🙂A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $1,012 in Samokov, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,582 in Samokov, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $2,151 in Samokov, rent included.
🙂Medellin is about 1% cheaper than Samokov, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Medellin and Samokov are more affordable than the global median – Medellin25% lower, Samokov24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Samokov
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.91COP 18.6K
$10.13BGN 16.85
-41.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96COP 103.8K
$41.76BGN 69.5
-21.07%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.43COP 23.4K
$10.12BGN 16.84
-26.58%
Cappuccino
$1.65COP 5,207
$1.89BGN 3.15
-12.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,468
$1.32BGN 2.19
-16.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COP 2,458
$1.04BGN 1.73
-25.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72COP 5,412
$1.94BGN 3.22
-11.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18COP 10.0K
$3.01BGN 5.01
5.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Samokov
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10COP 3,474
$2.03BGN 3.38
-45.81%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COP 3,962
$1.02BGN 1.70
23.53%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,349
$2.74BGN 4.56
-49.64%
Eggs
$2.18COP 6,858
$3.87BGN 6.43
-43.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.49COP 14.1K
$13.16BGN 21.89
-65.88%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.79COP 18.2K
$8.54BGN 14.20
-32.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.97COP 28.2K
$12.82BGN 21.33
-30.03%
Apples(1kg)
$2.32COP 7,308
$1.60BGN 2.66
45.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COP 3,352
$2.16BGN 3.60
-50.93%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COP 4,774
$1.98BGN 3.30
-23.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.36COP 4,270
$2.82BGN 4.69
-51.77%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,552
$1.19BGN 1.99
-5.04%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COP 3,689
$1.38BGN 2.30
-15.22%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90COP 2,838
$1.28BGN 2.13
-29.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COP 2,823
$0.72BGN 1.21
25.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23COP 7,034
$3.66BGN 6.10
-39.07%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.12COP 38.2K
$6.36BGN 10.57
90.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COP 3,743
$1.25BGN 2.08
-4.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48COP 7,815
$1.69BGN 2.81
46.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Samokov
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.85COP 2,687
$0.91BGN 1.51
-6.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.62COP 131.0K
$26.85BGN 44.67
55.01%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,459
$1.21BGN 2.01
17.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.95COP 6,141
$0.61BGN 1.01
219.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.89COP 24.8K
$11.69BGN 19.45
-32.51%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,118
$1.55BGN 2.58
-36.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOP 55.4M
$36.4KBGN 60.5K
-51.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOP 84.4M
$34.3KBGN 57.1K
-21.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Samokov
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0COP 261.4K
$121BGN 201
-31.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.70COP 30.5K
$17.49BGN 29.09
-44.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52COP 74.1K
$13.14BGN 21.87
79.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Samokov
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.26COP 79.5K
$30.04BGN 49.97
-15.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10COP 60.1K
$14.75BGN 24.54
29.49%
Cinema Ticket
$3.95COP 12.4K
$6.94BGN 11.55
-43.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Samokov
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$316COP 994.2K
$321BGN 534
-1.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,975COP 18.8M
$5,378BGN 8,947
11.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Samokov
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0COP 188.9K
$44.42BGN 73.9
35.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COP 100.2K
$30.02BGN 49.94
6.00%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102COP 320.1K
$126BGN 210
-19.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COP 338.3K
$75.8BGN 126
41.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Samokov
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$475COP 1.5M
$293BGN 488
61.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$374COP 1.2M
$231BGN 384
62.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$849COP 2.7M
$473BGN 787
79.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$719COP 2.3M
$347BGN 578
107.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,265COP 10.3M
$1,150BGN 1,914
183.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,441COP 4.5M
$1,002BGN 1,666
43.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Samokov
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$624COP 2.0M
$731BGN 1,216
-14.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
5.1
163.33%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Last update for Samokov: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $293 in Samokov. 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 17% higher in Samokov, 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 $42.00 in Samokov. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $263 – 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 Samokov: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Samokov cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Samokov is pricier by about 1%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Medellin and $1,518 in Samokov. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Samokov?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $42.00 in Samokov. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Samokov?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,003 in Medellin and $1,012 in Samokov. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Samokov?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,003, than in Samokov at $1,012. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Samokov it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Samokov more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Samokov?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Samokov makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.