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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $872 in Victoria Falls versus $991 in Harare.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,434 in Victoria Falls versus $1,659 in Harare.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,995 in Victoria Falls versus $2,327 in Harare.

Living in Victoria Falls costs roughly 12% less than in Harare, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Victoria Falls 35% lower, Harare 26% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.97 ZWL 268

$10.14 ZWL 272

-1.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.30 ZWL 1,216

$50.2 ZWL 1,347

-9.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.03 ZWL 189

Cappuccino

$5.94 ZWL 159

$2.89 ZWL 77.7

105.54%

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

$0.98 ZWL 26.25

$0.67 ZWL 17.95

46.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ZWL 13.12

$0.47 ZWL 12.67

4.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 ZWL 46.84

$1.47 ZWL 39.53

18.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 ZWL 55.2

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ZWL 52.7

$1.63 ZWL 43.68

20.25%

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 ZWL 27.43

$1.03 ZWL 27.54

-0.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.01 ZWL 54.1

$1.89 ZWL 50.7

6.35%

Eggs

$3.69 ZWL 99.1

$2.16 ZWL 58.0

70.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.46 ZWL 66.1

$10.78 ZWL 289

-77.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.87 ZWL 158

$6.24 ZWL 168

-5.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.91 ZWL 212

$6.24 ZWL 168

26.76%

Apples (1kg)

$2.93 ZWL 78.6

$2.97 ZWL 79.9

-1.35%

Banana (1kg)

$2.98 ZWL 80.1

$1.64 ZWL 44.15

81.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.09 ZWL 83.0

$2.28 ZWL 61.3

35.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.07 ZWL 109

$1.66 ZWL 44.55

145.18%

Potato (1kg)

$1.51 ZWL 40.67

Onion (1kg)

$2.06 ZWL 55.2

$1.99 ZWL 53.3

3.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.02 ZWL 54.2

$0.98 ZWL 26.22

106.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.53 ZWL 41.02

$0.97 ZWL 26.01

57.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.34 ZWL 36.06

$1.12 ZWL 29.98

19.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.37 ZWL 547

$9.18 ZWL 247

121.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 ZWL 31.79

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 ZWL 45.84

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 ZWL 22.47

$0.97 ZWL 26.15

-13.40%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.15 ZWL 1,159

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.89 ZWL 131

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ZWL 27.37

$2.05 ZWL 55.1

-50.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.95 ZWL 133

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.83 ZWL 49.17

$1.57 ZWL 42.13

16.56%

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

$19.8K ZWL 530.5K

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

$23.9K ZWL 640.7K

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

$24.70 ZWL 663

$58.6 ZWL 1,573

-57.84%

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

$25.27 ZWL 678

$17.79 ZWL 478

42.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.0 ZWL 1,798

$93.2 ZWL 2,501

-28.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.8 ZWL 1,605

$53.5 ZWL 1,437

11.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.80 ZWL 397

$14.20 ZWL 381

4.23%

Cinema Ticket

$19.78 ZWL 531

$9.93 ZWL 267

99.19%

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

$100 ZWL 2,689

$283 ZWL 7,599

-64.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,925 ZWL 159.1K

$7,356 ZWL 197.5K

-19.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.08 ZWL 405

$19.00 ZWL 510

-20.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.41 ZWL 682

$21.04 ZWL 565

20.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.7 ZWL 1,631

$34.77 ZWL 934

74.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.14 ZWL 1,212

$40.05 ZWL 1,075

12.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$250 ZWL 6,710

$403 ZWL 10.8K

-38.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$177 ZWL 4,751

$280 ZWL 7,527

-36.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$499 ZWL 13.4K

$941 ZWL 25.3K

-46.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$356 ZWL 9,569

$688 ZWL 18.5K

-48.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$899 ZWL 24.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$390 ZWL 10.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$787 ZWL 21.1K

$393 ZWL 10.6K

100.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.31

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

Last update for Victoria Falls: May 30, 2026

Last update for Harare: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $250 in Victoria Falls and $403 in Harare. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Victoria Falls pays 100% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $45.00 in Victoria Falls vs $50.0 in Harare. Groceries flip the comparison at $250 vs $219, with Harare cheaper for home cooking.

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 Harare: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Victoria Falls is cheaper overall, especially in Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 14% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Victoria Falls pays 100% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $250 in Victoria Falls versus $403 in Harare. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Harare pay roughly 14% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $872 per month in Victoria Falls versus $991 in Harare – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $872 in Victoria Falls versus $991 in Harare, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Victoria Falls but tight or insufficient in Harare. The gap between the two cities makes Victoria Falls the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Victoria Falls gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Harare. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.