πA single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $767 in Kwekwe, rent included.
πA couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $1,540 in Kwekwe, rent included.
πA family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $2,313 in Kwekwe, rent included.
πMedellin costs about 35% more than Kwekwe, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
πBoth Medellin and Kwekwe are more affordable than the global median β Medellin23% lower, Kwekwe43% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Kwekwe
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92COPΒ 21.4K
$10.14ZWLΒ 256
-41.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75COPΒ 118.2K
$49.10ZWLΒ 1,242
-33.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.20COPΒ 26.0K
$6.96ZWLΒ 176
3.45%
Cappuccino
$1.70COPΒ 6,140
$2.93ZWLΒ 74.1
-41.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COPΒ 3,966
$0.67ZWLΒ 16.94
64.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72COPΒ 2,605
$0.43ZWLΒ 10.83
67.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.67COPΒ 6,022
$1.54ZWLΒ 38.84
8.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10COPΒ 11.2K
$2.02ZWLΒ 51.0
53.47%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Kwekwe
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COPΒ 3,809
$1.58ZWLΒ 39.85
-32.91%
White Bread(500g)
$1.25COPΒ 4,497
$0.59ZWLΒ 15.05
111.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.39COPΒ 5,022
$1.74ZWLΒ 43.92
-20.11%
Eggs
$2.26COPΒ 8,168
$2.16ZWLΒ 54.6
4.63%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.33COPΒ 15.6K
$10.77ZWLΒ 272
-59.80%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.84COPΒ 21.1K
$6.38ZWLΒ 161
-8.46%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.83COPΒ 31.9K
$4.05ZWLΒ 103
118.02%
Apples(1kg)
$2.24COPΒ 8,099
$2.98ZWLΒ 75.4
-24.83%
Banana(1kg)
$1.08COPΒ 3,882
$1.69ZWLΒ 42.74
-36.09%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COPΒ 5,522
$2.25ZWLΒ 56.9
-32.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COPΒ 4,950
$1.66ZWLΒ 42.11
-17.47%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COPΒ 4,078
$1.50ZWLΒ 37.91
-24.67%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12COPΒ 4,036
$1.98ZWLΒ 50.1
-43.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COPΒ 3,057
$1.02ZWLΒ 25.74
-16.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COPΒ 3,281
$0.99ZWLΒ 25.13
-8.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33COPΒ 8,414
$1.07ZWLΒ 27.04
117.76%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.13COPΒ 40.2K
$8.67ZWLΒ 219
28.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COPΒ 4,309
$1.17ZWLΒ 29.70
1.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37COPΒ 8,553
$1.78ZWLΒ 45.04
33.15%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Kwekwe
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COPΒ 2,838
$0.49ZWLΒ 12.35
61.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.13COPΒ 148.5K
$32.28ZWLΒ 817
27.42%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44COPΒ 5,184
$4.95ZWLΒ 125
-70.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91COPΒ 6,901
$1.95ZWLΒ 49.32
-2.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.02COPΒ 28.9K
$4.86ZWLΒ 123
65.02%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94COPΒ 3,385
$1.55ZWLΒ 39.34
-39.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9KCOPΒ 64.7M
$19.9KZWLΒ 504.2K
-10.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOPΒ 96.7M
$23.1KZWLΒ 584.4K
15.97%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Kwekwe
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0COPΒ 303.1K
$57.4ZWLΒ 1,451
46.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60COPΒ 34.7K
$17.41ZWLΒ 441
-44.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16COPΒ 87.2K
$93.3ZWLΒ 2,360
-74.10%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Kwekwe
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.88COPΒ 93.4K
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04COPΒ 68.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.92COPΒ 14.1K
$9.92ZWLΒ 251
-60.48%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Kwekwe
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306COPΒ 1.1M
$278ZWLΒ 7,046
10.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,919COPΒ 21.4M
$7,405ZWLΒ 187.4K
-20.08%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Kwekwe
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9COPΒ 209.1K
$19.03ZWLΒ 481
204.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COPΒ 114.9K
$21.31ZWLΒ 539
49.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.9COPΒ 360.6K
$34.96ZWLΒ 885
185.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COPΒ 386.8K
$39.22ZWLΒ 992
173.18%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Kwekwe
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$487COPΒ 1.8M
$148ZWLΒ 3,748
228.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$368COPΒ 1.3M
$122ZWLΒ 3,086
201.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$826COPΒ 3.0M
$612ZWLΒ 15.5K
34.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$716COPΒ 2.6M
$815ZWLΒ 20.6K
-12.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,925COPΒ 10.6M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,407COPΒ 5.1M
-
-
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Kwekwe
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$546COPΒ 2.0M
$303ZWLΒ 7,661
80.16%
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: April 27, 2026
Last update for Kwekwe: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Medellin versus $148 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 80% 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 $49.00 in Kwekwe. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $207 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 35%, 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 $1,550 per month in Medellin and $1,150 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 27% less in Kwekwe. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $306 per month in Medellin and $278 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 $767, than in Medellin at $1,034. 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.