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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $492 per month in Zimbabwe vs $2,184 in Australia, rent included.

A couple spends around $820 per month in Zimbabwe vs $3,217 in Australia, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,147 per month in Zimbabwe vs $4,249 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
$7.11 ZWL 180
$16.24 A$22.73
-56.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.33 ZWL 1,248
$77.1 A$108
-35.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.01 ZWL 152
$9.81 A$13.74
-38.74%
Cappuccino
$2.78 ZWL 70.2
$3.58 A$5.01
-22.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67 ZWL 16.91
$2.57 A$3.60
-73.93%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ZWL 12.45
$2.18 A$3.05
-77.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.52 ZWL 38.53
$6.63 A$9.28
-77.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 ZWL 51.5
$7.12 A$9.97
-71.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zimbabwe
Australia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.52 ZWL 38.45
$1.50 A$2.10
1.33%
White Bread (500g)
$1.02 ZWL 25.87
$2.53 A$3.54
-59.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.85 ZWL 46.81
$2.07 A$2.90
-10.63%
Eggs
$2.09 ZWL 52.9
$4.29 A$6.01
-51.28%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.17 ZWL 257
$8.65 A$12.11
17.57%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.80 ZWL 147
$8.34 A$11.68
-30.46%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.63 ZWL 142
$13.90 A$19.47
-59.50%
Apples (1kg)
$2.61 ZWL 66.0
$3.30 A$4.61
-20.91%
Banana (1kg)
$1.78 ZWL 45.12
$2.77 A$3.88
-35.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.14 ZWL 54.1
$2.95 A$4.13
-27.46%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 ZWL 40.75
$4.19 A$5.87
-61.58%
Potato (1kg)
$1.56 ZWL 39.56
$2.42 A$3.39
-35.54%
Onion (1kg)
$1.81 ZWL 45.91
$2.10 A$2.94
-13.81%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.09 ZWL 27.64
$2.26 A$3.16
-51.77%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 ZWL 27.26
$1.50 A$2.10
-28.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.37 ZWL 34.63
$31.58 A$44.22
-95.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.03 ZWL 178
$14.29 A$20.00
-50.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.17 ZWL 29.63
$4.59 A$6.42
-74.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78 ZWL 45.08
$4.82 A$6.75
-63.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Zimbabwe
Australia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.98 ZWL 24.88
$3.02 A$4.22
-67.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.99 ZWL 759
$98.3 A$138
-69.48%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.14 ZWL 130
$3.48 A$4.88
47.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.99 ZWL 50.3
$1.75 A$2.45
13.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.05 ZWL 128
$37.97 A$53.2
-86.70%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.62 ZWL 41.09
$1.21 A$1.69
33.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.6K ZWL 596.2K
$29.0K A$40.6K
-18.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.9K ZWL 605.5K
$22.6K A$31.6K
6.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zimbabwe
Australia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$52.7 ZWL 1,333
$177 A$248
-70.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.48 ZWL 442
$26.85 A$37.59
-34.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$91.9 ZWL 2,324
$52.4 A$73.4
75.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zimbabwe
Australia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.25 ZWL 1,170
$47.57 A$66.6
-2.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.80 ZWL 273
$16.46 A$23.04
-34.39%
Cinema Ticket
$9.89 ZWL 250
$13.73 A$19.23
-27.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zimbabwe
Australia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$226 ZWL 5,719
$1,593 A$2,231
-85.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,114 ZWL 205.3K
$12.7K A$17.8K
-36.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zimbabwe
Australia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.88 ZWL 478
$72.0 A$101
-73.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.12 ZWL 484
$51.3 A$71.8
-62.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$37.77 ZWL 956
$103 A$144
-63.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$42.46 ZWL 1,074
$108 A$152
-60.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zimbabwe
Australia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$337 ZWL 8,521
$1,401 A$1,961
-75.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$228 ZWL 5,769
$1,080 A$1,512
-78.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$810 ZWL 20.5K
$2,340 A$3,276
-65.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$550 ZWL 13.9K
$1,756 A$2,459
-68.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$845 ZWL 21.4K
$7,733 A$10.8K
-89.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$386 ZWL 9,756
$5,563 A$7,788
-93.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zimbabwe
Australia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$342 ZWL 8,650
$4,000 A$5,600
-91.45%
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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Australia: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $104 in Zimbabwe vs $1,232 in Australia. For reference, capital cities sit at $393 in Harare and $1,529 in Canberra.

Average salary: $356 in Zimbabwe vs $3,878 in Australia. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 1085% higher in Australia.

Dining out costs 133% more in Australia.

Public transport is 644% 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 339% 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 339% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in Australia or Zimbabwe?
$1,000 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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