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 $2,643 per month in United States vs $489 in Zimbabwe, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,857 per month in United States vs $817 in Zimbabwe, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,070 per month in United States vs $1,145 in Zimbabwe, rent included.

United States costs about 440% more than Zimbabwe on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

United States sits 97% above the global median, while Zimbabwe is 64% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.04 $20.04

$7.15 ZWL 192

180.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.0 $76.0

$50.0 ZWL 1,343

51.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.42 $11.42

$6.18 ZWL 166

84.79%

Cappuccino

$5.39 $5.39

$2.78 ZWL 74.7

93.88%

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

$2.55 $2.55

$0.72 ZWL 19.45

254.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 $2.04

$0.45 ZWL 12.11

353.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.14 $6.14

$1.53 ZWL 40.96

301.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.18 $7.18

$2.05 ZWL 55.1

250.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.55 ZWL 41.50

-32.90%

White Bread (500g)

$3.65 $3.65

$0.97 ZWL 26.10

276.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.73 $4.73

$1.81 ZWL 48.71

161.33%

Eggs

$4.38 $4.38

$2.16 ZWL 58.0

102.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.76 $12.76

$10.37 ZWL 278

23.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.42 $12.42

$5.77 ZWL 155

115.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.41 $16.41

$5.86 ZWL 157

180.03%

Apples (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$2.62 ZWL 70.4

106.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.80 ZWL 48.32

-8.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$2.13 ZWL 57.2

115.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.91 $4.91

$1.59 ZWL 42.71

208.81%

Potato (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$1.59 ZWL 42.77

83.65%

Onion (1kg)

$3.13 $3.13

$1.84 ZWL 49.32

70.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.26 $2.26

$1.04 ZWL 28.03

117.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.30 $2.30

$1.07 ZWL 28.77

114.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.89 $9.89

$1.36 ZWL 36.61

627.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.10 $15.10

$6.86 ZWL 184

120.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 $1.91

$1.17 ZWL 31.45

63.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 $3.66

$1.79 ZWL 47.96

104.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$0.99 ZWL 26.54

150.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.8 $64.8

$29.96 ZWL 804

116.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.84 $3.84

$4.92 ZWL 132

-21.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.76 $1.76

$2.06 ZWL 55.2

-14.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.58 $30.58

$5.14 ZWL 138

494.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$1.62 ZWL 43.51

-40.74%

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

$30.5K $30.5K

$23.7K ZWL 637.3K

28.42%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$24.3K ZWL 652.1K

8.60%

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

$204 $204

$53.9 ZWL 1,448

278.65%

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

$57.3 $57.3

$17.47 ZWL 469

227.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.2 $71.2

$89.7 ZWL 2,407

-20.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.67 $46.67

$47.55 ZWL 1,277

-1.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.12 $22.12

$10.72 ZWL 288

106.34%

Cinema Ticket

$13.84 $13.84

$9.99 ZWL 268

38.54%

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

$1,384 $1,384

$222 ZWL 5,966

522.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.7K $22.7K

$8,138 ZWL 218.5K

178.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.0 $53.0

$18.67 ZWL 501

183.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.17 $43.17

$19.11 ZWL 513

125.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.6 $90.6

$36.68 ZWL 985

146.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$42.38 ZWL 1,138

169.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,766 $1,766

$336 ZWL 9,020

425.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,459 $1,459

$224 ZWL 6,017

551.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,832 $2,832

$818 ZWL 22.0K

246.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,411 $2,411

$535 ZWL 14.4K

350.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,287 $3,287

$857 ZWL 23.0K

283.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,650 $2,650

$383 ZWL 10.3K

592.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,379 $4,379

$344 ZWL 9,233

1173.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

13.5

-51.78%

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

Last update for United States: May 30, 2026

Last update for Zimbabwe: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,637 in United States vs $105 in Zimbabwe. For reference, capital cities sit at $2,591 in Washington, DC and $403 in Harare.

Average salary: $4,500 in United States vs $356 in Zimbabwe. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 1459% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 128% more in United States.

Public transport is 178% more expensive in United States.

Salaries are 1164% higher in United States, giving United States stronger purchasing power.

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 548% 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 548% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$800 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.