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 $824 per month in Zimbabwe vs $3,221 in Australia, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,154 per month in Zimbabwe vs $4,257 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 64% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zimbabwe
Australia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.06 ZWL 188
$16.24 A$22.97
-56.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.43 ZWL 1,319
$79.5 A$113
-37.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.91 ZWL 158
$9.88 A$13.97
-40.18%
Cappuccino
$2.68 ZWL 71.6
$3.57 A$5.05
-24.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 ZWL 19.04
$2.59 A$3.67
-72.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45 ZWL 12.11
$2.14 A$3.03
-78.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.54 ZWL 41.15
$6.44 A$9.11
-76.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 ZWL 54.6
$6.99 A$9.89
-70.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zimbabwe
Australia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.57 ZWL 41.98
$1.52 A$2.15
3.29%
White Bread (500g)
$1.01 ZWL 26.97
$2.48 A$3.50
-59.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.91 ZWL 50.9
$2.10 A$2.97
-9.05%
Eggs
$2.13 ZWL 56.9
$4.25 A$6.02
-49.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.44 ZWL 279
$9.04 A$12.79
15.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.63 ZWL 150
$8.64 A$12.22
-34.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.81 ZWL 155
$14.06 A$19.89
-58.68%
Apples (1kg)
$2.70 ZWL 72.1
$3.29 A$4.65
-17.93%
Banana (1kg)
$1.74 ZWL 46.52
$2.80 A$3.97
-37.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.06 ZWL 55.1
$2.84 A$4.02
-27.46%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.57 ZWL 41.84
$4.42 A$6.25
-64.48%
Potato (1kg)
$1.59 ZWL 42.39
$2.48 A$3.51
-35.89%
Onion (1kg)
$1.82 ZWL 48.56
$2.16 A$3.06
-15.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.09 ZWL 29.06
$2.27 A$3.21
-51.98%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 ZWL 28.71
$1.50 A$2.13
-28.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.38 ZWL 36.81
$30.89 A$43.71
-95.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.15 ZWL 191
$13.98 A$19.78
-48.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 ZWL 31.74
$4.42 A$6.26
-73.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82 ZWL 48.52
$4.85 A$6.86
-62.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Zimbabwe
Australia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.98 ZWL 26.04
$2.91 A$4.12
-66.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.97 ZWL 800
$96.7 A$137
-68.99%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.15 ZWL 137
$3.68 A$5.21
39.95%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.95 ZWL 51.9
$1.75 A$2.48
11.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.08 ZWL 136
$38.19 A$54.0
-86.70%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.56 ZWL 41.53
$1.15 A$1.63
35.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.7K ZWL 633.3K
$29.2K A$41.3K
-18.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.6K ZWL 657.4K
$22.4K A$31.7K
10.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zimbabwe
Australia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$54.7 ZWL 1,459
$178 A$252
-69.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.41 ZWL 465
$26.86 A$38.00
-35.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$90.0 ZWL 2,402
$52.7 A$74.6
70.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zimbabwe
Australia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.81 ZWL 1,249
$46.75 A$66.1
0.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.95 ZWL 292
$16.54 A$23.40
-33.80%
Cinema Ticket
$10.02 ZWL 268
$13.61 A$19.25
-26.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zimbabwe
Australia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$218 ZWL 5,825
$1,612 A$2,281
-86.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,312 ZWL 221.8K
$12.5K A$17.7K
-33.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zimbabwe
Australia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.38 ZWL 490
$70.5 A$99.8
-73.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.33 ZWL 516
$51.2 A$72.4
-62.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$37.74 ZWL 1,007
$103 A$146
-63.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$42.95 ZWL 1,146
$109 A$155
-60.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zimbabwe
Australia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$334 ZWL 8,910
$1,394 A$1,973
-76.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$225 ZWL 5,997
$1,080 A$1,529
-79.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$799 ZWL 21.3K
$2,268 A$3,209
-64.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$548 ZWL 14.6K
$1,739 A$2,461
-68.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$842 ZWL 22.5K
$7,445 A$10.5K
-88.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$387 ZWL 10.3K
$5,628 A$7,963
-93.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zimbabwe
Australia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$341 ZWL 9,093
$3,996 A$5,653
-91.47%
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 15, 2026

Last update for Australia: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $105 in Zimbabwe vs $1,232 in Australia. For reference, capital cities sit at $398 in Harare and $1,583 in Canberra.

Average salary: $354 in Zimbabwe vs $3,853 in Australia. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 1073% higher in Australia.

Dining out costs 141% more in Australia.

Public transport is 644% more expensive in Australia.

Salaries are 988% 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 333% 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 333% 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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