😐A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $743 in Kwekwe, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $1,456 in Kwekwe, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $2,170 in Kwekwe, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 126% more than Kwekwe, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Kwekwe is 46% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Kwekwe
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 25.5K
$10.15ZWL 270
-20.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 152.0K
$39.47ZWL 1,052
21.28%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 31.4K
$6.18ZWL 165
60.03%
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,941
$3.08ZWL 82.1
1.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 6,061
$0.99ZWL 26.38
92.93%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,796
$0.50ZWL 13.21
202.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,921
$1.48ZWL 39.39
110.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 18.3K
$1.95ZWL 52.1
194.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Kwekwe
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,590
$1.51ZWL 40.22
-4.64%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,898
$0.60ZWL 15.87
315.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,634
$1.65ZWL 43.85
7.27%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,400
$1.93ZWL 51.4
53.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 32.0K
$12.08ZWL 322
-16.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 32.1K
$5.64ZWL 150
79.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 45.4K
$3.99ZWL 106
258.40%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 13.1K
$3.03ZWL 80.7
36.63%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 5,109
$1.67ZWL 44.63
-3.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,132
$1.99ZWL 52.9
13.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,154
$1.46ZWL 38.97
54.11%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,489
$1.72ZWL 45.80
18.60%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,876
$1.88ZWL 50.2
-18.09%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,716
$1.17ZWL 31.18
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,150
$1.05ZWL 27.93
24.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.4K
$1.98ZWL 52.7
96.97%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 44.5K
$8.84ZWL 236
58.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,536
$1.36ZWL 36.31
27.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 9,116
$2.02ZWL 53.7
42.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Kwekwe
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,860
$0.52ZWL 13.75
134.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 255.6K
$32.54ZWL 867
147.33%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,157
$3.96ZWL 106
-66.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,947
$1.99ZWL 53.0
10.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.7K
$4.98ZWL 133
74.90%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,336
$1.56ZWL 41.65
-12.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 88.4M
$22.0KZWL 587.4K
26.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 113.6M
$27.9KZWL 744.4K
28.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Kwekwe
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 563.1K
$54.3ZWL 1,446
226.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 44.1K
$18.29ZWL 487
-24.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 94.4K
$68.0ZWL 1,813
-56.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Kwekwe
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 142.6K
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 54.4K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 21.1K
$10.06ZWL 268
-33.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Kwekwe
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.6M
$470ZWL 12.5K
73.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 29.2M
$9,085ZWL 242.1K
1.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Kwekwe
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 284.3K
$19.72ZWL 525
353.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 187.3K
$21.30ZWL 568
176.85%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 439.0K
$34.91ZWL 930
295.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 324.4K
$39.88ZWL 1,063
156.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Kwekwe
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.4M
$152ZWL 4,048
599.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
$122ZWL 3,249
443.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 6.0M
$598ZWL 15.9K
215.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.3M
$796ZWL 21.2K
29.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.3M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Kwekwe
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.2M
$305ZWL 8,139
121.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
13.69
-20.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Last update for Kwekwe: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Medellin versus $152 in Kwekwe. 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 122% 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 $48.00 in Medellin versus $39.00 in Kwekwe. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $305 vs $207 – making Kwekwe 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 – Medellin is pricier by about 126%, 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 $2,521 per month in Medellin and $1,114 in Kwekwe. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – 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 147% less in Kwekwe. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $813 per month in Medellin and $470 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 living in Medellin or in Kwekwe?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kwekwe, where all-in costs run around $743, than in Medellin at $1,681. 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 – 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.