😐A single person spends $784 per month in Bulawayo vs $761 in Kwekwe, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,259 per month in Bulawayo vs $1,510 in Kwekwe, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,734 per month in Bulawayo vs $2,259 in Kwekwe, rent included.
😐Bulawayo costs about 3% more than Kwekwe, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Bulawayo and Kwekwe are more affordable than the global median – Bulawayo41% lower, Kwekwe43% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bulawayo
Kwekwe
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.39ZWL 117
$9.82ZWL 262
-55.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.52ZWL 788
$49.96ZWL 1,333
-40.91%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.34ZWL 143
$7.04ZWL 188
-24.15%
Cappuccino
$2.32ZWL 61.9
$3.03ZWL 80.8
-23.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48ZWL 12.86
$0.72ZWL 19.31
-33.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43ZWL 11.47
$0.44ZWL 11.69
-2.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.80ZWL 47.94
$1.48ZWL 39.56
21.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47ZWL 65.9
$2.03ZWL 54.2
21.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bulawayo
Kwekwe
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.56ZWL 41.74
$1.60ZWL 42.70
-2.50%
White Bread(500g)
$1.00ZWL 26.77
$0.60ZWL 16.07
66.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.78ZWL 47.53
$1.67ZWL 44.66
6.59%
Eggs
$1.75ZWL 46.78
$2.16ZWL 57.7
-18.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.45ZWL 279
$11.12ZWL 297
-6.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.84ZWL 102
$6.39ZWL 170
-39.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.42ZWL 118
$3.91ZWL 104
13.04%
Apples(1kg)
$1.46ZWL 39.05
$2.93ZWL 78.1
-50.17%
Banana(1kg)
$1.47ZWL 39.26
$1.62ZWL 43.19
-9.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.23ZWL 59.5
$2.29ZWL 61.2
-2.62%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.12ZWL 29.86
$1.70ZWL 45.45
-34.12%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15ZWL 30.66
$1.50ZWL 39.98
-23.33%
Onion(1kg)
$1.36ZWL 36.24
$2.05ZWL 54.7
-33.66%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98ZWL 26.02
$0.96ZWL 25.59
2.08%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.01ZWL 26.88
$0.96ZWL 25.69
5.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.54ZWL 40.96
$1.07ZWL 28.67
43.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.07ZWL 135
$9.33ZWL 249
-45.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.53ZWL 40.94
$1.18ZWL 31.35
29.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19ZWL 58.4
$1.74ZWL 46.30
25.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Bulawayo
Kwekwe
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51ZWL 13.66
$0.48ZWL 12.90
6.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$30.34ZWL 810
$32.09ZWL 856
-5.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.08ZWL 82.1
$4.88ZWL 130
-36.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.23ZWL 59.5
$1.95ZWL 52.1
14.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.96ZWL 132
$5.10ZWL 136
-2.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.66ZWL 44.35
$1.59ZWL 42.43
4.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$20.0KZWL 534.8K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$23.7KZWL 631.9K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bulawayo
Kwekwe
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$72.5ZWL 1,933
$58.1ZWL 1,549
24.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.00ZWL 480
$17.75ZWL 473
1.41%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$135ZWL 3,613
$91.6ZWL 2,443
47.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bulawayo
Kwekwe
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$24.96ZWL 666
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.17ZWL 271
$9.94ZWL 265
2.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bulawayo
Kwekwe
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$140ZWL 3,729
$276ZWL 7,368
-49.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$7,457ZWL 199.0K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bulawayo
Kwekwe
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.40ZWL 571
$19.70ZWL 525
8.63%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$13.10ZWL 349
$21.25ZWL 567
-38.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$69.7ZWL 1,859
$34.20ZWL 912
103.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$55.3ZWL 1,476
$40.66ZWL 1,085
36.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bulawayo
Kwekwe
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$183ZWL 4,874
$152ZWL 4,049
20.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$109ZWL 2,900
$119ZWL 3,162
-8.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$473ZWL 12.6K
$593ZWL 15.8K
-20.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$420ZWL 11.2K
$797ZWL 21.3K
-47.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,089ZWL 55.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,041ZWL 54.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bulawayo
Kwekwe
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$294ZWL 7,853
$302ZWL 8,066
-2.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
13.31
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bulawayo: July 26, 2026
Last update for Kwekwe: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $183 in Bulawayo versus $152 in Kwekwe. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 3% higher in Kwekwe, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in Bulawayo versus $50.0 in Kwekwe. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $179 vs $208 – making Bulawayo the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Bulawayo vs Kwekwe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kwekwe cheaper than Bulawayo?
Yes – Bulawayo is pricier by about 3%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,176 per month in Bulawayo and $1,141 in Kwekwe. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kwekwe, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Bulawayo and in Kwekwe?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $784 in Bulawayo and $761 in Kwekwe. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 6% less in Kwekwe. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,000 enough for either Bulawayo or Kwekwe?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $784 in Bulawayo and $761 in Kwekwe, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Bulawayo or Kwekwe more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Kwekwe – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Kwekwe. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bulawayo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.