Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Lovech

For one person, living is cheaper in Lovech: $974 a month against $1,614 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $7,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,614
/mo nomad
Lovech
🇧🇬 Bulgaria
$974
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Lovech

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medellin and in Lovech actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,614 in Medellin versus $974 in Lovech.

  • Medellin $1,614
  • Lovech $974

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,402 in Medellin versus $1,507 in Lovech.

  • Medellin $2,402
  • Lovech $1,507

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,190 in Medellin versus $2,040 in Lovech.

  • Medellin $3,190
  • Lovech $2,040

Living in Medellin is roughly 66% more expensive than in Lovech, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 20% above, Lovech is 28% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Lovech
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.93 COP 25.2K
$13.93 BGN 24.38
-43.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.13 COP 146.7K
$34.09 BGN 59.7
35.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 30.2K
$8.81 BGN 15.42
7.83%
Cappuccino
$3.11 COP 9,897
$0.83 BGN 1.45
274.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 COP 5,818
$0.71 BGN 1.24
157.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 COP 4,374
$0.48 BGN 0.83
187.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.05 COP 9,702
$1.01 BGN 1.76
201.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.50 COP 17.5K
$2.03 BGN 3.55
170.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Lovech
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.45 COP 4,614
$1.71 BGN 2.99
-15.20%
White Bread (500g)
$2.36 COP 7,519
$0.96 BGN 1.68
145.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.68 COP 5,345
$2.09 BGN 3.66
-19.62%
Eggs
$2.86 COP 9,106
$3.41 BGN 5.97
-16.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.4K
$9.95 BGN 17.41
2.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.53 COP 30.3K
$8.73 BGN 15.27
9.16%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.04 COP 44.7K
$11.43 BGN 20.00
22.83%
Apples (1kg)
$4.07 COP 12.9K
$2.24 BGN 3.92
81.70%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 COP 4,757
$2.02 BGN 3.54
-25.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.17 COP 6,913
$2.12 BGN 3.71
2.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.31 COP 7,333
$2.55 BGN 4.47
-9.41%
Potato (1kg)
$1.93 COP 6,132
$1.66 BGN 2.90
16.27%
Onion (1kg)
$1.64 COP 5,212
$1.50 BGN 2.63
9.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 COP 3,582
$0.97 BGN 1.70
16.49%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 COP 3,966
$0.85 BGN 1.48
47.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.99 COP 12.7K
$3.63 BGN 6.34
9.92%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.35 COP 42.5K
$6.87 BGN 12.01
94.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 COP 5,400
$1.03 BGN 1.81
65.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 COP 7,549
$1.83 BGN 3.20
29.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Lovech
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.21 COP 3,839
$0.75 BGN 1.31
61.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$76.5 COP 243.3K
$24.69 BGN 43.20
209.80%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.32 COP 4,193
$1.68 BGN 2.94
-21.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.14 COP 6,795
$0.75 BGN 1.32
185.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.47 COP 26.9K
$12.08 BGN 21.15
-29.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 COP 4,127
$1.66 BGN 2.91
-21.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K COP 89.0M
$29.8K BGN 52.1K
-6.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.4K COP 112.6M
$22.0K BGN 38.6K
60.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Lovech
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$172 COP 547.3K
$101 BGN 177
70.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37 COP 42.5K
$14.45 BGN 25.29
-7.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.73 COP 91.4K
$11.92 BGN 20.85
141.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Lovech
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.24 COP 143.9K
$31.32 BGN 54.8
44.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.04 COP 54.2K
$16.24 BGN 28.42
4.93%
Cinema Ticket
$6.28 COP 20.0K
$8.66 BGN 15.16
-27.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Lovech
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$770 COP 2.4M
$227 BGN 397
239.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,011 COP 28.7M
$5,779 BGN 10.1K
55.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Lovech
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.4 COP 274.8K
$57.7 BGN 101
49.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.1 COP 181.7K
$28.99 BGN 50.7
97.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$137 COP 434.3K
$70.9 BGN 124
92.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 311.4K
$73.5 BGN 129
33.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Lovech
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,055 COP 3.4M
$328 BGN 575
221.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$616 COP 2.0M
$254 BGN 444
142.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,892 COP 6.0M
$539 BGN 943
251.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,023 COP 3.3M
$397 BGN 695
157.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,059 COP 12.9M
$1,320 BGN 2,311
207.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,678 COP 5.3M
$1,062 BGN 1,858
58.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Lovech
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$652 COP 2.1M
$626 BGN 1,096
4.19%
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: October 12, 2026

Last update for Lovech: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$616
Lovech
$254 58.8% $362
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$295
Lovech
$246 16.6% $49
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$214
Lovech
$127 40.5% $87
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$170
Lovech
$104 38.9% $66
Eating Out
Medellin
$168
Lovech
$162 4% $6.8
Getting Around
Medellin
$93
Lovech
$33 64.5% $60
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
Lovech
$49 15.9% $9.2

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,055 in Medellin and $328 in Lovech. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Medellin pays 4% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $46.00 in Medellin vs $34.00 in Lovech for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $295 vs $246 per month, with Lovech cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇧🇬 Lovech
🕒 Local time
13:49 1:49 PM
21:49 9:49 PM
8 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
37,297
💱 Currency
Bulgarian Lev BGN лв.
Exchange rates and currency converter

BGN, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 14, 2026: 1 USD = 3,181 COP (10,000 COP = 3.14 USD). 1 EUR = 3,564 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

Bulgarian Lev exchange rates as of October 14, 2026: 1 USD = 1.75 BGN (1 BGN = 0.571 USD). 1 EUR = 1.96 BGN (1 BGN = 0.51 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Lovech 10,360 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Lovech

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Lovech: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Medellin and in Lovech?
Medellin and Lovech differ by about 66% in total monthly costs ($1,614 vs $974 including rent). Lovech is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Medellin or Lovech?
Average pay runs 4% higher in Medellin, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Medellin and in Lovech?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,055 in Medellin versus $328 in Lovech. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Medellin or Lovech?
All in, you'll spend $1,614 per month in Medellin versus $974 in Lovech – a 66% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Medellin and in Lovech?
A monthly transit pass in Lovech runs roughly 210% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $974 in Lovech versus $1,614 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Lovech but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Lovech the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Lovech?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Medellin or Lovech safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Lovech are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Medellin or Lovech?
Expats usually find Lovech gentler on the wallet – expenses run 66% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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