MigrantoCost of living in Zimbabwe
Average monthly spending, by standard of living and against other countries
Monthly cost
$123
what a typical person spends
Spending by standard of living
$46richest 20%
$545
Zimbabwe is a place where the price of an ordinary life has more to do with a shaky currency than with anything on the shelf — when money won't hold its value, a lot of trade leans on harder foreign cash, and that quietly props prices up. It stays low-cost overall, but the spread between a comfortable household and a struggling one is stark, and stability is the thing money can't quite buy here.
Living-cost calculator
What it costs to live in Zimbabwe
Tell us what you earn and spend today — we'll estimate what the same lifestyle would cost in Zimbabwe and how much you could have left each month
- What your lifestyle costs
- How much could be left each month
- How it compares with today
Cost of living in Zimbabwe
$46/mo
vs $800 in your country
Take-home
$179
vs $1,200 in your country
Potential savings
$133
more than in your country
Standard of living
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How living costs in Zimbabwe compare
Against the wider world Zimbabwe is among the cheaper places to live, and across Africa it lands in the middle of the African pack. For someone weighing it up, the headline isn't the price tag so much as how steady that price tag stays — affordable on paper, less predictable in practice.
Data source: household consumption 2024 (World Bank), price levels (income-anchored estimate), adjusted to 2026 using IMF GDP-per-capita growth
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Frequently asked questions
What is the cost of living in Zimbabwe?
A typical person in Zimbabwe spends about $123 a month — around $1,476 a year — on housing, groceries, transport and other everyday costs. It's a nationwide average across different regions, cities and types of housing.
How much money do you need to live comfortably in Zimbabwe?
It all depends on your standard of living. A modest budget runs about $46 a month per person, a typical one around $123, and a comfortable life around $187. In big cities and for a family, costs are usually higher.
Is Zimbabwe an expensive country to live in?
No. Zimbabwe is more expensive than 22% of countries worldwide and ranks 21st of 53 in Africa by cost of living.
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Living in Zimbabwe
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