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 $892 per month in Victoria Falls vs $747 in Bulawayo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,467 per month in Victoria Falls vs $1,184 in Bulawayo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,041 per month in Victoria Falls vs $1,620 in Bulawayo, rent included.

Victoria Falls costs about 19% more than Bulawayo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Victoria Falls and Bulawayo are more affordable than the global median – Victoria Falls 35% lower, Bulawayo 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.14 ZWL 270

$4.42 ZWL 118

129.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.50 ZWL 1,212

$29.78 ZWL 794

52.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.89 ZWL 130

Cappuccino

$5.93 ZWL 158

$2.15 ZWL 57.4

175.81%

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

$1.03 ZWL 27.32

$0.48 ZWL 12.66

114.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 ZWL 13.79

$0.40 ZWL 10.59

30.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.09 ZWL 136

$1.48 ZWL 39.48

243.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 ZWL 54.1

Milk (1 liter)

$2.04 ZWL 54.4

$1.59 ZWL 42.42

28.30%

White Bread (500g)

$0.97 ZWL 25.90

$1.02 ZWL 27.05

-4.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.95 ZWL 51.9

$1.53 ZWL 40.76

27.45%

Eggs

$3.67 ZWL 97.8

$1.89 ZWL 50.3

94.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.55 ZWL 67.9

$9.46 ZWL 252

-73.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.83 ZWL 155

$3.99 ZWL 106

46.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.93 ZWL 211

$4.46 ZWL 119

77.80%

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 ZWL 79.4

$1.85 ZWL 49.31

61.08%

Banana (1kg)

$3.08 ZWL 82.1

$1.60 ZWL 42.76

92.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.99 ZWL 79.6

$2.48 ZWL 66.2

20.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.07 ZWL 108

$1.00 ZWL 26.70

307.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.21 ZWL 32.36

Onion (1kg)

$1.95 ZWL 52.1

$1.44 ZWL 38.33

35.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.97 ZWL 52.5

$1.10 ZWL 29.32

79.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 ZWL 41.11

$0.79 ZWL 21.13

94.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.42 ZWL 91.1

$1.46 ZWL 38.85

134.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.76 ZWL 527

$5.14 ZWL 137

284.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 ZWL 37.30

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 ZWL 51.1

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 ZWL 52.1

$0.73 ZWL 19.49

167.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.64 ZWL 790

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.04 ZWL 81.1

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ZWL 26.32

$2.02 ZWL 54.0

-50.99%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.89 ZWL 130

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.83 ZWL 48.88

$1.63 ZWL 43.34

12.27%

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

$25.0K ZWL 667.5K

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

$24.5K ZWL 653.1K

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

$25.49 ZWL 679

$96.4 ZWL 2,569

-73.56%

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

$24.79 ZWL 661

$17.81 ZWL 475

39.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.5 ZWL 1,826

$110 ZWL 2,922

-37.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.8 ZWL 1,621

$30.91 ZWL 824

96.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.80 ZWL 395

$19.91 ZWL 531

-25.67%

Cinema Ticket

$20.39 ZWL 543

$9.92 ZWL 264

105.54%

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

$98.9 ZWL 2,636

$231 ZWL 6,168

-57.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,112 ZWL 162.9K

$3,519 ZWL 93.8K

73.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.95 ZWL 399

$21.48 ZWL 572

-30.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.49 ZWL 679

$11.53 ZWL 307

121.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.1 ZWL 1,574

$45.41 ZWL 1,210

30.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.68 ZWL 1,217

$58.1 ZWL 1,549

-21.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$247 ZWL 6,586

$174 ZWL 4,646

41.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$178 ZWL 4,756

$109 ZWL 2,915

63.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$497 ZWL 13.3K

$404 ZWL 10.8K

22.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$344 ZWL 9,155

$319 ZWL 8,514

7.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,069 ZWL 55.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,009 ZWL 53.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$808 ZWL 21.5K

$302 ZWL 8,045

167.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Victoria Falls: September 5, 2026

Last update for Bulawayo: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $247 in Victoria Falls versus $174 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 168% 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: $249 vs $177 – 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 19%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,338 per month in Victoria Falls and $1,121 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 $892 in Victoria Falls and $747 in Bulawayo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $98.9 per month in Victoria Falls and $231 in Bulawayo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Bulawayo, where all-in costs run around $747, than in Victoria Falls at $892. In Bulawayo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Victoria Falls it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.