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