😐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 Falls34% lower, Mutare42% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Victoria Falls
Mutare
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.07ZWL 268
$10.15ZWL 271
-0.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.16ZWL 1,177
$39.66ZWL 1,057
11.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$4.47ZWL 119
-
Cappuccino
$5.92ZWL 158
$1.28ZWL 34.11
362.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02ZWL 27.18
$0.71ZWL 19.05
43.66%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48ZWL 12.69
$0.48ZWL 12.76
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.98ZWL 133
$1.39ZWL 36.92
258.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.83ZWL 48.87
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Victoria Falls
Mutare
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.98ZWL 52.9
$1.27ZWL 33.78
55.91%
White Bread(500g)
$0.97ZWL 25.97
$0.98ZWL 25.99
-1.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.94ZWL 51.8
$1.26ZWL 33.67
53.97%
Eggs
$3.55ZWL 94.6
$1.89ZWL 50.3
87.83%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$2.53ZWL 67.5
$2.96ZWL 78.9
-14.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.08ZWL 162
$3.97ZWL 106
53.15%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.03ZWL 214
$5.07ZWL 135
58.38%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97ZWL 79.3
$2.04ZWL 54.3
45.59%
Banana(1kg)
$3.03ZWL 80.8
$1.61ZWL 42.86
88.20%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.98ZWL 79.3
$2.05ZWL 54.5
45.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.04ZWL 108
$1.01ZWL 26.93
300.00%
Potato(1kg)
-
$1.66ZWL 44.27
-
Onion(1kg)
$2.05ZWL 54.7
$0.98ZWL 26.18
109.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.04ZWL 54.4
$0.48ZWL 12.85
325.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.52ZWL 40.46
$0.99ZWL 26.43
53.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.35ZWL 89.2
$1.21ZWL 32.30
176.86%
Wine(Bottle)
$20.10ZWL 536
$5.99ZWL 160
235.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.17ZWL 31.21
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.72ZWL 45.73
-
🚌 Getting Around
Victoria Falls
Mutare
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.97ZWL 52.5
$0.71ZWL 19.00
177.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.48ZWL 706
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$3.04ZWL 81.0
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02ZWL 27.25
$2.01ZWL 53.7
-49.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$4.98ZWL 133
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.83ZWL 48.90
$1.85ZWL 49.30
-1.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$22.3KZWL 593.7K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$24.3KZWL 646.3K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Victoria Falls
Mutare
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$25.26ZWL 673
$54.0ZWL 1,438
-53.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.69ZWL 658
$15.04ZWL 401
64.16%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.3ZWL 1,794
$59.8ZWL 1,594
12.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Victoria Falls
Mutare
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.4ZWL 1,609
$39.27ZWL 1,047
53.76%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.13ZWL 403
$4.95ZWL 132
205.66%
Cinema Ticket
$20.07ZWL 535
$9.93ZWL 265
102.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Victoria Falls
Mutare
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$99.1ZWL 2,641
$149ZWL 3,981
-33.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,911ZWL 157.5K
$9,070ZWL 241.7K
-34.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Victoria Falls
Mutare
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$15.02ZWL 400
$9.81ZWL 261
53.11%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.41ZWL 677
$9.26ZWL 247
174.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$61.0ZWL 1,624
$25.03ZWL 667
143.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$44.78ZWL 1,193
$20.27ZWL 540
120.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Victoria Falls
Mutare
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$252ZWL 6,705
$347ZWL 9,257
-27.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$181ZWL 4,830
$246ZWL 6,546
-26.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$505ZWL 13.5K
$744ZWL 19.8K
-32.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$355ZWL 9,458
$399ZWL 10.6K
-11.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$252ZWL 6,726
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Victoria Falls
Mutare
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$805ZWL 21.5K
$252ZWL 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.
Victoria Falls vs other spots: cost of living compared