😐A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $761 in Kwekwe, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,510 in Kwekwe, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $2,259 in Kwekwe, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 32% more than Kwekwe, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Medellin and Kwekwe are more affordable than the global median – Medellin25% lower, Kwekwe43% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Kwekwe
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.91COP 18.6K
$9.82ZWL 262
-39.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96COP 103.8K
$49.96ZWL 1,333
-34.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.43COP 23.4K
$7.04ZWL 188
5.54%
Cappuccino
$1.65COP 5,207
$3.03ZWL 80.8
-45.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,468
$0.72ZWL 19.31
52.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COP 2,458
$0.44ZWL 11.69
77.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72COP 5,412
$1.48ZWL 39.56
16.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18COP 10.0K
$2.03ZWL 54.2
56.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Kwekwe
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10COP 3,474
$1.60ZWL 42.70
-31.25%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COP 3,962
$0.60ZWL 16.07
110.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,349
$1.67ZWL 44.66
-17.37%
Eggs
$2.18COP 6,858
$2.16ZWL 57.7
0.93%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.49COP 14.1K
$11.12ZWL 297
-59.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.79COP 18.2K
$6.39ZWL 170
-9.39%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.97COP 28.2K
$3.91ZWL 104
129.41%
Apples(1kg)
$2.32COP 7,308
$2.93ZWL 78.1
-20.82%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COP 3,352
$1.62ZWL 43.19
-34.57%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COP 4,774
$2.29ZWL 61.2
-33.62%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.36COP 4,270
$1.70ZWL 45.45
-20.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,552
$1.50ZWL 39.98
-24.67%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COP 3,689
$2.05ZWL 54.7
-42.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90COP 2,838
$0.96ZWL 25.59
-6.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COP 2,823
$0.96ZWL 25.69
-6.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23COP 7,034
$1.07ZWL 28.67
108.41%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.12COP 38.2K
$9.33ZWL 249
29.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COP 3,743
$1.18ZWL 31.35
0.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48COP 7,815
$1.74ZWL 46.30
42.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Kwekwe
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.85COP 2,687
$0.48ZWL 12.90
77.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.62COP 131.0K
$32.09ZWL 856
29.70%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,459
$4.88ZWL 130
-70.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.95COP 6,141
$1.95ZWL 52.1
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.89COP 24.8K
$5.10ZWL 136
54.71%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,118
$1.59ZWL 42.43
-37.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOP 55.4M
$20.0KZWL 534.8K
-12.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOP 84.4M
$23.7KZWL 631.9K
13.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Kwekwe
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0COP 261.4K
$58.1ZWL 1,549
43.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.70COP 30.5K
$17.75ZWL 473
-45.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52COP 74.1K
$91.6ZWL 2,443
-74.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Kwekwe
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.26COP 79.5K
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10COP 60.1K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.95COP 12.4K
$9.94ZWL 265
-60.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Kwekwe
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$316COP 994.2K
$276ZWL 7,368
14.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,975COP 18.8M
$7,457ZWL 199.0K
-19.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Kwekwe
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0COP 188.9K
$19.70ZWL 525
204.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COP 100.2K
$21.25ZWL 567
49.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102COP 320.1K
$34.20ZWL 912
197.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COP 338.3K
$40.66ZWL 1,085
164.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Kwekwe
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$475COP 1.5M
$152ZWL 4,049
212.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$374COP 1.2M
$119ZWL 3,162
215.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$849COP 2.7M
$593ZWL 15.8K
43.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$719COP 2.3M
$797ZWL 21.3K
-9.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,265COP 10.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,441COP 4.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Kwekwe
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$624COP 2.0M
$302ZWL 8,066
106.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
13.31
0.90%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Last update for Kwekwe: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $475 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 107% 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 $50.0 in Kwekwe. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $208 – 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 – Medellin is pricier by about 32%, 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 $1,504 per month in Medellin and $1,141 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 30% less in Kwekwe. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $316 per month in Medellin and $276 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 $761, than in Medellin at $1,003. 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.