How Zimbabwe compares across key indices
Cost of Living
64 vs NYC
100 = NYC
Safety Index
66/100
Healthcare
36/100
Quality of Life
100/200
How far your money goes in Zimbabwe
Cost of Living
64
100 = NYC baseline
Rent Index
48
100 = NYC rent
Groceries
64
100 = NYC groceries
Restaurant Prices
68
100 = NYC dining
How safe residents feel in Zimbabwe - based on surveys of people living there
Safety Index
66/100
Crime Index
27/100
Lower is better
0 point drop from day to night
Zimbabwe has 30 cities with Freedom Abroad estimates. Monthly costs for a single person range from $1,276 in Bindura to $1,678 in Harare. Bindura leads on safety, scoring 70/100. Bindura ranks highest for quality of life at 104/200.
Bindura
$1,276/mo
Bindura
70/100
Bindura
104/200
Harare
48/100
| City | Monthly Cost | Safety | Quality of Life | Healthcare | Pollution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harare | $1,678 | 61/100 | 98/200 | 48/100 | 47 |
| Bulawayo | $1,451 | 65/100 | 101/200 | 41/100 | 41 |
| Chitungwiza | $1,412 | 66/100 | 101/200 | 39/100 | 39 |
| Mutare | $1,378 | 67/100 | 102/200 | 37/100 | 37 |
| Epworth | $1,372 | 67/100 | 102/200 | 37/100 | 37 |
| Gweru | $1,354 | 68/100 | 102/200 | 36/100 | 36 |
| Kwekwe | $1,335 | 68/100 | 103/200 | 35/100 | 34 |
| Kadoma | $1,334 | 68/100 | 103/200 | 35/100 | 34 |
| Ruwa | $1,318 | 69/100 | 103/200 | 34/100 | 34 |
| Chinhoyi | $1,317 | 69/100 | 103/200 | 34/100 | 33 |
| Masvingo | $1,315 | 69/100 | 103/200 | 34/100 | 33 |
| Norton | $1,312 | 69/100 | 103/200 | 34/100 | 33 |
| Marondera | $1,294 | 70/100 | 103/200 | 33/100 | 32 |
| Chegutu | $1,294 | 70/100 | 103/200 | 33/100 | 32 |
| Zvishavane | $1,287 | 70/100 | 104/200 | 33/100 | 32 |
| Beitbridge | $1,287 | 70/100 | 104/200 | 33/100 | 32 |
| Bindura | $1,276 | 70/100 | 104/200 | 32/100 | 31 |
| Redcliff | $1,276 | 70/100 | 104/200 | 32/100 | 31 |
| Chiredzi | $1,276 | 70/100 | 104/200 | 32/100 | 31 |
| Hwange | $1,276 | 70/100 | 104/200 | 32/100 | 31 |
| Rusape | $1,276 | 70/100 | 104/200 | 32/100 | 31 |
| Karoi | $1,276 | 70/100 | 104/200 | 32/100 | 31 |
| Victoria Falls | $1,276 | 70/100 | 104/200 | 32/100 | 31 |
| Chipinge | $1,276 | 70/100 | 104/200 | 32/100 | 31 |
| Gokwe | $1,276 | 70/100 | 104/200 | 32/100 | 31 |
| Kariba | $1,276 | 70/100 | 104/200 | 32/100 | 31 |
| Gwanda | $1,276 | 70/100 | 104/200 | 32/100 | 31 |
| Shurugwi | $1,276 | 70/100 | 104/200 | 32/100 | 31 |
| Mvurwi | $1,276 | 70/100 | 104/200 | 32/100 | 31 |
| Harare Western Suburbs | $1,276 | 70/100 | 104/200 | 32/100 | 31 |
Freedom Abroad estimates are modeled for a single person including rent. Pollution: lower score = cleaner air. Click column headers to sort.
Compare Cities Side by Side
Detailed comparison of cost of living, safety, and quality of life
Verified school profiles for families comparing language model, grade range, credentials, and admissions next steps in Zimbabwe. Tuition appears only when published in verified public sources.
1
Verified records
0
Cities covered
3
Credential signals
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
Primary, Middle school, High school
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
School records are maintained from direct school pages, public credential directories, public registry claims, and carefully labeled directory/community sources. Admissions, seat availability, and tuition can change quickly, so Freedom Abroad treats unpublished costs as “Contact school” instead of estimating.
Healthcare system overview for Zimbabwe
Recommended PartnerReal coverage for real life abroad. Not travel insurance. Not hoping for the best.
A portion of affiliate revenue is donated to UNHCR
Air quality, water, and environmental conditions in Zimbabwe
Pollution Index
39/100
Lower is better
PM2.5
19.5ug/m3
Moderate
Based on 0 survey responses. Perception scores are 0–100 where higher is better unless noted.
Common questions about living in Zimbabwe, answered with data
Zimbabwe has a cost of living index of 64 relative to New York City (100). It is moderately affordable compared to the US. Monthly costs for a single person start around $1,334 in Kadoma and reach $1,678 in Harare.
Kadoma is the most affordable city in Zimbabwe in Freedom Abroad estimates, with estimated monthly costs of $1,334 for a single person including rent. Kwekwe is the next most affordable at $1,335/mo.
Zimbabwe has a safety index of 66/100, making it generally safe for expats and travellers. Among cities with data, Kwekwe scores highest on safety at 68/100.
Kwekwe ranks highest for quality of life in Zimbabwe, scoring 103/200 in Freedom Abroad's modeled quality-of-life estimate. Monthly costs there run around $1,335/mo for a single person. For budget-conscious expats, Kadoma offers the lowest monthly costs at $1,334/mo.
Zimbabwe scores 36/100 in Freedom Abroad's modeled healthcare estimate, making it limited in some areas by global standards. This estimate reflects open public indicators for health outcomes and system capacity.
Yes. Zimbabwe's cost of living is roughly 36% lower than New York City and generally cheaper than most major US cities. Rent specifically is around 52% cheaper. This makes it a popular destination for remote workers looking to stretch their dollar.
Your pre-departure checklist for Zimbabwe
Where Can I Move?
Check whether this country fits your passport, budget, work setup, safety floor, and priorities.
Build My Escape Plan
Turn this country into a practical move plan with visa, insurance, housing, banking, and scouting-trip next steps.
Compare Countries
Side-by-side breakdown of cost of living, safety, healthcare, and more.
Cost of Living
Model monthly costs with Freedom Abroad estimates before you narrow the shortlist.
Recommended PartnerReal coverage for real life abroad. Not travel insurance. Not hoping for the best.
A portion of affiliate revenue is donated to UNHCR
Get a multi-currency account before you leave. Essential for managing money abroad.
eSIM, VPN, and reliable internet - sorted before you land.
Secure at least your first week. Having a home base makes everything else easier.
Find the cheapest flights with flexible date search. Set alerts for price drops on your route.
Follow Zimbabwe
Future guides and articles for Zimbabwe will land in your inbox.
Cost of living, safety, school, and quality-of-life figures on this page are Freedom Abroad estimates or verified public records modeled from open sources. Data sources
Freedom Abroad helps you figure out the part nobody talks about: how to actually build a life in another country. Films, tools, and data. No fluff.
Learn about our mission