Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and GweruCost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Gweru
Monthly Cost of Living
πA single person spends $1,028 per month in Medellin vs $607 in Gweru, rent included.
πA couple spends around $1,586 per month in Medellin vs $1,089 in Gweru, rent included.
πA family of three spends $2,144 per month in Medellin vs $1,572 in Gweru, rent included.
πMedellin costs about 70% more than Gweru, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
πBoth Medellin and Gweru are more affordable than the global median β Medellin23% lower, Gweru54% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Gweru
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.00COPΒ 20.6K
$2.46ZWLΒ 65.8
143.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.84COPΒ 112.5K
$50.8ZWLΒ 1,356
-35.37%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.42COPΒ 25.4K
$5.96ZWLΒ 159
24.50%
Cappuccino
$1.65COPΒ 5,659
$2.75ZWLΒ 73.3
-40.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07COPΒ 3,663
$0.48ZWLΒ 12.68
122.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76COPΒ 2,607
$0.44ZWLΒ 11.67
72.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72COPΒ 5,908
$1.53ZWLΒ 40.78
12.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20COPΒ 11.0K
$1.03ZWLΒ 27.41
210.68%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Gweru
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COPΒ 3,597
$1.54ZWLΒ 41.20
-31.82%
White Bread(500g)
$1.31COPΒ 4,479
$1.02ZWLΒ 27.28
28.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.34COPΒ 4,591
$1.94ZWLΒ 51.9
-30.93%
Eggs
$2.19COPΒ 7,521
$1.98ZWLΒ 52.7
10.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.41COPΒ 15.1K
$10.74ZWLΒ 287
-58.94%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.69COPΒ 19.5K
$3.73ZWLΒ 99.7
52.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.52COPΒ 29.2K
$5.47ZWLΒ 146
55.76%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34COPΒ 8,023
$1.98ZWLΒ 52.9
18.18%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COPΒ 3,804
$1.71ZWLΒ 45.58
-35.09%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COPΒ 5,210
$2.06ZWLΒ 55.0
-26.21%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COPΒ 4,680
$0.98ZWLΒ 26.19
39.80%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15COPΒ 3,950
$1.50ZWLΒ 40.10
-23.33%
Onion(1kg)
$1.18COPΒ 4,043
$0.99ZWLΒ 26.39
19.19%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.84COPΒ 2,885
$0.94ZWLΒ 25.21
-10.64%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86COPΒ 2,931
$1.02ZWLΒ 27.21
-15.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.26COPΒ 7,753
$1.12ZWLΒ 29.88
101.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.60COPΒ 39.8K
$9.18ZWLΒ 245
26.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COPΒ 4,109
$1.17ZWLΒ 31.35
2.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48COPΒ 8,484
$1.80ZWLΒ 47.99
37.78%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Gweru
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COPΒ 2,721
$0.48ZWLΒ 12.69
64.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.83COPΒ 139.9K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47COPΒ 5,023
$5.06ZWLΒ 135
-70.95%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92COPΒ 6,568
$0.88ZWLΒ 23.59
118.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.77COPΒ 26.6K
$5.06ZWLΒ 135
53.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.01COPΒ 3,464
$1.55ZWLΒ 41.30
-34.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.7KCOPΒ 60.5M
$19.9KZWLΒ 531.5K
-11.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOPΒ 90.7M
$23.2KZWLΒ 619.4K
13.99%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Gweru
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.1COPΒ 277.9K
$30.55ZWLΒ 815
165.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.43COPΒ 32.3K
$17.26ZWLΒ 461
-45.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.86COPΒ 81.8K
$94.1ZWLΒ 2,512
-74.65%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Gweru
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.99COPΒ 89.1K
$40.72ZWLΒ 1,087
-36.17%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.71COPΒ 64.1K
$1.94ZWLΒ 51.8
864.43%
Cinema Ticket
$4.09COPΒ 14.0K
$10.17ZWLΒ 271
-59.78%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Gweru
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$315COPΒ 1.1M
$247ZWLΒ 6,604
27.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,022COPΒ 20.6M
$5,705ZWLΒ 152.3K
5.56%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Gweru
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.7COPΒ 204.6K
$19.20ZWLΒ 513
210.94%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.97COPΒ 109.6K
$20.26ZWLΒ 541
57.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COPΒ 346.9K
$35.10ZWLΒ 937
188.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105COPΒ 360.3K
$40.69ZWLΒ 1,086
158.32%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Gweru
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$485COPΒ 1.7M
$151ZWLΒ 4,034
221.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$365COPΒ 1.3M
$69.2ZWLΒ 1,848
427.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$827COPΒ 2.8M
$553ZWLΒ 14.8K
49.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730COPΒ 2.5M
$296ZWLΒ 7,910
146.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,992COPΒ 10.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,314COPΒ 4.5M
-
-
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Gweru
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$551COPΒ 1.9M
$252ZWLΒ 6,716
118.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
7
91.86%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: June 15, 2026
Last update for Gweru: June 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A central one-bedroom costs $485 in Medellin versus $151 in Gweru. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
π°Salaries run about 119% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
πA mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $51.0 in Gweru. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $192 β 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: $1,028 in Medellin, $607 in Gweru β 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 $1,542 per month in Medellin and $910 in Gweru. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled β 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 $1,028 in Medellin and $607 in Gweru. The difference isn't just one category β it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Medellin and Gweru?
Kindergarten costs $315 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 $1,028. 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 $1,028 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.