Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Ruse Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Ruse

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $919 in Ruse, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,450 in Ruse, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $1,982 in Ruse, rent included.

Medellin costs about 10% more than Ruse, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Ruse are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Ruse 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.3K

$10.66 BGN 17.73

-43.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 116.9K

$35.69 BGN 59.4

-7.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.2K

$7.94 BGN 13.21

-10.71%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,093

$1.68 BGN 2.79

1.79%

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

$1.10 COP 3,910

$1.50 BGN 2.49

-26.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,771

$0.84 BGN 1.40

-7.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,976

$1.81 BGN 3.00

-7.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 10.9K

$2.88 BGN 4.80

6.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,892

$1.73 BGN 2.88

-36.99%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,492

$0.98 BGN 1.63

28.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,905

$2.07 BGN 3.44

-33.33%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,799

$2.73 BGN 4.54

-19.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$9.46 BGN 15.73

-53.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.0K

$8.15 BGN 13.56

-30.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.6K

$12.98 BGN 21.59

-31.51%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,319

$1.45 BGN 2.41

61.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,764

$1.89 BGN 3.15

-43.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,355

$1.93 BGN 3.21

-22.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,906

$2.07 BGN 3.45

-33.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,097

$1.15 BGN 1.92

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,141

$1.05 BGN 1.75

10.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,170

$1.17 BGN 1.94

-23.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,986

$0.68 BGN 1.13

23.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,116

$3.60 BGN 5.98

-36.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 37.9K

$5.98 BGN 9.95

77.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,268

$1.04 BGN 1.73

15.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,793

$1.17 BGN 1.94

111.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,045

$0.92 BGN 1.53

-6.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.3K

$16.14 BGN 26.86

156.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,245

$1.44 BGN 2.40

2.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 6,984

$0.65 BGN 1.07

201.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.5K

$10.24 BGN 17.03

-24.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,397

$1.49 BGN 2.47

-36.24%

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

$18.1K COP 64.5M

$32.1K BGN 53.4K

-43.51%

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

$26.5K COP 94.2M

$28.6K BGN 47.6K

-7.48%

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

$82.3 COP 292.7K

$99.9 BGN 166

-17.63%

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

$9.50 COP 33.8K

$17.56 BGN 29.22

-45.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.2K

$15.00 BGN 24.95

61.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.1K

$32.07 BGN 53.4

-19.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.6K

$9.08 BGN 15.11

109.25%

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

$5.99 BGN 9.96

-34.39%

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

$309 COP 1.1M

$637 BGN 1,060

-51.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.2M

$9,043 BGN 15.0K

-34.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 208.7K

$54.0 BGN 89.8

8.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.1K

$29.70 BGN 49.41

8.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 365.1K

$73.7 BGN 123

39.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 385.8K

$86.8 BGN 144

24.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$290 BGN 482

64.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$238 BGN 396

59.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$531 BGN 883

57.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

$414 BGN 688

74.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 9.9M

$1,651 BGN 2,746

69.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

$1,186 BGN 1,973

2.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

$977 BGN 1,626

-47.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

3.1

333.23%

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

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ruse: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $290 in Ruse. 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 91% higher in Ruse, 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 $36.00 in Ruse. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $229 – 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 Ruse: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 10%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,519 per month in Medellin and $1,378 in Ruse. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ruse, 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 $36.00 in Ruse. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,013 in Medellin and $919 in Ruse. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ruse, where all-in costs run around $919, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Ruse it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ruse – 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 Ruse. 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.