😐A single person spends $759 per month in Bulawayo vs $743 in Kwekwe, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,217 per month in Bulawayo vs $1,456 in Kwekwe, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,674 per month in Bulawayo vs $2,170 in Kwekwe, rent included.
😐Bulawayo costs about 2% more than Kwekwe, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Bulawayo and Kwekwe are more affordable than the global median – Bulawayo45% lower, Kwekwe46% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bulawayo
Kwekwe
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.57ZWL 122
$10.15ZWL 270
-54.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.27ZWL 807
$39.47ZWL 1,052
-23.31%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.94ZWL 132
$6.18ZWL 165
-20.06%
Cappuccino
$2.08ZWL 55.4
$3.08ZWL 82.1
-32.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51ZWL 13.72
$0.99ZWL 26.38
-48.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37ZWL 9.85
$0.50ZWL 13.21
-26.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.53ZWL 40.74
$1.48ZWL 39.39
3.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98ZWL 52.8
$1.95ZWL 52.1
1.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bulawayo
Kwekwe
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68ZWL 44.89
$1.51ZWL 40.22
11.26%
White Bread(500g)
$1.01ZWL 27.01
$0.60ZWL 15.87
68.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.59ZWL 42.45
$1.65ZWL 43.85
-3.64%
Eggs
$1.81ZWL 48.36
$1.93ZWL 51.4
-6.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.80ZWL 261
$12.08ZWL 322
-18.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.03ZWL 107
$5.64ZWL 150
-28.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.57ZWL 122
$3.99ZWL 106
14.54%
Apples(1kg)
$1.88ZWL 50.2
$3.03ZWL 80.7
-37.95%
Banana(1kg)
$1.54ZWL 41.05
$1.67ZWL 44.63
-7.78%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.53ZWL 67.5
$1.99ZWL 52.9
27.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.02ZWL 27.18
$1.46ZWL 38.97
-30.14%
Potato(1kg)
$1.26ZWL 33.67
$1.72ZWL 45.80
-26.74%
Onion(1kg)
$1.44ZWL 38.39
$1.88ZWL 50.2
-23.40%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.14ZWL 30.37
$1.17ZWL 31.18
-2.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79ZWL 21.08
$1.05ZWL 27.93
-24.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.54ZWL 40.98
$1.98ZWL 52.7
-22.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.09ZWL 136
$8.84ZWL 236
-42.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.35ZWL 35.85
$1.36ZWL 36.31
-0.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94ZWL 51.6
$2.02ZWL 53.7
-3.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Bulawayo
Kwekwe
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.77ZWL 20.60
$0.52ZWL 13.75
48.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.67ZWL 791
$32.54ZWL 867
-8.82%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.04ZWL 81.1
$3.96ZWL 106
-23.23%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.03ZWL 54.1
$1.99ZWL 53.0
2.01%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.07ZWL 135
$4.98ZWL 133
1.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.67ZWL 44.58
$1.56ZWL 41.65
7.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.8KZWL 661.7K
$22.0KZWL 587.4K
12.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.6KZWL 656.2K
$27.9KZWL 744.4K
-11.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bulawayo
Kwekwe
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$96.2ZWL 2,564
$54.3ZWL 1,446
77.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.40ZWL 464
$18.29ZWL 487
-4.87%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$106ZWL 2,824
$68.0ZWL 1,813
55.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bulawayo
Kwekwe
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$31.55ZWL 841
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.38ZWL 543
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.97ZWL 266
$10.06ZWL 268
-0.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bulawayo
Kwekwe
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$229ZWL 6,103
$470ZWL 12.5K
-51.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,449ZWL 91.9K
$9,085ZWL 242.1K
-62.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bulawayo
Kwekwe
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.67ZWL 578
$19.72ZWL 525
9.89%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$11.81ZWL 315
$21.30ZWL 568
-44.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$46.53ZWL 1,240
$34.91ZWL 930
33.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$58.4ZWL 1,557
$39.88ZWL 1,063
46.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bulawayo
Kwekwe
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$174ZWL 4,625
$152ZWL 4,048
14.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$108ZWL 2,887
$122ZWL 3,249
-11.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$417ZWL 11.1K
$598ZWL 15.9K
-30.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$318ZWL 8,466
$796ZWL 21.2K
-60.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,109ZWL 56.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,066ZWL 55.1K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bulawayo
Kwekwe
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$297ZWL 7,922
$305ZWL 8,139
-2.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
15
13.69
9.57%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bulawayo: September 15, 2026
Last update for Kwekwe: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $174 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 $39.00 in Kwekwe. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $179 vs $207 – 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 2%, 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 $1,138 per month in Bulawayo and $1,114 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 $759 in Bulawayo and $743 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 10% 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 $759 in Bulawayo and $743 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.