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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $779 in Karlovo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,243 in Karlovo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,708 in Karlovo, rent included.

Medellin costs about 29% more than Karlovo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Karlovo are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Karlovo 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$7.41 BGN 12.33

-20.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$36.01 BGN 59.9

-8.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$8.83 BGN 14.70

-15.86%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$1.46 BGN 2.42

13.01%

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

$1.11 BGN 1.85

-0.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$0.70 BGN 1.17

11.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$2.11 BGN 3.51

-18.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$1.82 BGN 3.02

74.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$1.19 BGN 1.99

-7.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$0.91 BGN 1.52

38.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$1.91 BGN 3.18

-27.75%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$3.27 BGN 5.45

-33.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$9.39 BGN 15.63

-52.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$8.06 BGN 13.41

-28.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$5.75 BGN 9.56

56.00%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$1.32 BGN 2.19

75.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$2.10 BGN 3.50

-49.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$2.02 BGN 3.36

-24.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$2.26 BGN 3.75

-39.82%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$0.49 BGN 0.81

130.61%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$0.92 BGN 1.53

27.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$1.05 BGN 1.75

-14.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$0.74 BGN 1.23

21.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$3.55 BGN 5.91

-37.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$6.84 BGN 11.39

77.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$0.99 BGN 1.65

20.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

$1.76 BGN 2.92

40.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

$1.16 BGN 1.93

-26.72%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

$26.57 BGN 44.21

56.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$1.15 BGN 1.91

23.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

$0.72 BGN 1.20

170.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

$13.01 BGN 21.64

-39.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$1.43 BGN 2.38

-30.77%

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

$31.7K BGN 52.7K

-44.42%

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$25.8K BGN 42.9K

3.98%

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$95.7 BGN 159

-13.25%

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$16.58 BGN 27.58

-41.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$12.80 BGN 21.29

83.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$29.56 BGN 49.18

-14.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

$14.69 BGN 24.44

30.02%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$5.98 BGN 9.96

-33.95%

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

$316 COP 994.2K

$232 BGN 385

36.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

$4,118 BGN 6,851

45.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$29.79 BGN 49.55

101.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$11.74 BGN 19.54

171.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$58.1 BGN 96.7

74.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$47.82 BGN 79.6

124.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$287 BGN 478

65.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$192 BGN 320

94.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$464 BGN 771

83.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$349 BGN 580

106.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

$1,466 BGN 2,438

122.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

$1,139 BGN 1,895

26.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$463 BGN 770

34.90%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Karlovo: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $287 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 35% 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 $36.00 in Karlovo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $205 – 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 29%, 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 $1,504 per month in Medellin and $1,168 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 $316 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 $779, than in Medellin at $1,003. 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.