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 $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 Falls 33% lower, Mutare 40% lower.

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

Similar cities