🙂A single person spends $813 per month in Karlovo vs $1,716 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,324 per month in Karlovo vs $2,527 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,834 per month in Karlovo vs $3,338 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Karlovo is about 53% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Karlovo sits 41% below the global median, while Medellin is 25% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karlovo
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.42BGN 12.34
$8.03COP 25.1K
-7.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.60BGN 59.2
$48.26COP 150.8K
-26.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.96BGN 14.91
$9.77COP 30.5K
-8.29%
Cappuccino
$1.46BGN 2.43
$2.91COP 9,095
-49.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07BGN 1.77
$1.94COP 6,074
-44.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79BGN 1.31
$1.52COP 4,754
-48.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.13BGN 3.54
$3.09COP 9,663
-31.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82BGN 3.03
$5.74COP 17.9K
-68.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karlovo
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.21BGN 2.01
$1.36COP 4,262
-11.03%
White Bread(500g)
$0.91BGN 1.52
$2.39COP 7,460
-61.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.95BGN 3.25
$1.70COP 5,314
14.71%
Eggs
$3.52BGN 5.86
$2.87COP 8,967
22.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.27BGN 15.42
$9.94COP 31.1K
-6.74%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43BGN 14.02
$10.78COP 33.7K
-21.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.77BGN 9.60
$14.73COP 46.0K
-60.83%
Apples(1kg)
$1.35BGN 2.24
$4.09COP 12.8K
-66.99%
Banana(1kg)
$2.07BGN 3.45
$1.57COP 4,911
31.85%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.98BGN 3.29
$2.13COP 6,642
-7.04%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.28BGN 3.79
$2.21COP 6,917
3.17%
Potato(1kg)
$0.47BGN 0.78
$2.05COP 6,396
-77.07%
Onion(1kg)
$0.90BGN 1.50
$1.50COP 4,700
-40.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02BGN 1.70
$1.19COP 3,718
-14.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81BGN 1.34
$1.16COP 3,619
-30.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.49BGN 5.81
$3.90COP 12.2K
-10.51%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.95BGN 11.55
$14.44COP 45.1K
-51.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.01BGN 1.67
$1.58COP 4,948
-36.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86BGN 3.10
$2.83COP 8,836
-34.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Karlovo
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.20BGN 2.00
$1.17COP 3,650
2.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.48BGN 42.38
$77.7COP 242.9K
-67.22%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.22BGN 2.04
$1.28COP 4,014
-4.69%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.80BGN 1.33
$2.09COP 6,537
-61.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$12.41BGN 20.64
$8.62COP 26.9K
43.97%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.46BGN 2.43
$1.30COP 4,056
12.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.7KBGN 52.8K
$27.7KCOP 86.4M
14.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KBGN 38.8K
$35.5KCOP 110.9M
-34.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karlovo
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$112BGN 186
$176COP 550.1K
-36.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.02BGN 24.99
$13.37COP 41.8K
12.34%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.13BGN 20.18
$29.89COP 93.4K
-59.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karlovo
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$31.72BGN 52.8
$44.76COP 139.8K
-29.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.13BGN 33.49
$17.06COP 53.3K
18.00%
Cinema Ticket
$5.76BGN 9.59
$6.20COP 19.4K
-7.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karlovo
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$242BGN 402
$793COP 2.5M
-69.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,030BGN 10.0K
$9,019COP 28.2M
-33.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karlovo
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.31BGN 48.75
$85.6COP 267.5K
-65.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$11.66BGN 19.41
$58.5COP 182.7K
-80.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$58.3BGN 96.9
$136COP 425.9K
-57.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$46.83BGN 77.9
$103COP 322.2K
-54.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karlovo
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$351BGN 583
$1,060COP 3.3M
-66.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$199BGN 332
$680COP 2.1M
-70.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$559BGN 931
$2,012COP 6.3M
-72.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$415BGN 691
$1,169COP 3.7M
-64.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,569BGN 2,610
$4,111COP 12.8M
-61.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,133BGN 1,884
$1,701COP 5.3M
-33.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karlovo
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$477BGN 794
$665COP 2.1M
-28.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.25
10.94
-70.29%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Karlovo: August 31, 2026
Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $351 in Karlovo versus $1,060 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 39% 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 $36.00 in Karlovo versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $208 vs $303 – making Karlovo 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
Karlovo vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Karlovo?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 111%, 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 $1,220 per month in Karlovo and $2,574 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 Karlovo, 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 205% less in Karlovo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $242 per month in Karlovo and $793 in Medellin. 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 Karlovo or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Karlovo, where all-in costs run around $813, than in Medellin at $1,716. In Karlovo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Karlovo or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Karlovo – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Karlovo or Medellin?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Karlovo. 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.