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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $761 per month in Kwekwe vs $784 in Bulawayo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,510 per month in Kwekwe vs $1,259 in Bulawayo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,259 per month in Kwekwe vs $1,734 in Bulawayo, rent included.

Kwekwe is about 3% cheaper than Bulawayo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Kwekwe and Bulawayo are more affordable than the global median – Kwekwe 43% lower, Bulawayo 41% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kwekwe
Bulawayo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.82 ZWL 262
$4.39 ZWL 117
123.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.96 ZWL 1,333
$29.52 ZWL 788
69.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.04 ZWL 188
$5.34 ZWL 143
31.84%
Cappuccino
$3.03 ZWL 80.8
$2.32 ZWL 61.9
30.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 ZWL 19.31
$0.48 ZWL 12.86
50.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 ZWL 11.69
$0.43 ZWL 11.47
2.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.48 ZWL 39.56
$1.80 ZWL 47.94
-17.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 ZWL 54.2
$2.47 ZWL 65.9
-17.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kwekwe
Bulawayo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.60 ZWL 42.70
$1.56 ZWL 41.74
2.56%
White Bread (500g)
$0.60 ZWL 16.07
$1.00 ZWL 26.77
-40.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.67 ZWL 44.66
$1.78 ZWL 47.53
-6.18%
Eggs
$2.16 ZWL 57.7
$1.75 ZWL 46.78
23.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.12 ZWL 297
$10.45 ZWL 279
6.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.39 ZWL 170
$3.84 ZWL 102
66.41%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$3.91 ZWL 104
$4.42 ZWL 118
-11.54%
Apples (1kg)
$2.93 ZWL 78.1
$1.46 ZWL 39.05
100.68%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 ZWL 43.19
$1.47 ZWL 39.26
10.20%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.29 ZWL 61.2
$2.23 ZWL 59.5
2.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.70 ZWL 45.45
$1.12 ZWL 29.86
51.79%
Potato (1kg)
$1.50 ZWL 39.98
$1.15 ZWL 30.66
30.43%
Onion (1kg)
$2.05 ZWL 54.7
$1.36 ZWL 36.24
50.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.96 ZWL 25.59
$0.98 ZWL 26.02
-2.04%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.96 ZWL 25.69
$1.01 ZWL 26.88
-4.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.07 ZWL 28.67
$1.54 ZWL 40.96
-30.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.33 ZWL 249
$5.07 ZWL 135
84.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 ZWL 31.35
$1.53 ZWL 40.94
-22.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 ZWL 46.30
$2.19 ZWL 58.4
-20.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Kwekwe
Bulawayo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.48 ZWL 12.90
$0.51 ZWL 13.66
-5.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$32.09 ZWL 856
$30.34 ZWL 810
5.77%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.88 ZWL 130
$3.08 ZWL 82.1
58.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.95 ZWL 52.1
$2.23 ZWL 59.5
-12.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.10 ZWL 136
$4.96 ZWL 132
2.82%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.59 ZWL 42.43
$1.66 ZWL 44.35
-4.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.0K ZWL 534.8K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7K ZWL 631.9K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kwekwe
Bulawayo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$58.1 ZWL 1,549
$72.5 ZWL 1,933
-19.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.75 ZWL 473
$18.00 ZWL 480
-1.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$91.6 ZWL 2,443
$135 ZWL 3,613
-32.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kwekwe
Bulawayo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$24.96 ZWL 666
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.94 ZWL 265
$10.17 ZWL 271
-2.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kwekwe
Bulawayo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$276 ZWL 7,368
$140 ZWL 3,729
97.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,457 ZWL 199.0K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kwekwe
Bulawayo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.70 ZWL 525
$21.40 ZWL 571
-7.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.25 ZWL 567
$13.10 ZWL 349
62.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$34.20 ZWL 912
$69.7 ZWL 1,859
-50.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.66 ZWL 1,085
$55.3 ZWL 1,476
-26.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kwekwe
Bulawayo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$152 ZWL 4,049
$183 ZWL 4,874
-16.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$119 ZWL 3,162
$109 ZWL 2,900
9.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$593 ZWL 15.8K
$473 ZWL 12.6K
25.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$797 ZWL 21.3K
$420 ZWL 11.2K
90.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,089 ZWL 55.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,041 ZWL 54.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kwekwe
Bulawayo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$302 ZWL 8,066
$294 ZWL 7,853
2.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.31
0
-

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Kwekwe: July 26, 2026

Last update for Bulawayo: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $152 in Kwekwe versus $183 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 $50.0 in Kwekwe versus $30.00 in Bulawayo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $208 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 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 $1,141 per month in Kwekwe and $1,176 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 $761 in Kwekwe and $784 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 6% 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 $761 in Kwekwe and $784 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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