Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Pernik Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Pernik

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $890 in Pernik, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $1,303 in Pernik, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $1,716 in Pernik, rent included.

Medellin costs about 16% more than Pernik, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Pernik are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Pernik 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.16 COP 20.1K

$9.08 BGN 15.10

-32.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.60 COP 106.1K

$25.16 BGN 41.86

29.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.34 COP 23.9K

$9.36 BGN 15.57

-21.58%

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 5,599

$1.62 BGN 2.70

6.17%

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

$1.05 COP 3,420

$0.97 BGN 1.62

8.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,515

$0.56 BGN 0.94

37.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 COP 5,487

$1.15 BGN 1.91

46.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.3K

$2.02 BGN 3.36

56.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,423

$1.47 BGN 2.44

-28.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,236

$0.70 BGN 1.17

85.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,544

$1.48 BGN 2.46

-5.41%

Eggs

$2.16 COP 7,046

$2.19 BGN 3.65

-1.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 COP 14.3K

$8.58 BGN 14.28

-48.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 19.1K

$6.97 BGN 11.60

-15.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 28.1K

$8.81 BGN 14.66

-1.93%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 COP 7,425

$1.19 BGN 1.98

91.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,603

$1.73 BGN 2.87

-35.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,982

$1.45 BGN 2.41

5.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,410

$2.24 BGN 3.72

-39.73%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,674

$0.91 BGN 1.51

24.18%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,692

$0.75 BGN 1.24

50.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 2,753

$0.56 BGN 0.93

51.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 2,975

$0.70 BGN 1.17

30.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 7,629

$3.44 BGN 5.72

-31.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 40.3K

$5.14 BGN 8.55

140.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 3,909

$0.80 BGN 1.32

50.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 8,104

$2.06 BGN 3.43

20.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,727

$0.87 BGN 1.44

-3.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

$11.58 BGN 19.26

250.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,623

$1.37 BGN 2.28

3.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,235

$0.66 BGN 1.09

190.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.9K

$11.88 BGN 19.77

-35.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,223

$1.48 BGN 2.46

-33.11%

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

$18.0K COP 58.7M

$24.8K BGN 41.3K

-27.42%

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

$26.6K COP 86.7M

$17.8K BGN 29.6K

49.43%

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

$80.8 COP 263.1K

$102 BGN 170

-20.81%

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

$9.95 COP 32.4K

$14.79 BGN 24.61

-32.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.18 COP 78.7K

$11.37 BGN 18.91

112.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 81.6K

$35.15 BGN 58.5

-28.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

$14.98 BGN 24.91

27.84%

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 COP 13.0K

$5.74 BGN 9.56

-30.66%

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

$305 COP 993.4K

$240 BGN 399

27.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.7M

$2,345 BGN 3,902

158.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 COP 189.2K

$38.20 BGN 63.6

52.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 104.8K

$19.23 BGN 31.99

67.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 327.9K

$78.1 BGN 130

28.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 350.8K

$75.6 BGN 126

42.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 COP 1.6M

$292 BGN 486

63.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

$269 BGN 447

39.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

$475 BGN 790

77.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

$358 BGN 596

103.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

$1,175 BGN 1,955

173.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

$1,064 BGN 1,770

29.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

$1,630 BGN 2,712

-62.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

3.4

295.00%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Last update for Pernik: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $292 in Pernik. 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 164% higher in Pernik, 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $25.00 in Pernik. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $190 – making Pernik 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 Pernik: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 16%, 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 $1,546 per month in Medellin and $1,335 in Pernik. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Pernik, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $25.00 in Pernik. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,031 in Medellin and $890 in Pernik. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Pernik, where all-in costs run around $890, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Pernik it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Pernik – 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 Pernik. 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.