Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and Zimbabwe Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and Zimbabwe

Name: Zimbabwe
Address: ZW

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,626 per month in United States vs $487 in Zimbabwe, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,830 per month in United States vs $803 in Zimbabwe, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,034 per month in United States vs $1,119 in Zimbabwe, rent included.

The cost of living in United States is about 439% higher than in Zimbabwe on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

United States sits 92% above the global median, while Zimbabwe is 64% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.38 $20.38

$6.51 ZWL 174

213.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.0 $79.0

$38.17 ZWL 1,023

107.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.78 $11.78

$6.17 ZWL 165

90.92%

Cappuccino

$5.42 $5.42

$2.63 ZWL 70.6

106.08%

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

$2.75 $2.75

$0.73 ZWL 19.65

276.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$0.52 ZWL 13.98

317.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.86 $5.86

$1.49 ZWL 39.83

293.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.03 $8.03

$2.05 ZWL 54.9

291.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.51 ZWL 40.45

-31.13%

White Bread (500g)

$3.56 $3.56

$0.98 ZWL 26.13

263.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.70 $4.70

$1.50 ZWL 40.15

213.33%

Eggs

$4.26 $4.26

$1.89 ZWL 50.5

125.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.21 $13.21

$10.05 ZWL 269

31.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.42 $12.42

$4.82 ZWL 129

157.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.49 $17.49

$5.86 ZWL 157

198.46%

Apples (1kg)

$5.21 $5.21

$2.77 ZWL 74.1

88.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.71 ZWL 45.70

-3.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.47 $4.47

$1.98 ZWL 53.0

125.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.86 $4.86

$1.37 ZWL 36.81

254.74%

Potato (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$1.56 ZWL 41.69

83.33%

Onion (1kg)

$3.11 $3.11

$1.60 ZWL 42.77

94.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.16 ZWL 30.99

91.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$1.07 ZWL 28.56

118.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.41 $10.41

$2.01 ZWL 54.0

417.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.23 $15.23

$7.15 ZWL 191

113.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.13 $2.13

$1.30 ZWL 34.84

63.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 $3.74

$1.96 ZWL 52.6

90.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.44 $2.44

$0.97 ZWL 26.12

151.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65.2 $65.2

$45.40 ZWL 1,216

43.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.44 $3.44

$2.97 ZWL 79.6

15.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 $1.90

$2.06 ZWL 55.1

-7.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.70 $29.70

$5.06 ZWL 136

486.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.76 ZWL 47.20

-41.48%

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

$35.8K $35.8K

$24.5K ZWL 657.6K

45.86%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$27.3K ZWL 732.3K

-5.38%

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

$222 $222

$52.9 ZWL 1,418

319.80%

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

$62.6 $62.6

$18.34 ZWL 491

241.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.6 $74.6

$67.4 ZWL 1,807

10.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.12 $45.12

$42.60 ZWL 1,141

5.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.13 $23.13

$20.14 ZWL 540

14.85%

Cinema Ticket

$15.27 $15.27

$9.88 ZWL 265

54.55%

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

$1,474 $1,474

$329 ZWL 8,821

347.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.0K $25.0K

$8,311 ZWL 222.7K

200.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.1 $54.1

$19.78 ZWL 530

173.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.55 $42.55

$18.25 ZWL 489

133.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.4 $91.4

$40.70 ZWL 1,090

124.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$43.94 ZWL 1,177

160.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,636 $1,636

$288 ZWL 7,726

467.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,367 $1,367

$230 ZWL 6,159

494.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,701 $2,701

$634 ZWL 17.0K

325.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,239 $2,239

$519 ZWL 13.9K

331.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,267 $3,267

$916 ZWL 24.5K

256.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,651 $2,651

$395 ZWL 10.6K

571.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,317 $4,317

$359 ZWL 9,619

1102.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.22

13.77

-54.83%

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

Last update for United States: September 13, 2026

Last update for Zimbabwe: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,610 in United States vs $102 in Zimbabwe. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,358 in Columbia, TN and $401 in Harare.

Average salary: $4,521 in United States vs $361 in Zimbabwe. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 1478% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 178% more in United States.

Public transport is 200% more expensive in United States.

Salaries are 1152% higher in United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in United States.

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

United States vs Zimbabwe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Zimbabwe is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 486% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

Housing costs more in United States, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but United States consistently has higher rents.

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Zimbabwe, contributing to the overall 486% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$1,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Zimbabwe, but in United States it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

Zimbabwe is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.