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 $900 per month in Victoria Falls vs $766 in Bulawayo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,451 per month in Victoria Falls vs $1,274 in Bulawayo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,003 per month in Victoria Falls vs $1,782 in Bulawayo, rent included.

Victoria Falls costs about 17% more than Bulawayo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Victoria Falls and Bulawayo are more affordable than the global median – Victoria Falls 33% lower, Bulawayo 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.91 ZWL 264

$4.42 ZWL 118

124.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.63 ZWL 1,217

$29.55 ZWL 788

54.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.52 ZWL 147

Cappuccino

$5.85 ZWL 156

$2.39 ZWL 63.8

144.77%

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

$1.01 ZWL 27.06

$0.52 ZWL 13.89

94.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 ZWL 13.89

$0.44 ZWL 11.63

18.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 ZWL 45.08

$1.80 ZWL 47.90

-6.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 ZWL 65.6

Milk (1 liter)

$1.98 ZWL 52.9

$1.59 ZWL 42.31

24.53%

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 ZWL 26.18

$1.00 ZWL 26.76

-2.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.04 ZWL 54.4

$1.80 ZWL 48.06

13.33%

Eggs

$3.64 ZWL 97.3

$1.81 ZWL 48.39

101.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.52 ZWL 67.1

$10.46 ZWL 279

-75.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.94 ZWL 158

$3.89 ZWL 104

52.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.78 ZWL 208

$4.31 ZWL 115

80.51%

Apples (1kg)

$2.94 ZWL 78.3

$1.48 ZWL 39.36

98.65%

Banana (1kg)

$3.03 ZWL 80.7

$1.49 ZWL 39.66

103.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.04 ZWL 81.2

$2.33 ZWL 62.1

30.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.90 ZWL 104

$1.13 ZWL 30.20

245.13%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 ZWL 30.56

Onion (1kg)

$2.05 ZWL 54.8

$1.39 ZWL 37.07

47.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.97 ZWL 52.7

$1.03 ZWL 27.39

91.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.53 ZWL 40.94

$1.06 ZWL 28.21

44.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.29 ZWL 34.44

$1.54 ZWL 41.13

-16.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.99 ZWL 533

$4.97 ZWL 133

302.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.53 ZWL 40.72

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 ZWL 56.9

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 ZWL 22.53

$0.52 ZWL 13.81

61.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.04 ZWL 802

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.97 ZWL 79.3

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.98 ZWL 26.09

$2.21 ZWL 59.0

-55.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.02 ZWL 134

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.85 ZWL 49.23

$1.64 ZWL 43.64

12.80%

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

$24.85 ZWL 663

$71.6 ZWL 1,911

-65.30%

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

$25.20 ZWL 672

$18.35 ZWL 490

37.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.7 ZWL 1,834

$134 ZWL 3,585

-48.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.1 ZWL 1,603

$25.50 ZWL 680

135.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.76 ZWL 394

Cinema Ticket

$19.87 ZWL 530

$9.95 ZWL 265

99.70%

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

$101 ZWL 2,682

$142 ZWL 3,781

-29.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,015 ZWL 160.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.13 ZWL 404

$21.35 ZWL 570

-29.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.40 ZWL 678

$13.38 ZWL 357

89.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.9 ZWL 1,625

$68.7 ZWL 1,834

-11.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$44.44 ZWL 1,186

$55.9 ZWL 1,491

-20.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$248 ZWL 6,618

$184 ZWL 4,899

35.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 ZWL 4,811

$112 ZWL 2,992

60.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$493 ZWL 13.2K

$459 ZWL 12.2K

7.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$350 ZWL 9,336

$414 ZWL 11.1K

-15.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,118 ZWL 56.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,063 ZWL 55.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$797 ZWL 21.3K

$301 ZWL 8,034

164.66%

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

Last update for Victoria Falls: July 12, 2026

Last update for Bulawayo: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $248 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 165% 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 $46.00 in Victoria Falls versus $30.00 in Bulawayo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $248 vs $180 – 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 17%, 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 $1,349 per month in Victoria Falls and $1,149 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 $900 in Victoria Falls and $766 in Bulawayo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $101 per month in Victoria Falls and $142 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 $900 in Victoria Falls and $766 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.