🙂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 – Mutare41% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mutare
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.19ZWL 258
$5.92COP 21.5K
72.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.1ZWL 1,266
$32.75COP 119.1K
52.85%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.63ZWL 117
$7.20COP 26.2K
-35.69%
Cappuccino
$1.22ZWL 30.95
$1.70COP 6,186
-28.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72ZWL 18.08
$1.10COP 3,996
-34.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44ZWL 11.10
$0.72COP 2,625
-38.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.39ZWL 35.13
$1.67COP 6,067
-16.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77ZWL 44.73
$3.10COP 11.3K
-42.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mutare
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.21ZWL 30.72
$1.06COP 3,837
14.15%
White Bread(500g)
$1.03ZWL 25.96
$1.25COP 4,531
-17.60%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.26ZWL 31.97
$1.39COP 5,060
-9.35%
Eggs
$1.88ZWL 47.55
$2.26COP 8,229
-16.81%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$2.94ZWL 74.3
$4.33COP 15.8K
-32.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.07ZWL 103
$5.84COP 21.2K
-30.31%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.92ZWL 124
$8.83COP 32.1K
-44.28%
Apples(1kg)
$2.01ZWL 50.9
$2.24COP 8,159
-10.27%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70ZWL 42.90
$1.08COP 3,911
57.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.05ZWL 51.9
$1.53COP 5,563
33.99%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.97ZWL 24.54
$1.37COP 4,987
-29.20%
Potato(1kg)
$1.51ZWL 38.29
$1.13COP 4,109
33.63%
Onion(1kg)
$0.97ZWL 24.53
$1.12COP 4,067
-13.39%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.52ZWL 13.22
$0.85COP 3,080
-38.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.01ZWL 25.60
$0.91COP 3,305
10.99%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.12ZWL 28.34
$2.33COP 8,477
-51.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.95ZWL 150
$11.13COP 40.5K
-46.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.17ZWL 29.68
$1.19COP 4,342
-1.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72ZWL 43.56
$2.37COP 8,617
-27.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Mutare
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.48ZWL 12.11
$0.79COP 2,859
-39.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$27.10ZWL 685
$41.13COP 149.6K
-34.11%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.06ZWL 77.5
$1.44COP 5,223
112.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.95ZWL 49.33
$1.91COP 6,952
2.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.89ZWL 124
$8.02COP 29.2K
-39.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.55ZWL 39.28
$0.94COP 3,410
64.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.4KZWL 515.1K
$17.9KCOP 65.2M
13.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.0KZWL 582.3K
$26.8KCOP 97.4M
-14.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mutare
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$57.2ZWL 1,446
$84.0COP 305.4K
-31.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.03ZWL 380
$9.60COP 34.9K
56.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.1ZWL 1,545
$24.16COP 87.9K
152.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mutare
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.40ZWL 1,022
$25.88COP 94.1K
56.11%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.87ZWL 123
$19.04COP 69.3K
-74.42%
Cinema Ticket
$10.12ZWL 256
$3.92COP 14.2K
158.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mutare
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$146ZWL 3,685
$306COP 1.1M
-52.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,422ZWL 187.7K
$5,919COP 21.5M
25.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mutare
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$9.91ZWL 251
$57.9COP 210.6K
-82.89%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$9.43ZWL 238
$31.82COP 115.7K
-70.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$25.45ZWL 644
$99.9COP 363.3K
-74.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$19.94ZWL 504
$107COP 389.7K
-81.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mutare
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$346ZWL 8,758
$487COP 1.8M
-28.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$251ZWL 6,355
$368COP 1.3M
-31.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$750ZWL 19.0K
$826COP 3.0M
-9.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$400ZWL 10.1K
$716COP 2.6M
-44.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$253ZWL 6,395
$2,925COP 10.6M
-91.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,407COP 5.1M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mutare
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$252ZWL 6,363
$546COP 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.