Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mutare and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Mutare: $789 a month against $1,614 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $9,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Mutare
🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
$789
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,614
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Mutare and in Medellin

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Mutare and in Medellin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $789 per month in Mutare vs $1,614 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Mutare $789
  • Medellin $1,614

A couple spends around $1,220 per month in Mutare vs $2,402 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Mutare $1,220
  • Medellin $2,402

A family of three spends $1,651 per month in Mutare vs $3,190 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Mutare $1,651
  • Medellin $3,190

Mutare is about 51% cheaper than Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Mutare sits 42% below the global median, while Medellin is 20% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mutare
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.15 ZWL 270
$7.93 COP 25.2K
27.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.07 ZWL 1,199
$46.13 COP 146.3K
-2.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.42 ZWL 118
$9.50 COP 30.1K
-53.47%
Cappuccino
$1.28 ZWL 34.07
$3.11 COP 9,866
-58.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 ZWL 19.54
$1.83 COP 5,800
-60.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ZWL 12.11
$1.38 COP 4,360
-66.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.22 ZWL 32.33
$3.05 COP 9,672
-60.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78 ZWL 47.47
$5.50 COP 17.4K
-67.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mutare
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.22 ZWL 32.42
$1.45 COP 4,600
-15.86%
White Bread (500g)
$0.98 ZWL 26.14
$2.36 COP 7,496
-58.47%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 ZWL 35.28
$1.68 COP 5,328
-20.83%
Eggs
$1.87 ZWL 49.72
$2.86 COP 9,077
-34.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$2.92 ZWL 77.8
$10.19 COP 32.3K
-71.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.04 ZWL 107
$9.53 COP 30.2K
-57.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.01 ZWL 133
$14.04 COP 44.5K
-64.32%
Apples (1kg)
$2.04 ZWL 54.3
$4.07 COP 12.9K
-49.88%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 ZWL 45.15
$1.50 COP 4,742
13.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.05 ZWL 54.6
$2.17 COP 6,891
-5.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.98 ZWL 26.18
$2.31 COP 7,310
-57.58%
Potato (1kg)
$1.75 ZWL 46.52
$1.93 COP 6,113
-9.33%
Onion (1kg)
$0.99 ZWL 26.33
$1.64 COP 5,196
-39.63%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.48 ZWL 12.83
$1.13 COP 3,571
-57.52%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.99 ZWL 26.41
$1.25 COP 3,954
-20.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.18 ZWL 31.32
$3.99 COP 12.6K
-70.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.09 ZWL 162
$13.35 COP 42.3K
-54.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 ZWL 31.32
$1.70 COP 5,384
-30.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 ZWL 45.96
$2.37 COP 7,525
-27.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Mutare
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.77 ZWL 20.48
$1.21 COP 3,827
-36.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.46 ZWL 704
$76.5 COP 242.5K
-65.41%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ZWL 80.3
$1.32 COP 4,179
128.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.98 ZWL 52.6
$2.14 COP 6,774
-7.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.94 ZWL 131
$8.47 COP 26.8K
-41.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.86 ZWL 49.42
$1.30 COP 4,114
43.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K ZWL 575.1K
$28.0K COP 88.7M
-22.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6K ZWL 629.3K
$35.4K COP 112.3M
-33.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mutare
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$50.7 ZWL 1,349
$172 COP 545.6K
-70.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.72 ZWL 392
$13.37 COP 42.4K
10.10%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.4 ZWL 1,580
$28.73 COP 91.1K
106.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mutare
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.95 ZWL 1,063
$45.24 COP 143.5K
-11.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.05 ZWL 134
$17.04 COP 54.0K
-70.36%
Cinema Ticket
$9.89 ZWL 263
$6.28 COP 19.9K
57.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mutare
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$150 ZWL 4,002
$770 COP 2.4M
-80.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,553 ZWL 227.6K
$9,011 COP 28.6M
-5.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mutare
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$10.06 ZWL 268
$86.4 COP 274.0K
-88.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$9.48 ZWL 252
$57.1 COP 181.1K
-83.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$24.80 ZWL 660
$137 COP 432.9K
-81.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$20.27 ZWL 539
$97.9 COP 310.4K
-79.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mutare
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$356 ZWL 9,462
$1,055 COP 3.3M
-66.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$253 ZWL 6,742
$616 COP 2.0M
-58.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$750 ZWL 19.9K
$1,892 COP 6.0M
-60.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$395 ZWL 10.5K
$1,023 COP 3.2M
-61.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$246 ZWL 6,539
$4,059 COP 12.9M
-93.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,678 COP 5.3M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mutare
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$247 ZWL 6,566
$652 COP 2.1M
-62.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.69
10.94
25.14%

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

Last update for Mutare: October 12, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Mutare
$253
Medellin
$616 143% $362
Groceries & Markets
Mutare
$155
Medellin
$295 90.3% $140
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mutare
$125
Medellin
$214 71.6% $89
Eating Out
Mutare
$124
Medellin
$168 35.6% $44
Sport & Entertainment
Mutare
$60
Medellin
$58 3.2% $1.9
Getting Around
Mutare
$42
Medellin
$93 120% $51
Clothing & Footwear
Mutare
$29
Medellin
$170 485% $141

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $356 in Mutare versus $1,055 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 164% 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 $45.00 in Mutare versus $46.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $155 vs $295 – making Mutare the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇿🇼 Mutare
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
01:12 1:12 AM
18:12 6:12 PM
7 h behind Mutare
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
188,243
2,486,723
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD, EUR to ZWL – Zimbabwean Dollar Converter

Zimbabwean Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 26.61 ZWL (100 ZWL = 3.76 USD). 1 EUR = 29.92 ZWL (100 ZWL = 3.34 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Mutare Medellin 12,150 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Mutare
  • Medellin

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 105%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in clothing.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,183 per month in Mutare and $2,421 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 in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Mutare and $46.00 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 and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $789 in Mutare and $1,614 in Medellin. That's a gap of about 105%.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Mutare or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Mutare, where all-in costs run around $789, than in Medellin at $1,614. 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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