Cost of Living Comparison Between Mutare and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Mutare and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $792 per month in Mutare vs $1,034 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,230 per month in Mutare vs $1,577 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,669 per month in Mutare vs $2,120 in Medellin, rent included.

Mutare is about 23% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Mutare and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Mutare 41% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mutare
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.19 ZWL 258
$5.92 COP 21.5K
72.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.1 ZWL 1,266
$32.75 COP 119.1K
52.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.63 ZWL 117
$7.20 COP 26.2K
-35.69%
Cappuccino
$1.22 ZWL 30.95
$1.70 COP 6,186
-28.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 ZWL 18.08
$1.10 COP 3,996
-34.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 ZWL 11.10
$0.72 COP 2,625
-38.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.39 ZWL 35.13
$1.67 COP 6,067
-16.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 ZWL 44.73
$3.10 COP 11.3K
-42.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mutare
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.21 ZWL 30.72
$1.06 COP 3,837
14.15%
White Bread (500g)
$1.03 ZWL 25.96
$1.25 COP 4,531
-17.60%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.26 ZWL 31.97
$1.39 COP 5,060
-9.35%
Eggs
$1.88 ZWL 47.55
$2.26 COP 8,229
-16.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$2.94 ZWL 74.3
$4.33 COP 15.8K
-32.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.07 ZWL 103
$5.84 COP 21.2K
-30.31%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.92 ZWL 124
$8.83 COP 32.1K
-44.28%
Apples (1kg)
$2.01 ZWL 50.9
$2.24 COP 8,159
-10.27%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 ZWL 42.90
$1.08 COP 3,911
57.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.05 ZWL 51.9
$1.53 COP 5,563
33.99%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.97 ZWL 24.54
$1.37 COP 4,987
-29.20%
Potato (1kg)
$1.51 ZWL 38.29
$1.13 COP 4,109
33.63%
Onion (1kg)
$0.97 ZWL 24.53
$1.12 COP 4,067
-13.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.52 ZWL 13.22
$0.85 COP 3,080
-38.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.01 ZWL 25.60
$0.91 COP 3,305
10.99%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.12 ZWL 28.34
$2.33 COP 8,477
-51.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.95 ZWL 150
$11.13 COP 40.5K
-46.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.17 ZWL 29.68
$1.19 COP 4,342
-1.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 ZWL 43.56
$2.37 COP 8,617
-27.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Mutare
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.48 ZWL 12.11
$0.79 COP 2,859
-39.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.10 ZWL 685
$41.13 COP 149.6K
-34.11%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.06 ZWL 77.5
$1.44 COP 5,223
112.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.95 ZWL 49.33
$1.91 COP 6,952
2.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.89 ZWL 124
$8.02 COP 29.2K
-39.03%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.55 ZWL 39.28
$0.94 COP 3,410
64.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.4K ZWL 515.1K
$17.9K COP 65.2M
13.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.0K ZWL 582.3K
$26.8K COP 97.4M
-14.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mutare
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$57.2 ZWL 1,446
$84.0 COP 305.4K
-31.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.03 ZWL 380
$9.60 COP 34.9K
56.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.1 ZWL 1,545
$24.16 COP 87.9K
152.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mutare
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.40 ZWL 1,022
$25.88 COP 94.1K
56.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.87 ZWL 123
$19.04 COP 69.3K
-74.42%
Cinema Ticket
$10.12 ZWL 256
$3.92 COP 14.2K
158.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mutare
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$146 ZWL 3,685
$306 COP 1.1M
-52.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,422 ZWL 187.7K
$5,919 COP 21.5M
25.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mutare
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$9.91 ZWL 251
$57.9 COP 210.6K
-82.89%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$9.43 ZWL 238
$31.82 COP 115.7K
-70.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$25.45 ZWL 644
$99.9 COP 363.3K
-74.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$19.94 ZWL 504
$107 COP 389.7K
-81.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mutare
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$346 ZWL 8,758
$487 COP 1.8M
-28.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$251 ZWL 6,355
$368 COP 1.3M
-31.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$750 ZWL 19.0K
$826 COP 3.0M
-9.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$400 ZWL 10.1K
$716 COP 2.6M
-44.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$253 ZWL 6,395
$2,925 COP 10.6M
-91.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,407 COP 5.1M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mutare
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$252 ZWL 6,363
$546 COP 2.0M
-53.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.31
13.43
-0.89%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Mutare: April 27, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $346 in Mutare versus $487 in Medellin. 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 117% 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 $50.0 in Mutare versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $154 in Mutare vs $190 in Medellin – so Mutare wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Mutare vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Mutare?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 31%, 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 $1,187 per month in Mutare and $1,550 in Medellin. 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 Mutare, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Mutare or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $50.0 in Mutare and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Mutare vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $792 in Mutare and $1,034 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Mutare or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Mutare, where all-in costs run around $792, than in Medellin at $1,034. In Mutare it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Mutare or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Mutare – 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 Mutare. 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.

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