Cost of Living Comparison Between Victoria Falls and Bulawayo Cost of Living Comparison Between Victoria Falls and Bulawayo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $872 per month in Victoria Falls vs $780 in Bulawayo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,434 per month in Victoria Falls vs $1,257 in Bulawayo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,995 per month in Victoria Falls vs $1,735 in Bulawayo, rent included.

Victoria Falls costs about 12% more than Bulawayo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Victoria Falls and Bulawayo are more affordable than the global median – Victoria Falls 35% lower, Bulawayo 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.97 ZWL 268

$4.57 ZWL 123

118.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.30 ZWL 1,216

$30.15 ZWL 810

50.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.52 ZWL 148

Cappuccino

$5.94 ZWL 159

$2.40 ZWL 64.4

147.50%

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

$0.98 ZWL 26.25

$0.48 ZWL 12.96

104.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ZWL 13.12

$0.43 ZWL 11.56

13.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 ZWL 46.84

$1.72 ZWL 46.05

1.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 ZWL 67.9

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ZWL 52.7

$1.53 ZWL 41.08

28.10%

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 ZWL 27.43

$1.01 ZWL 27.00

0.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.01 ZWL 54.1

$1.78 ZWL 47.74

12.92%

Eggs

$3.69 ZWL 99.1

$1.79 ZWL 48.10

106.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.46 ZWL 66.1

$10.44 ZWL 280

-76.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.87 ZWL 158

$3.92 ZWL 105

49.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.91 ZWL 212

$4.37 ZWL 117

81.01%

Apples (1kg)

$2.93 ZWL 78.6

$1.54 ZWL 41.24

90.26%

Banana (1kg)

$2.98 ZWL 80.1

$1.48 ZWL 39.69

101.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.09 ZWL 83.0

$2.22 ZWL 59.5

39.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.07 ZWL 109

$1.13 ZWL 30.22

260.18%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 ZWL 31.79

Onion (1kg)

$2.06 ZWL 55.2

$1.36 ZWL 36.44

51.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.02 ZWL 54.2

$1.02 ZWL 27.50

98.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.53 ZWL 41.02

$1.06 ZWL 28.40

44.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.34 ZWL 36.06

$1.48 ZWL 39.71

-9.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.37 ZWL 547

$4.94 ZWL 133

312.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.48 ZWL 39.65

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 ZWL 58.6

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 ZWL 22.47

$0.52 ZWL 13.99

61.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.35 ZWL 815

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.94 ZWL 79.1

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ZWL 27.37

$2.28 ZWL 61.2

-55.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.95 ZWL 133

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.83 ZWL 49.17

$1.66 ZWL 44.58

10.24%

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

$24.70 ZWL 663

$72.5 ZWL 1,947

-65.94%

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

$25.27 ZWL 678

$18.20 ZWL 489

38.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.0 ZWL 1,798

$133 ZWL 3,572

-49.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.8 ZWL 1,605

$25.22 ZWL 677

137.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.80 ZWL 397

Cinema Ticket

$19.78 ZWL 531

$9.83 ZWL 264

101.22%

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

$100 ZWL 2,689

$138 ZWL 3,692

-27.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,925 ZWL 159.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.08 ZWL 405

$22.07 ZWL 593

-31.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.41 ZWL 682

$13.37 ZWL 359

90.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.7 ZWL 1,631

$68.0 ZWL 1,825

-10.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.14 ZWL 1,212

$54.3 ZWL 1,459

-16.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$250 ZWL 6,710

$184 ZWL 4,931

36.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$177 ZWL 4,751

$111 ZWL 2,993

58.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$499 ZWL 13.4K

$466 ZWL 12.5K

7.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$356 ZWL 9,569

$409 ZWL 11.0K

-12.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,055 ZWL 55.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,067 ZWL 55.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$787 ZWL 21.1K

$302 ZWL 8,116

160.31%

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

Last update for Victoria Falls: May 30, 2026

Last update for Bulawayo: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $250 in Victoria Falls versus $184 in Bulawayo. 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 160% higher in Victoria Falls, 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 $45.00 in Victoria Falls versus $30.00 in Bulawayo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $250 vs $179 – making Bulawayo the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Victoria Falls vs Bulawayo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Victoria Falls is pricier by about 12%, 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 $1,308 per month in Victoria Falls and $1,170 in Bulawayo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bulawayo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $872 in Victoria Falls and $780 in Bulawayo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $100 per month in Victoria Falls and $138 in Bulawayo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $872 in Victoria Falls and $780 in Bulawayo, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Bulawayo – 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 Bulawayo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Victoria Falls makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.