Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Karlovo Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Karlovo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $791 in Karlovo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,254 in Karlovo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $1,716 in Karlovo, rent included.

Medellin costs about 28% more than Karlovo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Karlovo are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Karlovo 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$7.28 BGN 12.12

-18.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

$34.97 BGN 58.2

-4.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

$8.69 BGN 14.46

-16.80%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$1.44 BGN 2.39

13.19%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.09 COP 3,821

$1.08 BGN 1.79

0.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$0.66 BGN 1.10

10.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$2.08 BGN 3.47

-16.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$1.75 BGN 2.90

84.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$1.15 BGN 1.91

-8.70%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$0.90 BGN 1.50

43.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$1.86 BGN 3.09

-29.03%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$3.29 BGN 5.48

-31.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

$9.20 BGN 15.31

-52.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$7.89 BGN 13.12

-25.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$6.06 BGN 10.09

42.08%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$1.33 BGN 2.22

69.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$2.07 BGN 3.44

-48.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$2.05 BGN 3.41

-25.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$2.18 BGN 3.63

-34.86%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$0.46 BGN 0.76

154.35%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$0.85 BGN 1.42

37.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

$1.01 BGN 1.69

-11.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$0.75 BGN 1.24

20.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

$3.48 BGN 5.78

-35.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

$6.40 BGN 10.65

72.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

$1.02 BGN 1.69

11.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

$1.76 BGN 2.92

35.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

$1.17 BGN 1.94

-28.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

$26.65 BGN 44.34

57.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

$1.20 BGN 2.00

17.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

$0.68 BGN 1.12

179.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

$13.03 BGN 21.67

-40.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

$1.49 BGN 2.47

-32.21%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$17.6K COP 61.4M

$32.5K BGN 54.1K

-45.95%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.5K COP 92.5M

$25.7K BGN 42.7K

3.23%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$83.7 COP 292.1K

$94.8 BGN 158

-11.73%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.45 COP 33.0K

$16.31 BGN 27.13

-42.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

$12.80 BGN 21.30

88.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

$29.67 BGN 49.36

-14.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

$14.63 BGN 24.34

30.83%

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

$5.94 BGN 9.87

-30.98%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$312 COP 1.1M

$232 BGN 385

34.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

$4,128 BGN 6,867

45.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

$30.03 BGN 49.95

93.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

$11.63 BGN 19.35

179.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

$59.6 BGN 99.1

67.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

$48.09 BGN 80.0

125.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

$292 BGN 486

65.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$192 BGN 319

97.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

$466 BGN 776

79.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

$356 BGN 592

103.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

$1,544 BGN 2,569

83.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

$1,276 BGN 2,122

-4.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

$467 BGN 777

15.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

4.57

193.87%

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

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Last update for Karlovo: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $292 in Karlovo. 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 16% 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $35.00 in Karlovo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $202 – 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

Medellin vs Karlovo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 28%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,525 per month in Medellin and $1,187 in Karlovo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Public transport costs about 57% less in Karlovo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $312 per month in Medellin and $232 in Karlovo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Karlovo, where all-in costs run around $791, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Karlovo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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.

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.