Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Chinhoyi Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Chinhoyi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,003 in Medellin versus $666 in Chinhoyi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,573 in Medellin versus $1,032 in Chinhoyi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,143 in Medellin versus $1,399 in Chinhoyi.

Living in Medellin is roughly 51% more expensive than in Chinhoyi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin 25% lower, Chinhoyi 50% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Chinhoyi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.91 COP 18.6K
$1.99 ZWL 53.0
196.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96 COP 103.8K
$49.88 ZWL 1,331
-33.92%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.43 COP 23.4K
$4.47 ZWL 119
66.22%
Cappuccino
$1.65 COP 5,207
$1.02 ZWL 27.24
61.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,468
$0.34 ZWL 9.10
223.53%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 COP 2,458
$0.24 ZWL 6.38
225.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.72 COP 5,412
$0.99 ZWL 26.40
73.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 COP 10.0K
$1.98 ZWL 52.8
60.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Chinhoyi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.10 COP 3,474
$1.51 ZWL 40.36
-27.15%
White Bread (500g)
$1.26 COP 3,962
$0.81 ZWL 21.53
55.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,349
$1.63 ZWL 43.57
-15.34%
Eggs
$2.18 COP 6,858
$2.11 ZWL 56.2
3.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.49 COP 14.1K
$11.03 ZWL 294
-59.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.79 COP 18.2K
$2.95 ZWL 78.7
96.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.97 COP 28.2K
$4.03 ZWL 108
122.58%
Apples (1kg)
$2.32 COP 7,308
$0.97 ZWL 25.96
139.18%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COP 3,352
$1.03 ZWL 27.43
2.91%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.52 COP 4,774
$1.03 ZWL 27.42
47.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 COP 4,270
$1.03 ZWL 27.42
32.04%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,552
$0.97 ZWL 26.01
16.49%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COP 3,689
$1.03 ZWL 27.38
13.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 COP 2,838
$0.51 ZWL 13.67
76.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 COP 2,823
$0.78 ZWL 20.69
15.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23 COP 7,034
$1.07 ZWL 28.62
108.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.12 COP 38.2K
$6.82 ZWL 182
77.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 COP 3,743
$0.48 ZWL 12.85
147.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 COP 7,815
$1.03 ZWL 27.39
140.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Chinhoyi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.85 COP 2,687
$0.99 ZWL 26.31
-14.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.62 COP 131.0K
$29.74 ZWL 793
39.95%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 4,459
$4.02 ZWL 107
-64.68%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.95 COP 6,141
$2.02 ZWL 53.9
-3.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.89 COP 24.8K
$5.05 ZWL 135
56.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 COP 3,118
$1.39 ZWL 36.97
-28.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 55.4M
$20.3K ZWL 540.4K
-13.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K COP 84.4M
$22.9K ZWL 612.0K
16.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Chinhoyi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.0 COP 261.4K
$40.57 ZWL 1,082
104.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.70 COP 30.5K
$17.94 ZWL 479
-45.93%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52 COP 74.1K
$90.1 ZWL 2,402
-73.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Chinhoyi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.26 COP 79.5K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10 COP 60.1K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.95 COP 12.4K
$10.20 ZWL 272
-61.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Chinhoyi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$316 COP 994.2K
$280 ZWL 7,459
12.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,975 COP 18.8M
$7,365 ZWL 196.5K
-18.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Chinhoyi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0 COP 188.9K
$19.40 ZWL 518
209.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82 COP 100.2K
$21.35 ZWL 570
49.04%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 COP 320.1K
$34.29 ZWL 915
196.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 COP 338.3K
$39.83 ZWL 1,063
169.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Chinhoyi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$475 COP 1.5M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$374 COP 1.2M
$178 ZWL 4,760
109.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$849 COP 2.7M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$719 COP 2.3M
$302 ZWL 8,058
138.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,265 COP 10.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,441 COP 4.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Chinhoyi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$624 COP 2.0M
$201 ZWL 5,363
210.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
13.31
0.90%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Chinhoyi: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Medellin pays 211% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $50.0 in Chinhoyi. Groceries flip the comparison at $193 vs $153, with Chinhoyi cheaper for home cooking.

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?
Medellin and Chinhoyi differ by about 51% in total monthly costs ($1,003 vs $666 including rent). Chinhoyi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Medellin or Chinhoyi?
Average pay runs 211% higher in Medellin, 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 $50.0 versus $33.00 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 $1,003 per month in Medellin versus $666 in Chinhoyi – a 51% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $666 in Chinhoyi versus $1,003 in Medellin, a $2,000 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.
Where should expats move: Medellin or Chinhoyi?
Expats usually find Chinhoyi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 51% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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