Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Kardzhali Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Kardzhali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,641 per month in Medellin vs $686 in Kardzhali, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,447 per month in Medellin vs $1,125 in Kardzhali, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,253 per month in Medellin vs $1,564 in Kardzhali, rent included.

Medellin costs about 139% more than Kardzhali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 19% above the global median, while Kardzhali is 50% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Kardzhali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.04 COP 24.8K
$11.50 BGN 19.13
-30.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.29 COP 148.6K
$24.00 BGN 39.92
101.21%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.42 COP 29.0K
$9.23 BGN 15.36
2.06%
Cappuccino
$2.94 COP 9,040
$1.17 BGN 1.94
151.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 COP 5,735
$1.07 BGN 1.79
73.83%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46 COP 4,479
$0.79 BGN 1.31
84.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.21 COP 9,882
$1.64 BGN 2.72
95.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71 COP 17.6K
$1.32 BGN 2.19
332.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Kardzhali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 COP 4,428
$1.74 BGN 2.90
-17.24%
White Bread (500g)
$2.40 COP 7,389
$0.81 BGN 1.34
196.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 COP 5,228
$1.52 BGN 2.53
11.84%
Eggs
$2.89 COP 8,896
$2.95 BGN 4.90
-2.03%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.06 COP 30.9K
$9.57 BGN 15.92
5.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.97 COP 30.7K
$5.68 BGN 9.44
75.53%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.20 COP 43.7K
$7.05 BGN 11.73
101.42%
Apples (1kg)
$3.98 COP 12.3K
$0.87 BGN 1.44
357.47%
Banana (1kg)
$1.58 COP 4,878
$2.04 BGN 3.39
-22.55%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.15 COP 6,624
$1.93 BGN 3.21
11.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.30 COP 7,078
$2.27 BGN 3.78
1.32%
Potato (1kg)
$2.00 COP 6,169
$0.71 BGN 1.17
181.69%
Onion (1kg)
$1.51 COP 4,646
$1.34 BGN 2.24
12.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.20 COP 3,701
$0.75 BGN 1.24
60.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 COP 3,946
$0.81 BGN 1.35
58.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84 COP 11.8K
$3.76 BGN 6.25
2.13%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.01 COP 43.1K
$4.64 BGN 7.71
201.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 COP 5,256
$1.06 BGN 1.76
61.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 COP 8,440
$1.48 BGN 2.45
85.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Kardzhali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.25 COP 3,834
$0.59 BGN 0.99
111.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.9 COP 239.7K
$11.73 BGN 19.51
564.11%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.31 COP 4,016
$1.82 BGN 3.02
-28.02%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.17 COP 6,680
$0.80 BGN 1.33
171.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.29 COP 25.5K
$5.77 BGN 9.60
43.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 COP 4,172
$1.61 BGN 2.67
-15.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5K COP 84.5M
$31.6K BGN 52.6K
-13.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5K COP 112.4M
$23.7K BGN 39.4K
54.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Kardzhali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$169 COP 519.2K
$64.1 BGN 107
163.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 COP 41.8K
$5.83 BGN 9.70
132.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.32 COP 87.2K
$8.10 BGN 13.48
249.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Kardzhali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.71 COP 140.7K
$23.66 BGN 39.37
93.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.22 COP 53.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.65 COP 20.5K
$8.71 BGN 14.48
-23.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Kardzhali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$803 COP 2.5M
$236 BGN 393
239.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,190 COP 28.3M
$15.2K BGN 25.2K
-39.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Kardzhali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.4 COP 268.8K
$23.95 BGN 39.85
264.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.4 COP 182.7K
$13.19 BGN 21.93
350.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$139 COP 427.5K
$47.10 BGN 78.4
194.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 COP 314.0K
$78.7 BGN 131
29.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Kardzhali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,071 COP 3.3M
$119 BGN 198
798.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$653 COP 2.0M
$119 BGN 198
448.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,925 COP 5.9M
$240 BGN 399
703.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,048 COP 3.2M
$281 BGN 467
273.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,123 COP 12.7M
$1,169 BGN 1,944
252.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,697 COP 5.2M
$884 BGN 1,470
92.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Kardzhali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$655 COP 2.0M
$1,346 BGN 2,240
-51.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
3.25
236.62%

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

Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026

Last update for Kardzhali: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,071 in Medellin versus $119 in Kardzhali. 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 106% higher in Kardzhali, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin versus $24.00 in Kardzhali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $300 vs $192 – making Kardzhali 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
Medellin vs Kardzhali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Kardzhali?
Medellin costs about 139% more than Kardzhali, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Medellin and in Kardzhali?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,462 per month in Medellin and $1,029 in Kardzhali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Medellin or Kardzhali?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kardzhali, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Medellin compared to Kardzhali?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,641 in Medellin and $686 in Kardzhali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Medellin compared to Kardzhali?
Public transport costs about 564% less in Kardzhali. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Medellin or in Kardzhali?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kardzhali, where all-in costs run around $686, than in Medellin at $1,641. In Kardzhali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Kardzhali?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kardzhali costs $686 versus $1,641 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Medellin compared to Kardzhali?
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.
Should I move to Medellin or to Kardzhali?
If budget matters most, go with Kardzhali. 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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