Cost Of Living For a Family in Zimbabwe 2025

Average monthly spending for families in Zimbabwe

We consider a family to be a member of four members, two adults and two children. This is the most common type of family. From the figures below, it should be fairly easy to calculate the average spending for families of different sizes.

How much money does a family need in a month to survive in Zimbabwe?

Families in Zimbabwe spend around 340,000 ZWL per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a family can survive with a monthly budget as low as 120,000 ZWL or as high as 2.2M ZWL. Location and income are very important factors and have a huge influence on expenditure and budget.

Family expenditure to income ratio in Zimbabwe

Analysing the how affordable it is for families to live in Zimbabwe

One of the most definite ways to determine how affordable a place is measuring the ratio of expenses to salary. A high expense-to-income to ratio indicates a high cost-of-living index while a low expenditure-to-salary ratio means the place is affordable to live in. Families usually spend a larger chunk of their income than other population groups. A typical and healthy expenditure percentage for a family of four ranges between 70% to 80%.

Families in Zimbabwe spend around 94% of their monthly income. Some families spend as low as 88% of their income while some as high as 100%.

How do families spend their money in Zimbabwe?

We asked thousands of families about their spending habits and expenditure break down.

Housing and accomodation expenditure for families

Families in Zimbabwe typically spend from 18% to 33% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 23% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 110,000 ZWL with expenditure ranging from 38,000 ZWL to 710,000 ZWL. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses.

Electricity, utilities, energy, water, internet, and mobile expenditure for families

Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Zimbabwe ranges from 4% to 9% of total expenses with 6% being the average for most families. The average monthly cost of utilities is 17,000 ZWL with 6,000 ZWL and 110,000 ZWL being the upper and lower limits for a family of four.

Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for families

Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether a family resides near school and work, but roughly speaking a family would expect to spend from 12,000 ZWL to 220,000 ZWL in a month on commuting with 34,000 ZWL being the norm for most families. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 4% of total spending on average but can go as low as 2% or as high as 6%.

Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for families

The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical family in a month in Zimbabwe is 61,000 ZWL. The cost of groceries can range between 21,000 ZWL to 400,000 ZWL. Families spend on average about 22% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 15% and 28% respectively.

Healthcare and medical services expenditure for families

Families in Zimbabwe allocate 8% to 17% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending on medical services and clinic visits is around 12%. The range of medical expenses range from 11,000 ZWL to 180,000 ZWL with 34,000 ZWL being the norm for most families.

Leisure and shopping expenditure for families

This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 6,000 ZWL to 110,000 ZWL with 17,000 ZWL being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 0.00% to 6% of total expenses with an average of 2% for most families.

Education and schooling expenditure for families

Spending on education can vary drastically between different families. On average, education constitutes 13% of the monthly expenditure of families with 6% and 21% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 48,000 ZWL per month with 17,000 ZWL being the minimum spent amount and 310,000 ZWL being the maximum.

What percentage of families in Zimbabwe are able to save money and how much can they save?

Percentage of families that reported their ability to save money

Almost 44% of surveyed families in Zimbabwe said that they can save some money at the end of each month while 56% reported that they have to utilize their whole income to survive.

How much money do families manage to add to their savings?

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for families

Interpretation and Analysis

Families that are able to save money can put anywhere from 5% to 24% of their monthly income to their savings, with 10% being the average for most families. The average monthly amount of money that families can put aside is 94,000 ZWL with 33,000 ZWL and 610,000 ZWL being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Saving Challenges in Zimbabwe

Reasons that make it difficult for families to save money

We wanted to understand what is stopping families from maximizing their savings in Zimbabwe. Listed below are the answers given by the survey participants.

Around 4% of the families said that their salary is too low to accommodate a portion for savings while 7% said that the high cost of living leaves little room for savings. 10% of the residents said that they are burdened with debt and find it challenging to save money. 12% reported that they just don't have the knowledge or discipline to create and stick to a budget, leading to overspending and an inability to save. 13% of families blamed impulsive spending as the reason for saving inability. Around 8% said that unexpected expenses like medical bills or car repairs are derailing their savings goals. 5% bluntly said that they don't see the purpose of it and prefer to live each day to the fullest. 23% reported that they understand the value of saving but are putting off saving for the future, thinking they have plenty of time to start later. 15% blamed inflation, saying that every time they save some money they end up using it immediately. A surprising 2% said that social pressure and keeping up with peers or social expectations makes them overspend. Lastly, 1% blamed market instability and price fluctuations.

Typical saving choices for families in Zimbabwe

Where do people choose to put their savings?

A typical and healthy budgeting structure

The 50/30/20 rule

Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle, location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule, which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.

• 50% for needs and financial obligations

  This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.

• 30% for wants and discretionary spending

  This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.

• 20% for savings and emergency fund

  This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.

About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting

Affordable living in Zimbabwe

Income and cost of living compatibility

We asked families one simple question and recorded their answers.

Is it affordable or economical to live in Zimbabwe?

Around 41% of surveyed families think that living in Zimbabwe is affordable with proper budgeting while 59% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.

