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 $890 per month in Victoria Falls vs $792 in Mutare, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,451 per month in Victoria Falls vs $1,230 in Mutare, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,013 per month in Victoria Falls vs $1,669 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 34% lower, Mutare 41% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Victoria Falls
Mutare
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.98 ZWL 253
$10.19 ZWL 258
-2.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.91 ZWL 1,136
$50.1 ZWL 1,267
-10.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
-
$4.63 ZWL 117
-
Cappuccino
$6.10 ZWL 154
$1.22 ZWL 30.97
400.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99 ZWL 25.01
$0.72 ZWL 18.09
37.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ZWL 12.36
$0.44 ZWL 11.10
11.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.70 ZWL 42.96
$1.39 ZWL 35.14
22.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.77 ZWL 44.75
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Victoria Falls
Mutare
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.96 ZWL 49.55
$1.21 ZWL 30.73
61.98%
White Bread (500g)
$0.98 ZWL 24.86
$1.03 ZWL 25.97
-4.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.94 ZWL 49.15
$1.26 ZWL 31.98
53.97%
Eggs
$3.52 ZWL 89.0
$1.88 ZWL 47.57
87.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$2.44 ZWL 61.8
$2.94 ZWL 74.3
-17.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.08 ZWL 154
$4.07 ZWL 103
49.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.11 ZWL 205
$4.92 ZWL 124
64.84%
Apples (1kg)
$3.04 ZWL 76.9
$2.01 ZWL 51.0
51.24%
Banana (1kg)
$3.04 ZWL 76.9
$1.70 ZWL 42.92
78.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.03 ZWL 76.7
$2.05 ZWL 51.9
47.80%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.04 ZWL 102
$0.97 ZWL 24.55
316.49%
Potato (1kg)
-
$1.51 ZWL 38.31
-
Onion (1kg)
$2.06 ZWL 52.0
$0.97 ZWL 24.54
112.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.94 ZWL 49.15
$0.52 ZWL 13.23
273.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 ZWL 39.00
$1.01 ZWL 25.61
52.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.34 ZWL 33.82
$1.12 ZWL 28.35
19.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.71 ZWL 499
$5.95 ZWL 151
231.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.17 ZWL 29.69
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.72 ZWL 43.58
-
🚌 Getting Around
Victoria Falls
Mutare
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.89 ZWL 22.55
$0.48 ZWL 12.12
85.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$27.10 ZWL 686
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$3.06 ZWL 77.5
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.99 ZWL 24.93
$1.95 ZWL 49.35
-49.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$4.89 ZWL 124
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.85 ZWL 46.87
$1.55 ZWL 39.30
19.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$20.4K ZWL 515.3K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$23.0K ZWL 582.6K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Victoria Falls
Mutare
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$24.92 ZWL 630
$57.2 ZWL 1,447
-56.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.48 ZWL 645
$15.03 ZWL 380
69.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.4 ZWL 1,731
$61.1 ZWL 1,546
11.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Victoria Falls
Mutare
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.8 ZWL 1,539
$40.40 ZWL 1,022
50.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.80 ZWL 374
$4.87 ZWL 123
203.90%
Cinema Ticket
$19.78 ZWL 500
$10.12 ZWL 256
95.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Victoria Falls
Mutare
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$98.6 ZWL 2,494
$146 ZWL 3,686
-32.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,919 ZWL 149.8K
$7,422 ZWL 187.8K
-20.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Victoria Falls
Mutare
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$15.09 ZWL 382
$9.91 ZWL 251
52.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.33 ZWL 641
$9.43 ZWL 239
168.61%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$59.6 ZWL 1,509
$25.45 ZWL 644
134.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$44.40 ZWL 1,123
$19.94 ZWL 504
122.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Victoria Falls
Mutare
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$245 ZWL 6,209
$346 ZWL 8,761
-29.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$182 ZWL 4,607
$251 ZWL 6,358
-27.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$509 ZWL 12.9K
$750 ZWL 19.0K
-32.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$344 ZWL 8,702
$400 ZWL 10.1K
-13.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$253 ZWL 6,397
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Victoria Falls
Mutare
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$791 ZWL 20.0K
$252 ZWL 6,365
214.38%
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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Mutare: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $245 in Victoria Falls versus $346 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 214% 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 $45.00 in Victoria Falls versus $50.0 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 $1,334 per month in Victoria Falls and $1,187 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 $890 in Victoria Falls and $792 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 $98.6 per month in Victoria Falls and $146 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 $890 in Victoria Falls and $792 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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