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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $607 in Gweru, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $1,097 in Gweru, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $1,588 in Gweru, rent included.

Medellin costs about 70% more than Gweru, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Gweru are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Gweru 55% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Gweru
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92 COP 21.4K
$2.45 ZWL 62.0
141.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75 COP 118.2K
$50.9 ZWL 1,288
-35.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.20 COP 26.0K
$5.84 ZWL 148
23.29%
Cappuccino
$1.70 COP 6,140
$2.73 ZWL 69.1
-37.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,966
$0.48 ZWL 12.24
129.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 COP 2,605
$0.47 ZWL 11.83
53.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.67 COP 6,022
$1.47 ZWL 37.26
13.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10 COP 11.2K
$1.03 ZWL 25.97
200.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Gweru
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 COP 3,809
$1.46 ZWL 36.94
-27.40%
White Bread (500g)
$1.25 COP 4,497
$0.98 ZWL 24.76
27.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.39 COP 5,022
$1.94 ZWL 49.19
-28.35%
Eggs
$2.26 COP 8,168
$1.96 ZWL 49.57
15.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.33 COP 15.6K
$10.85 ZWL 275
-60.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.84 COP 21.1K
$3.89 ZWL 98.3
50.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.83 COP 31.9K
$5.62 ZWL 142
57.12%
Apples (1kg)
$2.24 COP 8,099
$1.95 ZWL 49.22
14.87%
Banana (1kg)
$1.08 COP 3,882
$1.70 ZWL 43.08
-36.47%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 COP 5,522
$1.95 ZWL 49.33
-21.54%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.37 COP 4,950
$1.02 ZWL 25.83
34.31%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 4,078
$1.56 ZWL 39.44
-27.56%
Onion (1kg)
$1.12 COP 4,036
$1.02 ZWL 25.81
9.80%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 COP 3,057
$1.02 ZWL 25.73
-16.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 COP 3,281
$0.94 ZWL 23.77
-3.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33 COP 8,414
$1.09 ZWL 27.51
113.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.13 COP 40.2K
$8.73 ZWL 221
27.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 COP 4,309
$1.18 ZWL 29.81
0.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 COP 8,553
$1.70 ZWL 42.99
39.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Gweru
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 COP 2,838
$0.49 ZWL 12.31
61.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.13 COP 148.5K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.44 COP 5,184
$5.09 ZWL 129
-71.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.91 COP 6,901
$0.86 ZWL 21.83
122.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.02 COP 28.9K
$4.90 ZWL 124
63.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 COP 3,385
$1.56 ZWL 39.37
-39.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9K COP 64.7M
$20.4K ZWL 515.1K
-11.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K COP 96.7M
$23.8K ZWL 602.2K
12.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Gweru
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.0 COP 303.1K
$30.03 ZWL 760
179.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60 COP 34.7K
$16.92 ZWL 428
-43.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16 COP 87.2K
$94.0 ZWL 2,378
-74.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Gweru
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.88 COP 93.4K
$40.50 ZWL 1,025
-36.10%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04 COP 68.7K
$1.99 ZWL 50.3
856.78%
Cinema Ticket
$3.92 COP 14.1K
$10.10 ZWL 256
-61.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Gweru
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$306 COP 1.1M
$247 ZWL 6,243
24.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,919 COP 21.4M
$5,912 ZWL 149.6K
0.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Gweru
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 209.1K
$19.45 ZWL 492
197.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82 COP 114.9K
$19.67 ZWL 498
61.77%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.9 COP 360.6K
$34.30 ZWL 868
191.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 COP 386.8K
$40.90 ZWL 1,035
161.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Gweru
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$487 COP 1.8M
$147 ZWL 3,726
230.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$368 COP 1.3M
$68.7 ZWL 1,738
435.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$826 COP 3.0M
$561 ZWL 14.2K
47.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$716 COP 2.6M
$297 ZWL 7,515
141.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,925 COP 10.6M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,407 COP 5.1M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Gweru
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$546 COP 2.0M
$250 ZWL 6,318
118.44%
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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Gweru: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Medellin versus $147 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 118% 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: $190 vs $191 – 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 Gweru compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,034 in Medellin, $607 in Gweru – roughly 70% 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 $1,550 per month in Medellin and $910 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 $1,034 in Medellin and $607 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 $306 per month in Medellin and $247 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 $607, than in Medellin at $1,034. 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 $607 in Gweru to $1,034 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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