Low-cost alternatives in Zimbabwe

People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked families how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:

Plenty of low-cost options52%

Few low-cost options48%

Based on the survey, 52% of the families living in Zimbabwe have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 48% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.

Emergency Funds For Families

An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked families of Zimbabwe whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.

Yes38%

No62%

Based on the survey, 62% of the families living in Zimbabwe said that they don't have an emergency fund while 38% said that they do.

Financial Literacy in Zimbabwe

Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.

Financial Leteracy36%

We asked family guardians and parents in Zimbabwe whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 64% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 36% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.

Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning

We wanted to understand whether families of Zimbabwe have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 62% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 38% said that they have everything under control.

Struggles with finance62%

Easily manages finances38%

Financial goals of families in Zimbabwe

In an attempt to understand the economic situation in Zimbabwe, we asked participants about their financial targets. By knowing what the population in general is trying to achieve, we can shed light on the economic outlook, cost of living, and quality of life in general.

Around 9% of families said that their main goal is to establish an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses while 49% said their number one priority is to pay off high-interest debt or loans and improve credit. 12% of surveyed people confirmed that saving for retirement to ensure a comfortable lifestyle in the final years is their main target. Around 6% reported that their priority is saving for the tuition fees and education costs of their children while 19% choose to buy a home or pay off existing mortgage before other things. 5% of the population would like to build wealth through investments such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or real estate. For 4% of people, saving for vacations or upgrading their lifestyle is the number one concern. Approximately 17% of the residents said that saving for healthcare expenses including insurance premiums is their main goal.

Debt, loans, and mortgages in Zimbabwe

Percentage of families who are in debt

According to the survey, 33% of the families in Zimbabwe have some kind of debt, loan, mortgage, or credit card payments while 67% reported that they don't have financial obligations to banks.

Debt-to-income ratio in Zimbabwe

Interpretation

The debt-to-income ratio measures the percentage of income being paid as debt settlement across the population. It is calculated by dividing the monthly debt settlement payment of an individual by their monthly income. Based on collected data, approximately 34% of a family's monthly income in Zimbabwe goes to debt settlement.

Debt levels

Monthly debt settlement payment as percentage of monthly income

According to our data, 4% of the debtors in Zimbabwe pay 60%+ of their income as debt settlement while 22% of the people pay 50% to 60% of their income for the same, which is quite an alarming financial situation for those individuals. 17% of people in debt dedicate 40% to 50% of their income to loan and mortgage payments while 19% dedicated 30% to 40% of income for same. Things are looking brighter for 7% of individuals as they only pay 20% to 30% of their income for loan and credit card repayment.

Distribution by type of debt in Zimbabwe

5% of debtors in Zimbabwe confirm that real estate mortgages constitutes the main part of their outstanding debt while 33% say that credit card payments are the reason they are in debt. Auto loans were the main type of debt for 10% of people and personal loans rose at 47%. Lastly, student loans are the main source of debt for 5% of debtors in Zimbabwe.

Good debt vs. Bad debt

Not all debt is bad. Good debt typically refers to borrowing money for investments that can increase in value or generate income over time like purchasing a home or acquiring student loans. On the other hand, bad debt involves borrowing for things that fail to generate lasting value like high-interest credit card debt used for non-essential expenses like luxury items or vacations.

Loan Affordability Index in Zimbabwe

Besides measuring the loan-to-income ratio, we asked families of Zimbabwe how many times in a year they defaulted or were unable to pay their due credit card or loan payments on time. Understanding how often people default on their due payments is one of the indicators of the cost of living and economic situation.

Frequency and percentage of people who failed to pay their monthly credit card or loan payments on time last year.

Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Zimbabwe

Rent Cost in Zimbabwe

Monthly Rent Prices

Studio apartment monthly rent cost

18,000 ZWL

27,000 ZWL

73,000 ZWL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.1

$1.7

$4.4

1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

27,000 ZWL

44,000 ZWL

110,000 ZWL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.7

$2.7

$6.6

2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

36,000 ZWL

54,000 ZWL

150,000 ZWL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.2

$3.3

$8.8

3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

44,000 ZWL

73,000 ZWL

200,000 ZWL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.7

$4.4

$12

Furnished apartment monthly rent cost

87,000 ZWL

220,000 ZWL

440,000 ZWL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$5.3

$13

$27

Townhouse monthly rent cost

73,000 ZWL

110,000 ZWL

310,000 ZWL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$4.4

$6.6

$19

House monthly rent cost

87,000 ZWL

220,000 ZWL

440,000 ZWL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$5.3

$13

$27

Villa monthly rent cost

110,000 ZWL

270,000 ZWL

440,000 ZWL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$6.6

$17

$27

The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Zimbabwe ranges between 18,000 ZWL and 73,000 ZWL, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 27,000 ZWL to 110,000 ZWL. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 36,000 ZWL and 150,000 ZWL per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 44,000 ZWL to 200,000 ZWL. The average rent of a townhouse in Zimbabwe is around 110,000 ZWL while house rental costs can be as high as 220,000 ZWL per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 110,000 ZWL to 440,000 ZWL per month.

