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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $487 per month in Zimbabwe vs $2,215 in Canada, rent included.

A couple spends around $803 per month in Zimbabwe vs $3,237 in Canada, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,119 per month in Zimbabwe vs $4,258 in Canada, rent included.

The cost of living in Zimbabwe is roughly 78% lower than in Canada on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Zimbabwe sits 64% below the global median, while Canada is 62% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zimbabwe
Canada
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.51 ZWL 174
$17.71 CA$24.77
-63.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.17 ZWL 1,023
$71.1 CA$99.4
-46.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.17 ZWL 165
$10.90 CA$15.25
-43.39%
Cappuccino
$2.63 ZWL 70.6
$3.82 CA$5.34
-31.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 ZWL 19.65
$2.12 CA$2.97
-65.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52 ZWL 13.98
$1.75 CA$2.45
-70.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.49 ZWL 39.83
$5.77 CA$8.07
-74.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 ZWL 54.9
$5.72 CA$8.00
-64.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zimbabwe
Canada
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 ZWL 40.45
$2.27 CA$3.18
-33.48%
White Bread (500g)
$0.98 ZWL 26.13
$2.60 CA$3.63
-62.31%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 ZWL 40.15
$3.57 CA$4.99
-57.98%
Eggs
$1.89 ZWL 50.5
$3.64 CA$5.09
-48.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.05 ZWL 269
$11.03 CA$15.43
-8.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.82 ZWL 129
$12.02 CA$16.82
-59.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.86 ZWL 157
$15.70 CA$21.97
-62.68%
Apples (1kg)
$2.77 ZWL 74.1
$4.18 CA$5.84
-33.73%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 ZWL 45.70
$1.40 CA$1.96
22.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.98 ZWL 53.0
$3.80 CA$5.31
-47.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.37 ZWL 36.81
$3.98 CA$5.57
-65.58%
Potato (1kg)
$1.56 ZWL 41.69
$2.65 CA$3.71
-41.13%
Onion (1kg)
$1.60 ZWL 42.77
$2.54 CA$3.55
-37.01%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.16 ZWL 30.99
$2.64 CA$3.70
-56.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 ZWL 28.56
$1.79 CA$2.50
-40.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.01 ZWL 54.0
$14.23 CA$19.91
-85.87%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.15 ZWL 191
$13.22 CA$18.49
-45.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30 ZWL 34.84
$2.98 CA$4.17
-56.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 ZWL 52.6
$3.20 CA$4.48
-38.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Zimbabwe
Canada
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.97 ZWL 26.12
$2.47 CA$3.45
-60.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.40 ZWL 1,216
$73.5 CA$103
-38.26%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.97 ZWL 79.6
$3.26 CA$4.56
-8.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.06 ZWL 55.1
$1.54 CA$2.15
33.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.06 ZWL 136
$27.66 CA$38.69
-81.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.76 ZWL 47.20
$1.20 CA$1.67
46.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.5K ZWL 657.6K
$28.0K CA$39.1K
-12.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3K ZWL 732.3K
$19.4K CA$27.1K
41.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zimbabwe
Canada
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$52.9 ZWL 1,418
$151 CA$212
-65.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.34 ZWL 491
$43.37 CA$60.7
-57.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.4 ZWL 1,807
$59.8 CA$83.6
12.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zimbabwe
Canada
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.60 ZWL 1,141
$40.88 CA$57.2
4.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.14 ZWL 540
$19.81 CA$27.71
1.67%
Cinema Ticket
$9.88 ZWL 265
$11.39 CA$15.93
-13.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zimbabwe
Canada
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$329 ZWL 8,821
$783 CA$1,095
-57.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,311 ZWL 222.7K
$14.6K CA$20.5K
-43.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zimbabwe
Canada
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.78 ZWL 530
$55.1 CA$77.1
-64.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.25 ZWL 489
$39.66 CA$55.5
-53.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$40.70 ZWL 1,090
$89.3 CA$125
-54.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$43.94 ZWL 1,177
$103 CA$145
-57.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zimbabwe
Canada
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$288 ZWL 7,726
$1,299 CA$1,817
-77.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$230 ZWL 6,159
$1,157 CA$1,618
-80.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$634 ZWL 17.0K
$2,025 CA$2,833
-68.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$519 ZWL 13.9K
$1,779 CA$2,489
-70.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$916 ZWL 24.5K
$4,679 CA$6,545
-80.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$395 ZWL 10.6K
$3,883 CA$5,432
-89.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zimbabwe
Canada
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$359 ZWL 9,619
$3,043 CA$4,257
-88.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.77
4.86
183.33%

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

Last update for Zimbabwe: September 14, 2026

Last update for Canada: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $102 in Zimbabwe vs $1,221 in Canada. For reference, capital cities sit at $401 in Harare and $1,493 in Ottawa.

Average salary: $361 in Zimbabwe vs $2,963 in Canada. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 1097% higher in Canada.

Dining out costs 141% more in Canada.

Public transport is 567% more expensive in Canada.

Salaries are 721% 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 338% 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 338% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in Canada or in Zimbabwe?
$1,000 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.

Zimbabwe vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar countries