Cost of Living Comparison Between Zimbabwe and Canada Cost of Living Comparison Between Zimbabwe and Canada

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $491 per month in Zimbabwe vs $2,319 in Canada, rent included.

A couple spends around $821 per month in Zimbabwe vs $3,378 in Canada, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,151 per month in Zimbabwe vs $4,437 in Canada, rent included.

The cost of living in Zimbabwe is roughly 79% lower than in Canada on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Zimbabwe sits 63% below the global median, while Canada is 74% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zimbabwe
Canada
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.10 ZWL 190
$18.63 CA$26.11
-61.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.9 ZWL 1,359
$74.0 CA$104
-31.19%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.06 ZWL 162
$10.92 CA$15.31
-44.51%
Cappuccino
$2.69 ZWL 71.7
$3.76 CA$5.28
-28.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 ZWL 19.36
$2.19 CA$3.07
-66.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ZWL 12.99
$1.74 CA$2.43
-71.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.47 ZWL 39.29
$5.93 CA$8.31
-75.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 ZWL 52.4
$5.95 CA$8.35
-67.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zimbabwe
Canada
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.57 ZWL 42.02
$2.28 CA$3.20
-31.14%
White Bread (500g)
$1.03 ZWL 27.38
$2.67 CA$3.74
-61.42%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.83 ZWL 48.77
$3.78 CA$5.30
-51.59%
Eggs
$2.05 ZWL 54.8
$3.50 CA$4.90
-41.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 ZWL 272
$11.70 CA$16.40
-12.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.51 ZWL 147
$12.30 CA$17.24
-55.20%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.84 ZWL 156
$15.44 CA$21.65
-62.18%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 ZWL 70.6
$4.28 CA$6.00
-38.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 ZWL 45.84
$1.45 CA$2.04
18.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.07 ZWL 55.1
$4.01 CA$5.62
-48.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 ZWL 42.97
$4.27 CA$5.98
-62.30%
Potato (1kg)
$1.56 ZWL 41.64
$2.69 CA$3.77
-42.01%
Onion (1kg)
$1.80 ZWL 48.15
$2.65 CA$3.71
-32.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.09 ZWL 29.02
$2.64 CA$3.70
-58.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 ZWL 28.74
$1.89 CA$2.65
-42.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.38 ZWL 36.83
$14.77 CA$20.71
-90.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.84 ZWL 182
$13.32 CA$18.67
-48.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 ZWL 30.56
$2.96 CA$4.15
-61.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79 ZWL 47.65
$3.28 CA$4.59
-45.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Zimbabwe
Canada
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.01 ZWL 27.00
$2.62 CA$3.67
-61.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.60 ZWL 790
$78.1 CA$110
-62.10%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.14 ZWL 137
$3.42 CA$4.79
50.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.02 ZWL 53.8
$1.50 CA$2.10
34.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.13 ZWL 137
$29.07 CA$40.76
-82.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.62 ZWL 43.12
$1.20 CA$1.68
35.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.1K ZWL 616.7K
$25.5K CA$35.7K
-9.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.4K ZWL 650.7K
$20.6K CA$28.8K
18.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zimbabwe
Canada
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$53.8 ZWL 1,435
$152 CA$212
-64.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.22 ZWL 459
$46.70 CA$65.5
-63.13%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$90.0 ZWL 2,401
$61.8 CA$86.7
45.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zimbabwe
Canada
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.26 ZWL 1,261
$43.36 CA$60.8
8.99%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.08 ZWL 295
$18.05 CA$25.31
-38.61%
Cinema Ticket
$10.13 ZWL 270
$11.51 CA$16.13
-11.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zimbabwe
Canada
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$225 ZWL 5,995
$806 CA$1,130
-72.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,093 ZWL 215.9K
$12.1K CA$17.0K
-33.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zimbabwe
Canada
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.09 ZWL 509
$55.4 CA$77.6
-65.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.59 ZWL 523
$41.80 CA$58.6
-53.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$37.25 ZWL 994
$89.7 CA$126
-58.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$41.76 ZWL 1,114
$106 CA$149
-60.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zimbabwe
Canada
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$332 ZWL 8,862
$1,329 CA$1,864
-75.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$229 ZWL 6,115
$1,207 CA$1,692
-81.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$810 ZWL 21.6K
$2,112 CA$2,961
-61.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$546 ZWL 14.6K
$1,833 CA$2,570
-70.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$936 ZWL 25.0K
$4,639 CA$6,503
-79.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$395 ZWL 10.5K
$3,849 CA$5,396
-89.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zimbabwe
Canada
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$341 ZWL 9,090
$2,948 CA$4,133
-88.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.5
6.33
113.27%

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

Last update for Zimbabwe: July 12, 2026

Last update for Canada: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $105 in Zimbabwe vs $1,281 in Canada. For reference, capital cities sit at $398 in Harare and $1,481 in Ottawa.

Average salary: $355 in Zimbabwe vs $2,904 in Canada. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 1120% higher in Canada.

Dining out costs 113% more in Canada.

Public transport is 713% more expensive in Canada.

Salaries are 718% higher in Canada, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Canada.

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 Canada: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Canada more expensive than Zimbabwe?
Zimbabwe is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 352% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in Canada, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Canada consistently has higher rents.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Zimbabwe, contributing to the overall 352% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $800 a realistic budget in Canada or in Zimbabwe?
$800 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Zimbabwe, but in Canada it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Canada or to 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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