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 $902 per month in Victoria Falls vs $779 in Mutare, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,450 per month in Victoria Falls vs $1,247 in Mutare, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,997 per month in Victoria Falls vs $1,715 in Mutare, rent included.

Victoria Falls costs about 16% more than Mutare, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Victoria Falls and Mutare are more affordable than the global median – Victoria Falls 33% lower, Mutare 42% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Victoria Falls
Mutare
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.09 ZWL 270
$10.07 ZWL 270
0.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.80 ZWL 1,226
$50.8 ZWL 1,359
-9.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
-
$4.63 ZWL 124
-
Cappuccino
$6.15 ZWL 165
$1.27 ZWL 34.11
384.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 ZWL 26.03
$0.67 ZWL 18.04
44.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 ZWL 12.75
$0.43 ZWL 11.51
11.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.76 ZWL 47.22
$1.31 ZWL 35.11
34.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.82 ZWL 48.65
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Victoria Falls
Mutare
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.96 ZWL 52.5
$1.24 ZWL 33.12
58.06%
White Bread (500g)
$0.99 ZWL 26.44
$1.02 ZWL 27.41
-2.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.95 ZWL 52.1
$1.33 ZWL 35.64
46.62%
Eggs
$3.59 ZWL 96.0
$1.92 ZWL 51.5
86.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$2.44 ZWL 65.4
$3.01 ZWL 80.7
-18.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.94 ZWL 159
$4.07 ZWL 109
45.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.14 ZWL 218
$5.17 ZWL 139
57.45%
Apples (1kg)
$2.91 ZWL 78.0
$2.03 ZWL 54.3
43.35%
Banana (1kg)
$2.93 ZWL 78.6
$1.64 ZWL 43.93
78.66%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.97 ZWL 79.6
$2.02 ZWL 54.0
47.03%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.90 ZWL 104
$0.99 ZWL 26.43
293.94%
Potato (1kg)
-
$1.57 ZWL 41.97
-
Onion (1kg)
$1.97 ZWL 52.8
$0.98 ZWL 26.17
101.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.02 ZWL 54.2
$0.51 ZWL 13.70
296.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 ZWL 41.33
$1.02 ZWL 27.21
50.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.33 ZWL 35.71
$1.12 ZWL 29.91
18.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.30 ZWL 543
$5.89 ZWL 158
244.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.17 ZWL 31.39
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.68 ZWL 44.96
-
🚌 Getting Around
Victoria Falls
Mutare
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.92 ZWL 24.57
$0.51 ZWL 13.77
80.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$27.01 ZWL 723
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$3.06 ZWL 81.9
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.97 ZWL 26.02
$1.97 ZWL 52.7
-50.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$4.85 ZWL 130
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.82 ZWL 48.67
$1.56 ZWL 41.72
16.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$19.8K ZWL 530.2K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$23.5K ZWL 628.4K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Victoria Falls
Mutare
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$25.06 ZWL 671
$57.5 ZWL 1,540
-56.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.46 ZWL 681
$14.83 ZWL 397
71.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.8 ZWL 1,789
$60.8 ZWL 1,627
9.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Victoria Falls
Mutare
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.6 ZWL 1,622
$39.97 ZWL 1,070
51.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.84 ZWL 397
$4.90 ZWL 131
202.86%
Cinema Ticket
$20.20 ZWL 541
$9.98 ZWL 267
102.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Victoria Falls
Mutare
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$101 ZWL 2,708
$148 ZWL 3,961
-31.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,939 ZWL 159.0K
$7,258 ZWL 194.3K
-18.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Victoria Falls
Mutare
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$14.79 ZWL 396
$9.85 ZWL 264
50.15%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.75 ZWL 662
$9.39 ZWL 251
163.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$58.9 ZWL 1,576
$25.10 ZWL 672
134.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$44.10 ZWL 1,181
$19.78 ZWL 529
122.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Victoria Falls
Mutare
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$253 ZWL 6,764
$355 ZWL 9,491
-28.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$181 ZWL 4,843
$252 ZWL 6,748
-28.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$509 ZWL 13.6K
$753 ZWL 20.2K
-32.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$346 ZWL 9,263
$398 ZWL 10.7K
-13.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$253 ZWL 6,783
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Victoria Falls
Mutare
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$791 ZWL 21.2K
$247 ZWL 6,599
220.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
13.31
-

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

Last update for Victoria Falls: June 8, 2026

Last update for Mutare: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $253 in Victoria Falls versus $355 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 221% 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 $51.0 in Mutare. Groceries tell a different story – $248 in Victoria Falls vs $155 in Mutare – so Mutare wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 16%, 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 $1,353 per month in Victoria Falls and $1,168 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 vs Mutare?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $902 in Victoria Falls and $779 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 $101 per month in Victoria Falls and $148 in Mutare. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Victoria Falls or Mutare?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Mutare, where all-in costs run around $779, than in Victoria Falls at $902. In Mutare it covers expenses comfortably, while in Victoria Falls it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
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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