Cost of Living Comparison Between Zimbabwe and Australia Cost of Living Comparison Between Zimbabwe and Australia

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $493 per month in Zimbabwe vs $2,184 in Australia, rent included.

A couple spends around $820 per month in Zimbabwe vs $3,219 in Australia, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,146 per month in Zimbabwe vs $4,253 in Australia, rent included.

Zimbabwe is roughly 77% cheaper than Australia on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Zimbabwe sits 63% below the global median, while Australia is 63% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zimbabwe
Australia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.85 ZWL 183
$16.44 A$23.23
-58.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.10 ZWL 1,314
$78.1 A$110
-37.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.94 ZWL 159
$9.94 A$14.05
-40.24%
Cappuccino
$2.75 ZWL 73.7
$3.60 A$5.08
-23.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 ZWL 19.54
$2.68 A$3.78
-72.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ZWL 13.13
$2.14 A$3.02
-77.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.53 ZWL 40.91
$6.53 A$9.23
-76.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 ZWL 52.1
$7.05 A$9.96
-72.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zimbabwe
Australia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.58 ZWL 42.23
$1.58 A$2.23
-
White Bread (500g)
$1.03 ZWL 27.45
$2.53 A$3.57
-59.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.88 ZWL 50.4
$2.07 A$2.93
-9.18%
Eggs
$2.17 ZWL 58.0
$4.30 A$6.08
-49.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.17 ZWL 272
$9.03 A$12.76
12.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.61 ZWL 150
$8.55 A$12.08
-34.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.73 ZWL 153
$13.96 A$19.72
-58.95%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 ZWL 70.9
$3.18 A$4.49
-16.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.76 ZWL 47.00
$2.84 A$4.01
-38.03%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.08 ZWL 55.8
$2.95 A$4.17
-29.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 ZWL 42.97
$4.43 A$6.26
-63.66%
Potato (1kg)
$1.51 ZWL 40.52
$2.46 A$3.47
-38.62%
Onion (1kg)
$1.81 ZWL 48.44
$2.17 A$3.07
-16.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.05 ZWL 28.11
$2.29 A$3.24
-54.15%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 ZWL 29.14
$1.57 A$2.22
-30.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.31 ZWL 35.08
$30.87 A$43.61
-95.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.89 ZWL 184
$14.06 A$19.86
-51.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 ZWL 30.66
$4.55 A$6.43
-74.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 ZWL 48.55
$4.81 A$6.80
-62.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Zimbabwe
Australia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.98 ZWL 26.24
$2.87 A$4.05
-65.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.80 ZWL 798
$95.8 A$135
-68.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.10 ZWL 136
$3.65 A$5.15
39.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.02 ZWL 54.2
$1.76 A$2.49
14.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.05 ZWL 135
$38.27 A$54.1
-86.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.60 ZWL 42.79
$1.15 A$1.63
39.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.1K ZWL 619.2K
$28.4K A$40.1K
-18.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.2K ZWL 647.6K
$23.0K A$32.5K
5.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zimbabwe
Australia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$54.8 ZWL 1,467
$178 A$251
-69.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.16 ZWL 459
$26.46 A$37.38
-35.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$89.6 ZWL 2,398
$54.1 A$76.4
65.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zimbabwe
Australia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.00 ZWL 1,285
$46.64 A$65.9
2.92%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.71 ZWL 287
$16.54 A$23.37
-35.25%
Cinema Ticket
$10.05 ZWL 269
$13.65 A$19.28
-26.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zimbabwe
Australia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$220 ZWL 5,893
$1,575 A$2,225
-86.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,203 ZWL 219.6K
$12.7K A$17.9K
-35.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zimbabwe
Australia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.02 ZWL 509
$71.5 A$101
-73.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.19 ZWL 514
$50.8 A$71.8
-62.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$36.96 ZWL 989
$100 A$142
-63.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$42.54 ZWL 1,139
$108 A$153
-60.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zimbabwe
Australia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$335 ZWL 8,970
$1,384 A$1,955
-75.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$225 ZWL 6,022
$1,105 A$1,562
-79.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$806 ZWL 21.6K
$2,298 A$3,246
-64.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$543 ZWL 14.5K
$1,728 A$2,441
-68.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$861 ZWL 23.0K
$7,610 A$10.8K
-88.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$393 ZWL 10.5K
$5,504 A$7,776
-92.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zimbabwe
Australia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$346 ZWL 9,273
$4,002 A$5,654
-91.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.5
6.35
112.60%

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

Last update for Zimbabwe: June 7, 2026

Last update for Australia: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $106 in Zimbabwe vs $1,232 in Australia. For reference, capital cities sit at $403 in Harare and $1,568 in Canberra.

Average salary: $353 in Zimbabwe vs $3,845 in Australia. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 1062% higher in Australia.

Dining out costs 133% more in Australia.

Public transport is 738% more expensive in Australia.

Salaries are 989% higher in Australia, giving Australia stronger purchasing power.

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
Zimbabwe vs Australia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Australia more expensive than Zimbabwe?
Zimbabwe is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 347% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in Australia, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Australia consistently has higher rents.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Zimbabwe, contributing to the overall 347% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $800 a realistic budget in Australia or Zimbabwe?
$800 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Zimbabwe, but in Australia it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Australia or Zimbabwe?
Zimbabwe is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.

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