😐A single person spends $886 per month in Victoria Falls vs $794 in Mutare, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,468 per month in Victoria Falls vs $1,254 in Mutare, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,050 per month in Victoria Falls vs $1,714 in Mutare, rent included.
😐Victoria Falls costs about 12% more than Mutare, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Victoria Falls and Mutare are more affordable than the global median – Victoria Falls33% lower, Mutare40% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Victoria Falls
Mutare
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.02ZWL 267
$9.82ZWL 262
2.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.70ZWL 1,219
$49.05ZWL 1,309
-6.83%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$4.38ZWL 117
-
Cappuccino
$5.82ZWL 155
$1.24ZWL 32.96
369.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98ZWL 26.10
$0.66ZWL 17.65
48.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51ZWL 13.74
$0.43ZWL 11.43
18.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.77ZWL 47.18
$1.39ZWL 37.06
27.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.78ZWL 47.41
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Victoria Falls
Mutare
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.97ZWL 52.6
$1.23ZWL 32.72
60.16%
White Bread(500g)
$1.02ZWL 27.25
$1.01ZWL 27.04
0.99%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.04ZWL 54.3
$1.33ZWL 35.35
53.38%
Eggs
$3.51ZWL 93.8
$1.93ZWL 51.6
81.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$2.53ZWL 67.4
$3.06ZWL 81.5
-17.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.02ZWL 161
$3.90ZWL 104
54.36%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.99ZWL 213
$4.89ZWL 130
63.39%
Apples(1kg)
$3.06ZWL 81.6
$2.02ZWL 53.9
51.49%
Banana(1kg)
$2.98ZWL 79.5
$1.62ZWL 43.14
83.95%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.06ZWL 81.7
$1.99ZWL 53.0
53.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.08ZWL 109
$0.97ZWL 26.01
320.62%
Potato(1kg)
-
$1.54ZWL 41.09
-
Onion(1kg)
$1.94ZWL 51.8
$1.02ZWL 27.35
90.20%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.98ZWL 52.7
$0.49ZWL 12.97
304.08%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.48ZWL 39.50
$0.99ZWL 26.54
49.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.35ZWL 35.90
$1.08ZWL 28.90
25.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.76ZWL 527
$6.15ZWL 164
221.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.18ZWL 31.38
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.74ZWL 46.29
-
🚌 Getting Around
Victoria Falls
Mutare
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.85ZWL 22.77
$0.48ZWL 12.71
77.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.97ZWL 719
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$2.92ZWL 78.0
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02ZWL 27.21
$1.96ZWL 52.4
-47.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$5.10ZWL 136
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.84ZWL 49.09
$1.56ZWL 41.59
17.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$20.1KZWL 535.5K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$23.3KZWL 622.6K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Victoria Falls
Mutare
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$24.64ZWL 657
$57.8ZWL 1,541
-57.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.40ZWL 678
$15.22ZWL 406
66.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.9ZWL 1,837
$60.3ZWL 1,610
14.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Victoria Falls
Mutare
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.4ZWL 1,585
$40.37ZWL 1,077
47.19%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.90ZWL 397
$4.94ZWL 132
201.62%
Cinema Ticket
$19.68ZWL 525
$10.09ZWL 269
95.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Victoria Falls
Mutare
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$98.7ZWL 2,632
$148ZWL 3,951
-33.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,018ZWL 160.6K
$7,359ZWL 196.3K
-18.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Victoria Falls
Mutare
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$14.89ZWL 397
$10.03ZWL 268
48.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.84ZWL 663
$9.58ZWL 255
159.29%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$59.0ZWL 1,575
$24.60ZWL 656
139.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$44.59ZWL 1,190
$20.04ZWL 535
122.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Victoria Falls
Mutare
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$252ZWL 6,728
$351ZWL 9,353
-28.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$179ZWL 4,787
$255ZWL 6,791
-29.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$500ZWL 13.4K
$763ZWL 20.4K
-34.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$351ZWL 9,359
$399ZWL 10.6K
-12.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$251ZWL 6,705
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Victoria Falls
Mutare
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$804ZWL 21.5K
$248ZWL 6,606
224.90%
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: July 26, 2026
Last update for Mutare: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $252 in Victoria Falls versus $351 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 225% 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 $49.00 in Mutare. Groceries tell a different story – $249 in Victoria Falls vs $154 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 12%, 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 $1,329 per month in Victoria Falls and $1,191 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 $886 in Victoria Falls and $794 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 $98.7 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 living in Victoria Falls or in Mutare?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Mutare, where all-in costs run around $794, than in Victoria Falls at $886. 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.
Victoria Falls vs other spots: cost of living compared