Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Sliven Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Sliven

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,028 per month in Medellin vs $767 in Sliven, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,586 per month in Medellin vs $1,227 in Sliven, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,144 per month in Medellin vs $1,686 in Sliven, rent included.

Medellin costs about 34% more than Sliven, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Sliven are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Sliven 42% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Sliven
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.00 COP 20.6K
$8.66 BGN 14.40
-30.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.84 COP 112.9K
$35.42 BGN 58.9
-7.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.42 COP 25.5K
$8.80 BGN 14.64
-15.68%
Cappuccino
$1.65 COP 5,675
$1.91 BGN 3.18
-13.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07 COP 3,673
$1.29 BGN 2.14
-17.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 COP 2,614
$0.88 BGN 1.46
-13.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.72 COP 5,925
$1.73 BGN 2.88
-0.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 COP 11.0K
$2.32 BGN 3.86
37.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Sliven
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 COP 3,607
$1.52 BGN 2.53
-30.92%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 COP 4,492
$0.81 BGN 1.35
61.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.34 COP 4,604
$2.20 BGN 3.67
-39.09%
Eggs
$2.19 COP 7,543
$2.21 BGN 3.68
-0.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.41 COP 15.2K
$8.45 BGN 14.06
-47.81%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.69 COP 19.6K
$5.47 BGN 9.10
4.02%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.52 COP 29.3K
$6.94 BGN 11.54
22.77%
Apples (1kg)
$2.34 COP 8,046
$1.45 BGN 2.42
61.38%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 COP 3,815
$1.64 BGN 2.73
-32.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.52 COP 5,225
$1.49 BGN 2.48
2.01%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.37 COP 4,694
$2.29 BGN 3.80
-40.17%
Potato (1kg)
$1.15 COP 3,962
$0.48 BGN 0.80
139.58%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 COP 4,055
$0.86 BGN 1.44
37.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.84 COP 2,893
$1.04 BGN 1.73
-19.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86 COP 2,940
$0.49 BGN 0.81
75.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.26 COP 7,776
$3.44 BGN 5.73
-34.30%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.60 COP 39.9K
$6.39 BGN 10.64
81.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COP 4,121
$1.05 BGN 1.74
14.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 COP 8,508
$1.33 BGN 2.21
86.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Sliven
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 COP 2,729
$0.74 BGN 1.23
6.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.83 COP 140.4K
$36.54 BGN 60.8
11.74%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.47 COP 5,038
$1.15 BGN 1.91
27.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.92 COP 6,587
$0.74 BGN 1.23
159.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.77 COP 26.7K
$9.05 BGN 15.05
-14.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.01 COP 3,474
$1.49 BGN 2.48
-32.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.7K COP 60.7M
$32.5K BGN 54.1K
-45.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K COP 90.9M
$28.7K BGN 47.7K
-7.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Sliven
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.1 COP 278.8K
$86.8 BGN 144
-6.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.43 COP 32.4K
$17.87 BGN 29.73
-47.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.86 COP 82.0K
$9.65 BGN 16.06
147.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Sliven
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.99 COP 89.4K
$23.28 BGN 38.73
11.64%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.71 COP 64.3K
$14.87 BGN 24.74
25.82%
Cinema Ticket
$4.09 COP 14.1K
$5.82 BGN 9.68
-29.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Sliven
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$315 COP 1.1M
$421 BGN 700
-25.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,022 COP 20.7M
$7,091 BGN 11.8K
-15.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Sliven
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.7 COP 205.2K
$59.1 BGN 98.4
0.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.97 COP 109.9K
$23.41 BGN 38.95
36.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 COP 347.9K
$71.1 BGN 118
42.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105 COP 361.3K
$62.7 BGN 104
67.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Sliven
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$485 COP 1.7M
$239 BGN 397
103.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$365 COP 1.3M
$145 BGN 241
151.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$827 COP 2.8M
$334 BGN 555
147.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$730 COP 2.5M
$269 BGN 448
171.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,992 COP 10.3M
$1,172 BGN 1,950
155.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,314 COP 4.5M
$963 BGN 1,603
36.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Sliven
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$551 COP 1.9M
$1,355 BGN 2,253
-59.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
4.25
216.00%

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

Last update for Medellin: June 15, 2026

Last update for Sliven: June 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $485 in Medellin versus $239 in Sliven. 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 146% higher in Sliven, 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 $35.00 in Sliven. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Medellin vs $183 in Sliven – so Sliven wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Sliven: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sliven cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 34%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $1,542 per month in Medellin and $1,151 in Sliven. 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 Sliven, 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 Sliven?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $35.00 in Sliven. 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 Sliven?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,028 in Medellin and $767 in Sliven. 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 Sliven?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Sliven, where all-in costs run around $767, than in Medellin at $1,028. In Sliven it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Sliven more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Sliven – 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 Sliven?
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 Sliven. 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.

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