Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Vratsa

For one person, living is cheaper in Vratsa: $826 a month against $1,639 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $9,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin, Colombia
Vratsa, Bulgaria
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Vratsa
🇧🇬 Bulgaria
$826
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Vratsa

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 Vratsa actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,639 per month in Medellin vs $826 in Vratsa, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,639
  • Vratsa $826

A couple spends around $2,413 per month in Medellin vs $1,255 in Vratsa, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,413
  • Vratsa $1,255

A family of three spends $3,186 per month in Medellin vs $1,684 in Vratsa, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,186
  • Vratsa $1,684

Medellin costs about 98% more than Vratsa, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Medellin sits 20% above the global median, while Vratsa is 39% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Vratsa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.09 COP 26.1K
$8.49 BGN 14.85
-4.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.05 COP 151.9K
$28.23 BGN 49.41
66.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 30.7K
$5.65 BGN 9.88
68.14%
Cappuccino
$3.01 COP 9,734
$2.22 BGN 3.88
35.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 COP 5,809
$1.56 BGN 2.73
15.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 COP 4,560
$0.82 BGN 1.44
71.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 COP 10.3K
$1.68 BGN 2.94
89.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 18.6K
$2.03 BGN 3.55
183.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Vratsa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 COP 4,875
$1.33 BGN 2.32
13.53%
White Bread (500g)
$2.38 COP 7,677
$0.84 BGN 1.47
183.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,719
$1.35 BGN 2.36
31.11%
Eggs
$2.89 COP 9,332
$2.28 BGN 3.99
26.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.9K
$9.35 BGN 16.36
8.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.87 COP 31.9K
$5.62 BGN 9.83
75.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.99 COP 45.2K
$8.41 BGN 14.71
66.35%
Apples (1kg)
$3.97 COP 12.8K
$1.25 BGN 2.19
217.60%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 COP 5,011
$1.64 BGN 2.87
-5.49%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.18 COP 7,047
$1.11 BGN 1.94
96.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.18 COP 7,050
$1.73 BGN 3.02
26.01%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 COP 6,336
$0.98 BGN 1.72
100.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.59 COP 5,131
$0.71 BGN 1.25
123.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 COP 3,698
$0.56 BGN 0.98
105.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 COP 4,014
$0.54 BGN 0.95
129.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 COP 12.8K
$3.49 BGN 6.10
13.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.68 COP 44.2K
$5.22 BGN 9.13
162.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 COP 5,359
$1.08 BGN 1.90
53.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 COP 7,290
$1.74 BGN 3.04
29.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Vratsa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,770
$0.82 BGN 1.44
42.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.4 COP 249.8K
$25.24 BGN 44.17
206.54%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 COP 4,094
$0.88 BGN 1.54
44.32%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 COP 6,611
$0.62 BGN 1.08
230.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.55 COP 27.6K
$6.45 BGN 11.28
32.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,348
$1.56 BGN 2.73
-13.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K COP 110.0M
$30.4K BGN 53.3K
11.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K COP 111.9M
$23.4K BGN 41.0K
48.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Vratsa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 COP 547.7K
$94.3 BGN 165
79.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.55 COP 43.7K
$12.63 BGN 22.09
7.28%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.07 COP 90.6K
$12.23 BGN 21.40
129.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Vratsa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.70 COP 141.1K
$22.92 BGN 40.11
90.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.19 COP 55.5K
$19.29 BGN 33.77
-10.89%
Cinema Ticket
$6.91 COP 22.3K
$5.80 BGN 10.15
19.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Vratsa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$797 COP 2.6M
$223 BGN 390
257.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,112 COP 29.4M
$2,257 BGN 3,949
303.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Vratsa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.7 COP 273.5K
$30.65 BGN 53.6
176.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.0 COP 187.1K
$19.41 BGN 33.97
198.61%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$135 COP 435.7K
$64.4 BGN 113
109.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 316.0K
$50.4 BGN 88.2
94.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Vratsa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,208 COP 3.9M
$337 BGN 590
257.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$642 COP 2.1M
$253 BGN 444
153.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,028 COP 6.5M
$550 BGN 962
268.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 COP 3.3M
$401 BGN 703
152.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,170 COP 13.5M
$1,309 BGN 2,291
218.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,910 COP 6.2M
$1,114 BGN 1,950
71.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Vratsa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$657 COP 2.1M
$1,080 BGN 1,890
-39.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
2.99
265.89%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Last update for Vratsa: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$642
Vratsa
$253 60.5% $388
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$297
Vratsa
$179 39.7% $118
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$211
Vratsa
$119 43.6% $92
Eating Out
Medellin
$170
Vratsa
$133 21.3% $36
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$169
Vratsa
$74 56.1% $95
Getting Around
Medellin
$94
Vratsa
$33 65.3% $61
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
Vratsa
$35 40% $23

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,208 in Medellin versus $337 in Vratsa. 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 64% higher in Vratsa, 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 $47 in Medellin versus $28 in Vratsa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $179 – making Vratsa the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇧🇬 Vratsa
🕒 Local time
09:26 9:26 AM
16:26 4:26 PM
7 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
60,877
💱 Currency
Bulgarian Lev BGN лв.
Exchange rates and currency converter

BGN, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 3,229 COP (10,000 COP = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 3,603 COP (10,000 COP = 2.78 EUR).

Bulgarian Lev exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 1.75 BGN (1 BGN = 0.571 USD). 1 EUR = 1.95 BGN (1 BGN = 0.512 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Vratsa 10,270 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Vratsa

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 Vratsa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Vratsa cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 98%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,459 per month in Medellin and $1,240 in Vratsa. 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 Vratsa, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $337 there versus $1,208 in Medellin.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Vratsa?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin and $28 in Vratsa. 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 Vratsa?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,639 in Medellin and $826 in Vratsa. That makes Vratsa about 50% cheaper.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Vratsa?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Vratsa, where all-in costs run around $826, than in Medellin at $1,639. In Vratsa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Vratsa more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Vratsa – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
For expats, Vratsa is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 50% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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