

$253 ZWL 6,782

1314.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,585 ฿84.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$505 ฿16.5K

$247 ZWL 6,619

104.13%

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 13, 2026

Last update for Mutare: June 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $607 in Phuket versus $354 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 104% higher in Phuket, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket versus $50.0 in Mutare. Groceries tell a different story – $292 in Phuket vs $153 in Mutare – so Mutare 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 Mutare: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 55%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,835 per month in Phuket and $1,185 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. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 127% less in Mutare. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $691 per month in Phuket and $147 in Mutare. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Mutare, where all-in costs run around $790, than in Phuket at $1,223. 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.

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 Mutare. 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.