🙂A single person spends $743 per month in Kwekwe vs $759 in Bulawayo, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,456 per month in Kwekwe vs $1,217 in Bulawayo, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,170 per month in Kwekwe vs $1,674 in Bulawayo, rent included.
🙂Kwekwe is about 2% cheaper than Bulawayo, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Kwekwe and Bulawayo are more affordable than the global median – Kwekwe46% lower, Bulawayo45% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kwekwe
Bulawayo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.15ZWL 270
$4.57ZWL 122
122.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.47ZWL 1,052
$30.27ZWL 807
30.39%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.18ZWL 165
$4.94ZWL 132
25.10%
Cappuccino
$3.08ZWL 82.1
$2.08ZWL 55.4
48.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99ZWL 26.38
$0.51ZWL 13.72
94.12%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50ZWL 13.21
$0.37ZWL 9.85
35.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.48ZWL 39.39
$1.53ZWL 40.74
-3.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95ZWL 52.1
$1.98ZWL 52.8
-1.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kwekwe
Bulawayo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.51ZWL 40.22
$1.68ZWL 44.89
-10.12%
White Bread(500g)
$0.60ZWL 15.87
$1.01ZWL 27.01
-40.59%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.65ZWL 43.85
$1.59ZWL 42.45
3.77%
Eggs
$1.93ZWL 51.4
$1.81ZWL 48.36
6.63%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.08ZWL 322
$9.80ZWL 261
23.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.64ZWL 150
$4.03ZWL 107
39.95%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.99ZWL 106
$4.57ZWL 122
-12.69%
Apples(1kg)
$3.03ZWL 80.7
$1.88ZWL 50.2
61.17%
Banana(1kg)
$1.67ZWL 44.63
$1.54ZWL 41.05
8.44%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99ZWL 52.9
$2.53ZWL 67.5
-21.34%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.46ZWL 38.97
$1.02ZWL 27.18
43.14%
Potato(1kg)
$1.72ZWL 45.80
$1.26ZWL 33.67
36.51%
Onion(1kg)
$1.88ZWL 50.2
$1.44ZWL 38.39
30.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17ZWL 31.18
$1.14ZWL 30.37
2.63%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.05ZWL 27.93
$0.79ZWL 21.08
32.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.98ZWL 52.7
$1.54ZWL 40.98
28.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.84ZWL 236
$5.09ZWL 136
73.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36ZWL 36.31
$1.35ZWL 35.85
0.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02ZWL 53.7
$1.94ZWL 51.6
4.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Kwekwe
Bulawayo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52ZWL 13.75
$0.77ZWL 20.60
-32.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$32.54ZWL 867
$29.67ZWL 791
9.67%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.96ZWL 106
$3.04ZWL 81.1
30.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.99ZWL 53.0
$2.03ZWL 54.1
-1.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.98ZWL 133
$5.07ZWL 135
-1.78%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.56ZWL 41.65
$1.67ZWL 44.58
-6.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.0KZWL 587.4K
$24.8KZWL 661.7K
-11.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.9KZWL 744.4K
$24.6KZWL 656.2K
13.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kwekwe
Bulawayo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$54.3ZWL 1,446
$96.2ZWL 2,564
-43.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.29ZWL 487
$17.40ZWL 464
5.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.0ZWL 1,813
$106ZWL 2,824
-35.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kwekwe
Bulawayo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$31.55ZWL 841
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$20.38ZWL 543
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.06ZWL 268
$9.97ZWL 266
0.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kwekwe
Bulawayo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$470ZWL 12.5K
$229ZWL 6,103
105.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,085ZWL 242.1K
$3,449ZWL 91.9K
163.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kwekwe
Bulawayo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.72ZWL 525
$21.67ZWL 578
-9.00%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.30ZWL 568
$11.81ZWL 315
80.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$34.91ZWL 930
$46.53ZWL 1,240
-24.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.88ZWL 1,063
$58.4ZWL 1,557
-31.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kwekwe
Bulawayo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$152ZWL 4,048
$174ZWL 4,625
-12.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$122ZWL 3,249
$108ZWL 2,887
12.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$598ZWL 15.9K
$417ZWL 11.1K
43.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$796ZWL 21.2K
$318ZWL 8,466
150.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,109ZWL 56.2K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,066ZWL 55.1K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kwekwe
Bulawayo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$305ZWL 8,139
$297ZWL 7,922
2.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.69
15
-8.73%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kwekwe: September 13, 2026
Last update for Bulawayo: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $152 in Kwekwe versus $174 in Bulawayo. 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 $39.00 in Kwekwe versus $30.00 in Bulawayo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $207 vs $179 – 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
Kwekwe vs Bulawayo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bulawayo cheaper than Kwekwe?
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 $1,114 per month in Kwekwe and $1,138 in Bulawayo. 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 Kwekwe and in Bulawayo?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $743 in Kwekwe and $759 in Bulawayo. 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 Kwekwe or Bulawayo?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $743 in Kwekwe and $759 in Bulawayo, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Kwekwe or Bulawayo 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.