Apartment and house prices in Zimbabwe

Cost of buying a property

Studio apartment price

3.6M ZWL

5.4M ZWL

11M ZWL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$220

$330

$660

1-bedroom apartment price

4.4M ZWL

7.3M ZWL

27M ZWL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$270

$440

$1,700

2-bedroom apartment price

7.3M ZWL

22M ZWL

44M ZWL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$440

$1,300

$2,700

3-bedroom apartment price

24M ZWL

36M ZWL

110M ZWL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,500

$2,200

$6,600

Townhouse price

31M ZWL

73M ZWL

270M ZWL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,900

$4,400

$17,000

House price

36M ZWL

220M ZWL

310M ZWL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2,200

$13,000

$19,000

Villa price

44M ZWL

240M ZWL

360M ZWL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2,700

$15,000

$22,000

The average price of a studio apartment in Zimbabwe can range from 3.6M ZWL to 11M ZWL depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 4.4M ZWL to 27M ZWL. A villa can cost you 240M ZWL on average with prices ranging from 44M ZWL to 360M ZWL.

House / apartment prices to income ratio

Property prices in Zimbabwe can be x63 to x178 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x63 multiples of the average monthly salary in Zimbabwe.

Rent to income ratio

The average rent-to-income ratio in Zimbabwe is around 26%. This means that people pay 26% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 16% to 36% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.

Housing affordability index

The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.

Property Taxes

Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.

Home Maintenance Costs

Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.

Urban vs. rural living costs

Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.

Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Zimbabwe

Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Zimbabwe

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Family

6,000 ZWL

17,000 ZWL

110,000 ZWL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.36

$1

$6.8

Internet and cable cost

1,100 ZWL

2,200 ZWL

2,900 ZWL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.07

$0.13

$0.18

Mobile phone bill and charges

870 ZWL

1,500 ZWL

4,400 ZWL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.05

$0.09

$0.27

The average monthly energy and water consumption of families is around 17,000 ZWL. The cost of internet and WiFi ranges from 1,100 ZWL to 2,900 ZWL with 2,200 ZWL being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 1,500 ZWL but can range between 870 ZWL and 4,400 ZWL depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.

Energy / Utility expense to income ratio

The average utility-to-income ratio in Zimbabwe is around 7%. This means that people pay 7% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 4% to 11% depending on salary and location.

Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Zimbabwe

Prices and cost of goods and services in Zimbabwe

Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.

Fast food combo meal price

220 ZWL

440 ZWL

730 ZWL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.01

$0.03

$0.04

The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Zimbabwe is approximatly 440 ZWL with meal cost ranging from 220 ZWL to 730 ZWL. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.

Restaurant meal for one price

730 ZWL

1,100 ZWL

2,200 ZWL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.04

$0.07

$0.13

If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 730 ZWL and 2,200 ZWL with 1,100 ZWL being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Zimbabwe.

Fine dining meal for one price

1,500 ZWL

2,200 ZWL

8,700 ZWL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.09

$0.13

$0.53

The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 1,500 ZWL to 8,700 ZWL with the average cost being 2,200 ZWL for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Zimbabwe.

Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..

180 ZWL

290 ZWL

440 ZWL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.01

$0.02

$0.03

The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Zimbabwe is around 290 ZWL. Price ranges between 180 ZWL and 440 ZWL depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.

Grocery and market costs

Large bottle of milk price

150 ZWL

170 ZWL

220 ZWL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.01

$0.01

$0.01

The average price of a large bottle of milk in Zimbabwe is 170 ZWL. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 220 ZWL and the minimum being 150 ZWL depending on the brand of milk and other properties.

12 eggs price

110 ZWL

150 ZWL

220 ZWL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.01

$0.01

$0.01

A dozen eggs costs around 150 ZWL on average with 110 ZWL and 220 ZWL being the lower and upper limits respectively.

Fresh whole chicken price

250 ZWL

320 ZWL

450 ZWL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.02

$0.02

$0.03

The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Zimbabwe is between 250 ZWL and 450 ZWL depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 320 ZWL.

Pack of beef price

290 ZWL

440 ZWL

870 ZWL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.02

$0.03

$0.05

The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 440 ZWL. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.

Medium bag of rice price

120 ZWL

160 ZWL

230 ZWL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.01

$0.01

$0.01

A bag of rice in Zimbabwe costs around 160 ZWL on average with prices rangeing between 120 ZWL and 230 ZWL depending on the brand and quality.

Bag of tomatos price

44 ZWL

58 ZWL

110 ZWL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.01

$0.01

$0.01

A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 44 ZWL to 110 ZWL. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Bag of apples price

78 ZWL

100 ZWL

170 ZWL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.01

$0.01

$0.01

A bag of apples costs 100 ZWL on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Grocery and food expenditure to income ratio

The average grocery-to-income ratio in Zimbabwe is around 28%. This means that families spend 28% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 20% to 34% depending on salary and location.

Expenditure on food and grocery for families