Harare - Post Report Question and Answers

Zimbabwe contends with runaway inflation, which makes it difficult to say from week to week (or sometimes day to day) how much things will cost. Everything is expensive compared to most other countries in Africa. Compared to Washington DC, produce tends to be relatively reasonable. Quality can vary. Staples like rice and other grains are on the expensive side. Meat, depending on quality and how safely it is produced, can be reasonable to expensive. Dairy is hugely expensive and poor quality. Locally produced butter (which is barely edible even if used only for cooking) costs upwards of $25 per pound. Imported butter costs upwards of $60 per pound. Household supplies are expensive, poor quality, and typically include unsafe ingredients. The bigger problem is availability. Zimbabwe is incredibly food insecure, and shortages of basic food are common. This will likely worsen over the next couple of years as the economy tanks and drought conditions endanger agricultural production. - Jan 2024

Larger variety than expected. Fresh fruit, vegetables, and good selection of meat. Costs fluctuated with the unstable economy. Prices are still cheaper than D.C. for the most part. - May 2021