Cost of Living Comparison Between Kwekwe and Bulawayo Cost of Living Comparison Between Kwekwe and Bulawayo

Monthly Cost of Living

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 – Kwekwe 46% lower, Bulawayo 45% lower.

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

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