Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Chinhoyi

For one person, living is cheaper in Chinhoyi: $644 a month against $1,692 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $12,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin, Colombia
Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,692
/mo nomad
Chinhoyi
🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
$644
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Chinhoyi

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medellin and in Chinhoyi actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,692 in Medellin versus $644 in Chinhoyi.

  • Medellin $1,692
  • Chinhoyi $644

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,471 in Medellin versus $1,016 in Chinhoyi.

  • Medellin $2,471
  • Chinhoyi $1,016

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,249 in Medellin versus $1,388 in Chinhoyi.

  • Medellin $3,249
  • Chinhoyi $1,388

Living in Medellin is roughly 163% more expensive than in Chinhoyi, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 25% above, Chinhoyi is 52% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Chinhoyi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.34 COP 26.9K
$2.02 ZWL 53.7
312.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.53 COP 150.3K
$45.05 ZWL 1,196
3.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.47 COP 30.6K
$4.39 ZWL 116
115.72%
Cappuccino
$3.13 COP 10.1K
$0.98 ZWL 25.97
219.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 COP 5,704
$0.34 ZWL 9.12
420.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42 COP 4,600
$0.26 ZWL 6.92
446.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.15 COP 10.2K
$1.02 ZWL 27.17
208.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.70 COP 18.4K
$2.05 ZWL 54.3
178.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Chinhoyi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.53 COP 4,949
$1.54 ZWL 40.92
-0.65%
White Bread (500g)
$2.29 COP 7,399
$0.87 ZWL 23.18
163.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.94 COP 6,281
$1.66 ZWL 43.99
16.87%
Eggs
$3.07 COP 9,902
$1.93 ZWL 51.2
59.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.99 COP 32.3K
$11.63 ZWL 309
-14.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.45 COP 33.7K
$3.03 ZWL 80.5
244.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.96 COP 45.1K
$3.91 ZWL 104
257.03%
Apples (1kg)
$4.05 COP 13.1K
$1.03 ZWL 27.25
293.20%
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,936
$0.97 ZWL 25.84
57.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.10 COP 6,795
$0.99 ZWL 26.18
112.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.29 COP 7,407
$0.97 ZWL 25.86
136.08%
Potato (1kg)
$2.11 COP 6,812
$1.01 ZWL 26.90
108.91%
Onion (1kg)
$1.71 COP 5,519
$1.01 ZWL 26.83
69.31%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 COP 3,779
$0.52 ZWL 13.74
125.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 COP 5,102
$0.82 ZWL 21.88
92.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.91 COP 12.6K
$1.74 ZWL 46.25
124.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.04 COP 45.4K
$7.19 ZWL 191
95.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 COP 5,689
$0.49 ZWL 12.96
259.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 COP 8,758
$0.98 ZWL 26.02
176.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Chinhoyi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.18 COP 3,810
$0.98 ZWL 26.02
20.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$76.3 COP 246.4K
$29.64 ZWL 787
157.39%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.81 COP 5,835
$3.96 ZWL 105
-54.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.13 COP 6,876
$1.98 ZWL 52.5
7.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.13 COP 26.3K
$5.05 ZWL 134
60.99%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 COP 4,118
$1.40 ZWL 37.22
-8.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4K COP 111.2M
$22.2K ZWL 590.3K
54.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1K COP 110.2M
$27.4K ZWL 727.7K
24.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Chinhoyi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$178 COP 573.9K
$39.97 ZWL 1,061
344.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.89 COP 44.8K
$19.68 ZWL 522
-29.42%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.74 COP 99.3K
$73.9 ZWL 1,961
-58.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Chinhoyi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.94 COP 135.4K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80 COP 54.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.47 COP 24.1K
$10.15 ZWL 269
-26.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Chinhoyi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$790 COP 2.6M
$424 ZWL 11.2K
86.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.3K COP 39.7M
$15.0K ZWL 398.1K
-18.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Chinhoyi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.3 COP 278.8K
$21.27 ZWL 565
305.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.3 COP 191.4K
$19.81 ZWL 526
199.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$138 COP 446.7K
$35.82 ZWL 951
286.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.8 COP 319.1K
$39.84 ZWL 1,057
148.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Chinhoyi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,341 COP 4.3M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$667 COP 2.2M
$182 ZWL 4,826
266.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,976 COP 6.4M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,033 COP 3.3M
$297 ZWL 7,878
247.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,098 COP 13.2M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,940 COP 6.3M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Chinhoyi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$646 COP 2.1M
$197 ZWL 5,239
227.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
13.69
-20.09%

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

Last update for Medellin: November 2, 2026

Last update for Chinhoyi: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$667
Chinhoyi
$182 72.7% $485
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$307
Chinhoyi
$156 49.3% $151
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$222
Chinhoyi
$134 39.9% $89
Eating Out
Medellin
$173
Chinhoyi
$53 69.5% $120
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$172
Chinhoyi
$53 69.5% $120
Getting Around
Medellin
$93
Chinhoyi
$47 49.3% $46
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$57
Chinhoyi
$20 * 64.3% $37

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

Medellin pays about 3.3 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $47 in Medellin vs $45 in Chinhoyi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $307 vs $156 per month, with Chinhoyi cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇿🇼 Chinhoyi
🕒 Local time
12:51 12:51 PM
19:51 7:51 PM
7 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
56,794
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

ZWL, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 3,229 COP (10,000 COP = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 3,627 COP (10,000 COP = 2.76 EUR).

Zimbabwean Dollar exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 26.54 ZWL (100 ZWL = 3.77 USD). 1 EUR = 29.81 ZWL (100 ZWL = 3.35 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Chinhoyi 11,890 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Chinhoyi

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Medellin vs Chinhoyi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Medellin and in Chinhoyi?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $1,692 in Medellin and $644 in Chinhoyi, so Chinhoyi is about 62% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Medellin or Chinhoyi?
Average pay in Medellin is about 3.3 times higher, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Chinhoyi – a meal for two runs $45 versus $47 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Medellin or Chinhoyi?
All in, you’ll spend $1,692 per month in Medellin versus $644 in Chinhoyi – Chinhoyi is about 62% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Which city is more doable on $1,200 per month?
At $644 in Chinhoyi versus $1,692 in Medellin, a $1,200 budget is realistic in Chinhoyi but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Chinhoyi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Chinhoyi?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
How do I decide between Medellin and Chinhoyi?
It comes down to priorities – Chinhoyi wins on affordability, Medellin on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

Medellin vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?