Cost of Living in Zimbabwe

If you've ever considered moving to Zimbabwe, one of the first questions that likely crossed your mind is, "What is the cost of living in Zimbabwe?" After all, it's essential to have a clear picture of your potential expenses before making such a life-changing decision. At this page, we'll dive into the nitty-gritty of the cost of living in Zimbabwe and whether the reported $1270 per month figure aligns with the average monthly salary of $292.88.

Restaurants
Markets
Transportation
Childcare
Clothing
Rent Per Month
Buy Apartment
Salaries
Zimbabwe
restaurant

Restaurants

Price

World Range

Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant

7.5 $

Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course

40.0 $

McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)

6.0 $

Domestic Beer (1 pint draught)

1.3 $

Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)

2.0 $

Cappuccino (regular)

2.27 $

Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle)

0.71 $

Water (12 oz small bottle)

0.48 $

store

Markets

Price

World Range

Milk (regular), (1 gallon)

1.61 $

Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb)

1.04 $

Rice (white), (1 lb)

1.77 $

Eggs (regular) (12)

1.87 $

Local Cheese (1 lb)

8.83 $

Chicken Fillets (1 lb)

4.86 $

Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)

5.27 $

Apples (1 lb)

2.94 $

Banana (1 lb)

1.66 $

Oranges (1 lb)

2.16 $

Tomato (1 lb)

1.63 $

Potato (1 lb)

1.59 $

Onion (1 lb)

1.56 $

Lettuce (1 head)

0.92 $

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

1.08 $

Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)

8.5 $

Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

1.25 $

Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)

2.19 $

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro)

2.0 $

commute

Transportation

Price

World Range

One-way Ticket (Local Transport)

0.5 $

Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

30.0 $

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

5.0 $

Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff)

1.5 $

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

7.5 $

Gasoline (1 gallon)

1.41 $

Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car)

28000.0 $

Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car)

29333.33 $

mark_as_unread

Utilities (Monthly)

Price

World Range

Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment

66.92 $

1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans)

0.19 $

Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)

102.44 $

kitesurfing

Sports And Leisure

Price

World Range

Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult

34.55 $

Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend)

9.17 $

Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat

8.0 $

child_friendly

Childcare

Price

World Range

Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child

290.0 $

International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child

8462.5 $

checkroom

Clothing And Shoes

Price

World Range

1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

22.5 $

1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...)

19.38 $

1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range)

43.0 $

1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes

50.0 $

night_shelter

Rent Per Month

Price

World Range

Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre

282.35 $

Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre

246.67 $

Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre

770.0 $

Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre

642.86 $

home

Buy Apartment Price

Price

World Range

Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre

1155.28 $

Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre

1325.0 $

account_balance_wallet

Salaries And Financing

Price

World Range

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

292.88 $

Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate

14.17 %

Zimbabwe

How Safe Is Zimbabwe for Travel?
Warnings & Dangers in Zimbabwe

OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM

Zimbabwe is, for the most part, a safe country to visit. However, it does have an extremely high rate of both petty and violent crime, though it's mainly ridden with petty street crime. You should be vigilant and take all possible precaution measures in order to minimize the risk of getting stolen from.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM

Means of transportation in Zimbabwe are limited and not very reliable. Driving in Zimbabwe is not recommended since the driving conditions are really bad and the country is filled with irresponsible drivers. Taxis are available, but be wary as drivers might jack up prices for tourists. Always negotiate the price before your ride.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: HIGH

There is an extreme threat to petty crime. Pickpockets are an everyday occurrence, so you should be extremely careful when handling your valuables and never carry your money in a purse or a pocket. Never carry all your money in the same place, and be aware of your surroundings at all times.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM

As for natural disasters, the greatest risks in Zimbabwe are the floods that are known to kill people and leave large numbers of homeless people, causing irreparable damage.

MUGGING RISK: HIGH

Violent crime is also a common occurrence in Zimbabwe and you have to be very careful. If you are visiting Nyanga, you should avoid Pungwe Falls, Mterazi Falls, and the Honde Falls, as there have been many instances of armed robbery, theft, all kinds of assaults, and attempted rapes reported at these sites.

TERRORISM RISK: LOW

There haven't been any recent terrorist attacks in Zimbabwe's recent history, but they shouldn't be ruled out. Be aware of your surroundings at all times.

SCAMS RISK: HIGH

Scams are an everyday occurrence in this country. There are a number of scams performed on tourists, and the locals use every situation to try and get money from you. Double-check everything, and negotiate everything in advance. Be careful when taking a taxi and make sure they use the meter or negotiate the ride before getting into the cab.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: MEDIUM

Zimbabwe isn't the safest place for a woman to be visiting alone. If you do, be sure to avoid remote streets, both during day and night, and do not flash your belongings or handle money in public. Stay out of the streets at night and be vigilant for any possible dangers at all times.

Useful Information & Tips
credit_card

Visas

Many countries do need a visa to enter Zimbabwe. Make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months from the date of arrival in Zimbabwe. If you are not sure about your visa status, visit www.doyouneedvisa.com which will let you know whether or not you need a visa based on your nationality and the country you want to visit.

currency_exchange

Currency

The Zimbabwean dollar is the official currency in Zimbabwe. Visa is the preferred card for ATM cash withdrawals, though MasterCard is becoming more and more used and accepted.

cloudy_snowing

Weather

The climate in Zimbabwe varies from region to region. Generally speaking, there are two seasons: a dry season, including a short cool season lasting from May to September when there's very little precipitation; and a rainy season, with heavy rainfall lasting from November to March.

flight_takeoff

Airports

The Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, formerly known as the Harare International Airport, is the largest and busiest international airport in Zimbabwe. It is the base of Air Zimbabwe and is located in Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe.

health_and_safety

Travel Insurance

Just like anywhere else, we recommend getting travel insurance when traveling to Zimbabwe, since it covers not only the costs of medical problems but also theft and loss of valuables.

Comparison of the Cost Of Living in Zimbabwe with other countries

Cost of living in countries