πA single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $766 in Kwekwe, rent included.
πA couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,507 in Kwekwe, rent included.
πA family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $2,248 in Kwekwe, rent included.
πMedellin costs about 33% more than Kwekwe, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
πBoth Medellin and Kwekwe are more affordable than the global median β Medellin24% lower, Kwekwe43% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Kwekwe
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.95COPΒ 20.8K
$9.93ZWLΒ 266
-40.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.33COPΒ 116.3K
$49.64ZWLΒ 1,329
-32.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.23COPΒ 25.2K
$7.04ZWLΒ 189
2.70%
Cappuccino
$1.63COPΒ 5,687
$3.01ZWLΒ 80.7
-45.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09COPΒ 3,821
$0.66ZWLΒ 17.69
65.15%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73COPΒ 2,548
$0.44ZWLΒ 11.75
65.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.74COPΒ 6,065
$1.53ZWLΒ 41.06
13.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23COPΒ 11.3K
$1.97ZWLΒ 52.6
63.96%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Kwekwe
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COPΒ 3,662
$1.64ZWLΒ 43.81
-35.98%
White Bread(500g)
$1.29COPΒ 4,515
$0.65ZWLΒ 17.34
98.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.32COPΒ 4,617
$1.65ZWLΒ 44.17
-20.00%
Eggs
$2.27COPΒ 7,927
$2.14ZWLΒ 57.4
6.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.35COPΒ 15.2K
$10.76ZWLΒ 288
-59.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COPΒ 20.5K
$6.39ZWLΒ 171
-7.98%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.61COPΒ 30.0K
$4.08ZWLΒ 109
111.03%
Apples(1kg)
$2.25COPΒ 7,844
$2.94ZWLΒ 78.7
-23.47%
Banana(1kg)
$1.07COPΒ 3,733
$1.63ZWLΒ 43.56
-34.36%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COPΒ 5,322
$2.17ZWLΒ 58.1
-29.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.42COPΒ 4,964
$1.71ZWLΒ 45.66
-16.96%
Potato(1kg)
$1.17COPΒ 4,084
$1.57ZWLΒ 42.07
-25.48%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COPΒ 4,077
$2.06ZWLΒ 55.2
-43.20%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COPΒ 3,096
$0.97ZWLΒ 25.89
-8.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COPΒ 3,146
$1.02ZWLΒ 27.26
-11.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25COPΒ 7,837
$1.07ZWLΒ 28.63
110.28%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.04COPΒ 38.5K
$8.87ZWLΒ 238
24.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14COPΒ 3,977
$1.13ZWLΒ 30.12
0.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38COPΒ 8,301
$1.70ZWLΒ 45.62
40.00%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Kwekwe
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COPΒ 2,916
$0.48ZWLΒ 12.98
75.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.95COPΒ 146.4K
$31.56ZWLΒ 845
32.92%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41COPΒ 4,912
$5.10ZWLΒ 137
-72.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90COPΒ 6,634
$2.02ZWLΒ 54.2
-5.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.75COPΒ 27.0K
$4.89ZWLΒ 131
58.49%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.01COPΒ 3,509
$1.55ZWLΒ 41.48
-34.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOPΒ 61.4M
$19.6KZWLΒ 524.8K
-10.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOPΒ 92.5M
$23.2KZWLΒ 620.7K
14.27%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Kwekwe
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.7COPΒ 292.1K
$57.9ZWLΒ 1,549
44.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.45COPΒ 33.0K
$17.71ZWLΒ 474
-46.64%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.11COPΒ 84.1K
$91.8ZWLΒ 2,456
-73.72%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Kwekwe
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.31COPΒ 88.3K
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14COPΒ 66.8K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.10COPΒ 14.3K
$9.93ZWLΒ 266
-58.71%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Kwekwe
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$312COPΒ 1.1M
$275ZWLΒ 7,350
13.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,993COPΒ 20.9M
$7,297ZWLΒ 195.3K
-17.87%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Kwekwe
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.0COPΒ 202.6K
$19.54ZWLΒ 523
197.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.56COPΒ 113.6K
$21.24ZWLΒ 569
53.30%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.6COPΒ 347.7K
$34.23ZWLΒ 916
191.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109COPΒ 378.8K
$40.35ZWLΒ 1,080
169.00%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Kwekwe
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$482COPΒ 1.7M
$150ZWLΒ 4,015
221.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COPΒ 1.3M
$121ZWLΒ 3,235
214.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$837COPΒ 2.9M
$594ZWLΒ 15.9K
40.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$723COPΒ 2.5M
$785ZWLΒ 21.0K
-7.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,840COPΒ 9.9M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,223COPΒ 4.3M
-
-
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Kwekwe
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$541COPΒ 1.9M
$302ZWLΒ 8,094
78.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
13.31
0.90%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Last update for Kwekwe: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $150 in Kwekwe. 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 79% 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 $50.0 in Kwekwe. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $208 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 Kwekwe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kwekwe cheaper than Medellin?
Yes β Medellin is pricier by about 33%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,525 per month in Medellin and $1,149 in Kwekwe. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled β not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kwekwe, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 33% less in Kwekwe. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $312 per month in Medellin and $275 in Kwekwe. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Medellin or Kwekwe?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kwekwe, where all-in costs run around $766, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Kwekwe it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Kwekwe more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Kwekwe β lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Kwekwe. 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.