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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $909 per month in Victoria Falls vs $790 in Mutare, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,471 per month in Victoria Falls vs $1,215 in Mutare, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,033 per month in Victoria Falls vs $1,639 in Mutare, rent included.

Victoria Falls costs about 15% more than Mutare, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Victoria Falls and Mutare are more affordable than the global median – Victoria Falls 34% lower, Mutare 42% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Victoria Falls
Mutare
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.07 ZWL 268
$10.15 ZWL 271
-0.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.16 ZWL 1,177
$39.66 ZWL 1,057
11.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
-
$4.47 ZWL 119
-
Cappuccino
$5.92 ZWL 158
$1.28 ZWL 34.11
362.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02 ZWL 27.18
$0.71 ZWL 19.05
43.66%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 ZWL 12.69
$0.48 ZWL 12.76
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.98 ZWL 133
$1.39 ZWL 36.92
258.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.83 ZWL 48.87
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Victoria Falls
Mutare
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.98 ZWL 52.9
$1.27 ZWL 33.78
55.91%
White Bread (500g)
$0.97 ZWL 25.97
$0.98 ZWL 25.99
-1.02%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.94 ZWL 51.8
$1.26 ZWL 33.67
53.97%
Eggs
$3.55 ZWL 94.6
$1.89 ZWL 50.3
87.83%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$2.53 ZWL 67.5
$2.96 ZWL 78.9
-14.53%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.08 ZWL 162
$3.97 ZWL 106
53.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.03 ZWL 214
$5.07 ZWL 135
58.38%
Apples (1kg)
$2.97 ZWL 79.3
$2.04 ZWL 54.3
45.59%
Banana (1kg)
$3.03 ZWL 80.8
$1.61 ZWL 42.86
88.20%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.98 ZWL 79.3
$2.05 ZWL 54.5
45.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.04 ZWL 108
$1.01 ZWL 26.93
300.00%
Potato (1kg)
-
$1.66 ZWL 44.27
-
Onion (1kg)
$2.05 ZWL 54.7
$0.98 ZWL 26.18
109.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.04 ZWL 54.4
$0.48 ZWL 12.85
325.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.52 ZWL 40.46
$0.99 ZWL 26.43
53.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.35 ZWL 89.2
$1.21 ZWL 32.30
176.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.10 ZWL 536
$5.99 ZWL 160
235.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.17 ZWL 31.21
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.72 ZWL 45.73
-
🚌 Getting Around
Victoria Falls
Mutare
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.97 ZWL 52.5
$0.71 ZWL 19.00
177.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$26.48 ZWL 706
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$3.04 ZWL 81.0
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ZWL 27.25
$2.01 ZWL 53.7
-49.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$4.98 ZWL 133
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.83 ZWL 48.90
$1.85 ZWL 49.30
-1.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$22.3K ZWL 593.7K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$24.3K ZWL 646.3K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Victoria Falls
Mutare
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$25.26 ZWL 673
$54.0 ZWL 1,438
-53.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.69 ZWL 658
$15.04 ZWL 401
64.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.3 ZWL 1,794
$59.8 ZWL 1,594
12.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Victoria Falls
Mutare
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.4 ZWL 1,609
$39.27 ZWL 1,047
53.76%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.13 ZWL 403
$4.95 ZWL 132
205.66%
Cinema Ticket
$20.07 ZWL 535
$9.93 ZWL 265
102.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Victoria Falls
Mutare
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$99.1 ZWL 2,641
$149 ZWL 3,981
-33.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,911 ZWL 157.5K
$9,070 ZWL 241.7K
-34.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Victoria Falls
Mutare
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$15.02 ZWL 400
$9.81 ZWL 261
53.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.41 ZWL 677
$9.26 ZWL 247
174.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$61.0 ZWL 1,624
$25.03 ZWL 667
143.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$44.78 ZWL 1,193
$20.27 ZWL 540
120.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Victoria Falls
Mutare
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$252 ZWL 6,705
$347 ZWL 9,257
-27.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$181 ZWL 4,830
$246 ZWL 6,546
-26.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$505 ZWL 13.5K
$744 ZWL 19.8K
-32.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$355 ZWL 9,458
$399 ZWL 10.6K
-11.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$252 ZWL 6,726
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Victoria Falls
Mutare
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$805 ZWL 21.5K
$252 ZWL 6,711
219.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
13.69
-

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

Last update for Victoria Falls: September 14, 2026

Last update for Mutare: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $252 in Victoria Falls versus $347 in Mutare. 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 220% 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 $44.00 in Victoria Falls versus $40.00 in Mutare. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $154 – making Mutare 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 Mutare: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mutare cheaper than Victoria Falls?
Yes – Victoria Falls is pricier by about 15%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,363 per month in Victoria Falls and $1,186 in Mutare. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mutare, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Victoria Falls and in Mutare?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $909 in Victoria Falls and $790 in Mutare. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $99.1 per month in Victoria Falls and $149 in Mutare. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,000 enough for either Victoria Falls or Mutare?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $909 in Victoria Falls and $790 in Mutare, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Victoria Falls or Mutare more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Mutare – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Mutare. 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.

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