🙂A single person spends $780 per month in Karlovo vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,253 per month in Karlovo vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,726 per month in Karlovo vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Karlovo is about 24% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Karlovo and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Karlovo42% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karlovo
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.32BGN 12.19
$6.16COP 20.1K
18.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.97BGN 58.2
$32.60COP 106.1K
7.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.82BGN 14.67
$7.34COP 23.9K
20.16%
Cappuccino
$1.44BGN 2.40
$1.72COP 5,599
-16.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08BGN 1.80
$1.05COP 3,420
2.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71BGN 1.17
$0.77COP 2,515
-7.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.03BGN 3.38
$1.69COP 5,487
20.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72BGN 2.86
$3.17COP 10.3K
-45.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karlovo
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.20BGN 2.00
$1.05COP 3,423
14.29%
White Bread(500g)
$0.90BGN 1.49
$1.30COP 4,236
-30.77%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.94BGN 3.23
$1.40COP 4,544
38.57%
Eggs
$3.29BGN 5.48
$2.16COP 7,046
52.31%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.68BGN 16.10
$4.39COP 14.3K
120.50%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.84BGN 13.04
$5.88COP 19.1K
33.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.94BGN 9.88
$8.64COP 28.1K
-31.25%
Apples(1kg)
$1.33BGN 2.22
$2.28COP 7,425
-41.67%
Banana(1kg)
$2.14BGN 3.56
$1.11COP 3,603
92.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.06BGN 3.43
$1.53COP 4,982
34.64%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26BGN 3.77
$1.35COP 4,410
67.41%
Potato(1kg)
$0.45BGN 0.74
$1.13COP 3,674
-60.18%
Onion(1kg)
$0.86BGN 1.42
$1.13COP 3,692
-23.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02BGN 1.69
$0.85COP 2,753
20.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74BGN 1.23
$0.91COP 2,975
-18.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.38BGN 5.62
$2.34COP 7,629
44.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.90BGN 11.48
$12.37COP 40.3K
-44.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.99BGN 1.65
$1.20COP 3,909
-17.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80BGN 3.00
$2.49COP 8,104
-27.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Karlovo
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.15BGN 1.91
$0.84COP 2,727
36.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.93BGN 44.80
$40.57COP 132.1K
-33.62%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.16BGN 1.93
$1.42COP 4,623
-18.31%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.71BGN 1.18
$1.92COP 6,235
-63.02%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.21BGN 21.98
$7.66COP 24.9K
72.45%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.43BGN 2.37
$0.99COP 3,223
44.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.8KBGN 52.8K
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
76.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5KBGN 42.3K
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
-4.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karlovo
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$93.8BGN 156
$80.8COP 263.1K
16.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.38BGN 27.25
$9.95COP 32.4K
64.62%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.06BGN 21.72
$24.18COP 78.7K
-45.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karlovo
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$28.92BGN 48.11
$25.08COP 81.6K
15.31%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.00BGN 24.95
$19.15COP 62.3K
-21.67%
Cinema Ticket
$5.75BGN 9.57
$3.98COP 13.0K
44.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karlovo
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$238BGN 395
$305COP 993.4K
-22.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,109BGN 6,836
$6,059COP 19.7M
-32.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karlovo
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.76BGN 49.51
$58.1COP 189.2K
-48.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$11.62BGN 19.33
$32.20COP 104.8K
-63.91%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$58.9BGN 98.0
$101COP 327.9K
-41.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$46.55BGN 77.5
$108COP 350.8K
-56.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karlovo
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$289BGN 481
$477COP 1.6M
-39.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$196BGN 326
$376COP 1.2M
-47.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$463BGN 770
$845COP 2.7M
-45.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$349BGN 580
$730COP 2.4M
-52.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,258BGN 2,093
$3,215COP 10.5M
-60.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,101BGN 1,832
$1,372COP 4.5M
-19.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karlovo
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$473BGN 787
$617COP 2.0M
-23.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.57
13.43
-65.97%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Karlovo: July 13, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $289 in Karlovo versus $477 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 30% 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 $35.00 in Karlovo versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $205 vs $193 – 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
Karlovo vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Karlovo?
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 $1,170 per month in Karlovo and $1,546 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 51% less in Karlovo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $238 per month in Karlovo and $305 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 $780, than in Medellin at $1,031. 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.