Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Gweru Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Gweru

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $601 in Gweru, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,074 in Gweru, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,548 in Gweru, rent included.

Medellin costs about 67% more than Gweru, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Gweru are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Gweru 55% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Gweru
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.91 COP 18.6K
$2.46 ZWL 65.6
140.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96 COP 103.8K
$51.0 ZWL 1,360
-35.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.43 COP 23.4K
$6.12 ZWL 163
21.41%
Cappuccino
$1.65 COP 5,207
$2.78 ZWL 74.2
-40.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,468
$0.48 ZWL 12.91
129.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 COP 2,458
$0.47 ZWL 12.51
65.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.72 COP 5,412
$1.46 ZWL 39.06
17.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 COP 10.0K
$1.02 ZWL 27.28
211.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Gweru
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.10 COP 3,474
$1.52 ZWL 40.61
-27.63%
White Bread (500g)
$1.26 COP 3,962
$0.97 ZWL 25.94
29.90%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,349
$1.86 ZWL 49.75
-25.81%
Eggs
$2.18 COP 6,858
$1.97 ZWL 52.6
10.66%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.49 COP 14.1K
$10.93 ZWL 292
-58.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.79 COP 18.2K
$3.71 ZWL 99.1
56.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.97 COP 28.2K
$5.60 ZWL 149
60.18%
Apples (1kg)
$2.32 COP 7,308
$2.04 ZWL 54.3
13.73%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COP 3,352
$1.69 ZWL 44.96
-37.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.52 COP 4,774
$2.04 ZWL 54.5
-25.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 COP 4,270
$1.02 ZWL 27.14
33.33%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,552
$1.56 ZWL 41.68
-27.56%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COP 3,689
$0.98 ZWL 26.14
19.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 COP 2,838
$0.95 ZWL 25.47
-5.26%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 COP 2,823
$1.03 ZWL 27.44
-12.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23 COP 7,034
$1.11 ZWL 29.74
100.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.12 COP 38.2K
$9.22 ZWL 246
31.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 COP 3,743
$1.18 ZWL 31.60
0.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 COP 7,815
$1.71 ZWL 45.58
45.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Gweru
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.85 COP 2,687
$0.51 ZWL 13.61
66.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.62 COP 131.0K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 4,459
$5.07 ZWL 135
-71.99%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.95 COP 6,141
$0.88 ZWL 23.48
121.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.89 COP 24.8K
$5.11 ZWL 136
54.40%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 COP 3,118
$1.56 ZWL 41.52
-36.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 55.4M
$19.7K ZWL 524.5K
-10.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K COP 84.4M
$23.3K ZWL 622.7K
14.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Gweru
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.0 COP 261.4K
$30.34 ZWL 810
173.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.70 COP 30.5K
$17.29 ZWL 461
-43.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52 COP 74.1K
$91.7 ZWL 2,448
-74.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Gweru
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.26 COP 79.5K
$39.76 ZWL 1,061
-36.47%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10 COP 60.1K
$1.96 ZWL 52.2
874.49%
Cinema Ticket
$3.95 COP 12.4K
$10.03 ZWL 268
-60.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Gweru
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$316 COP 994.2K
$246 ZWL 6,571
28.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,975 COP 18.8M
$5,774 ZWL 154.1K
3.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Gweru
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0 COP 188.9K
$19.73 ZWL 526
204.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82 COP 100.2K
$20.18 ZWL 538
57.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 COP 320.1K
$34.88 ZWL 931
191.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 COP 338.3K
$39.70 ZWL 1,059
170.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Gweru
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$475 COP 1.5M
$152 ZWL 4,061
212.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$374 COP 1.2M
$68.6 ZWL 1,831
444.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$849 COP 2.7M
$542 ZWL 14.5K
56.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$719 COP 2.3M
$299 ZWL 7,965
141.01%
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
Gweru
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$624 COP 2.0M
$252 ZWL 6,721
147.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
7
91.86%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Gweru: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $152 in Gweru. 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 148% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $51.0 in Gweru. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $193 – making Medellin 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
Medellin vs Gweru: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Medellin and in Gweru compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,003 in Medellin, $601 in Gweru – roughly 67% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Medellin compared to Gweru?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Medellin and $902 in Gweru. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Medellin and Gweru?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Gweru, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Medellin or Gweru?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,003 in Medellin and $601 in Gweru. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Medellin and Gweru?
Kindergarten costs $316 per month in Medellin and $246 in Gweru. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Gweru, where all-in costs run around $601, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Gweru it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Gweru?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $601 in Gweru to $1,003 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Medellin and Gweru?
If budget matters most, go with Gweru. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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