🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $608 in Shurugwi versus $991 in Harare.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $976 in Shurugwi versus $1,659 in Harare.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,344 in Shurugwi versus $2,327 in Harare.
🙂Living in Shurugwi costs roughly 39% less than in Harare, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Shurugwi55% lower, Harare26% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shurugwi
Harare
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.08ZWL 271
$10.14ZWL 272
-0.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.74ZWL 1,094
$50.2ZWL 1,347
-18.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.20ZWL 193
$7.03ZWL 189
2.42%
Cappuccino
$1.72ZWL 46.22
$2.89ZWL 77.7
-40.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66ZWL 17.74
$0.67ZWL 17.95
-1.49%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44ZWL 11.78
$0.47ZWL 12.67
-6.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.47ZWL 39.44
$1.47ZWL 39.53
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97ZWL 52.9
$2.06ZWL 55.2
-4.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shurugwi
Harare
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.57ZWL 42.17
$1.63ZWL 43.68
-3.68%
White Bread(500g)
$0.97ZWL 26.16
$1.03ZWL 27.54
-5.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.87ZWL 50.3
$1.89ZWL 50.7
-1.06%
Eggs
$2.11ZWL 56.6
$2.16ZWL 58.0
-2.31%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.83ZWL 291
$10.78ZWL 289
0.46%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.54ZWL 175
$6.24ZWL 168
4.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.33ZWL 170
$6.24ZWL 168
1.44%
Apples(1kg)
$2.90ZWL 78.0
$2.97ZWL 79.9
-2.36%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64ZWL 44.12
$1.64ZWL 44.15
-
Oranges(1kg)
$2.21ZWL 59.2
$2.28ZWL 61.3
-3.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.67ZWL 44.74
$1.66ZWL 44.55
0.60%
Potato(1kg)
$1.55ZWL 41.48
$1.51ZWL 40.67
2.65%
Onion(1kg)
$1.96ZWL 52.7
$1.99ZWL 53.3
-1.51%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01ZWL 27.15
$0.98ZWL 26.22
3.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.01ZWL 27.04
$0.97ZWL 26.01
4.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.13ZWL 30.29
$1.12ZWL 29.98
0.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.85ZWL 238
$9.18ZWL 247
-3.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18ZWL 31.61
$1.18ZWL 31.79
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72ZWL 46.28
$1.71ZWL 45.84
0.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Shurugwi
Harare
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.97ZWL 26.15
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$43.15ZWL 1,159
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.97ZWL 133
$4.89ZWL 131
1.64%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.96ZWL 52.7
$2.05ZWL 55.1
-4.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.12ZWL 138
$4.95ZWL 133
3.43%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.60ZWL 43.05
$1.57ZWL 42.13
1.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.6KZWL 526.6K
$19.8KZWL 530.5K
-0.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6KZWL 633.9K
$23.9KZWL 640.7K
-1.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shurugwi
Harare
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$57.4ZWL 1,540
$58.6ZWL 1,573
-2.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.87ZWL 480
$17.79ZWL 478
0.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$91.7ZWL 2,462
$93.2ZWL 2,501
-1.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shurugwi
Harare
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$53.5ZWL 1,437
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$14.20ZWL 381
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.96ZWL 267
$9.93ZWL 267
0.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shurugwi
Harare
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$273ZWL 7,319
$283ZWL 7,599
-3.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,382ZWL 198.2K
$7,356ZWL 197.5K
0.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shurugwi
Harare
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.24ZWL 517
$19.00ZWL 510
1.26%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.47ZWL 577
$21.04ZWL 565
2.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$34.91ZWL 937
$34.77ZWL 934
0.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.94ZWL 1,099
$40.05ZWL 1,075
2.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shurugwi
Harare
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$403ZWL 10.8K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$280ZWL 7,527
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$941ZWL 25.3K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$688ZWL 18.5K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$899ZWL 24.1K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$390ZWL 10.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shurugwi
Harare
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$393ZWL 10.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.31
13.31
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Shurugwi: May 31, 2026
Last update for Harare: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $41.00 in Shurugwi vs $50.0 in Harare for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $219 vs $219 per month, with Shurugwi cheaper across the board.
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
Shurugwi vs Harare: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Harare cheaper than Shurugwi?
Shurugwi is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 63% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $913 in Shurugwi and $1,486 in Harare to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do food prices compare in Shurugwi and Harare?
Supermarket bills run roughly 0% higher in Harare. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Shurugwi vs Harare?
All in, you'll spend $608 per month in Shurugwi versus $991 in Harare – a 63% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Shurugwi or Harare?
At $608 in Shurugwi versus $991 in Harare, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Shurugwi but tight or insufficient in Harare. The gap between the two cities makes Shurugwi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Shurugwi or Harare?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Shurugwi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 63% less than in Harare. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.