🙂A single person spends $932 per month in Pleven vs $1,716 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,456 per month in Pleven vs $2,527 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,980 per month in Pleven vs $3,338 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Pleven is about 46% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Pleven sits 32% below the global median, while Medellin is 25% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pleven
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.75BGN 14.55
$8.03COP 25.1K
8.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.20BGN 51.9
$48.26COP 150.8K
-35.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.63BGN 11.02
$9.77COP 30.5K
-32.14%
Cappuccino
$2.28BGN 3.80
$2.91COP 9,095
-21.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33BGN 2.21
$1.94COP 6,074
-31.44%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18BGN 1.96
$1.52COP 4,754
-22.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.27BGN 3.78
$3.09COP 9,663
-26.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31BGN 3.84
$5.74COP 17.9K
-59.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pleven
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71BGN 2.84
$1.36COP 4,262
25.74%
White Bread(500g)
$1.22BGN 2.03
$2.39COP 7,460
-48.95%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.81BGN 3.02
$1.70COP 5,314
6.47%
Eggs
$3.72BGN 6.20
$2.87COP 8,967
29.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.68BGN 16.10
$9.94COP 31.1K
-2.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.09BGN 13.45
$10.78COP 33.7K
-24.95%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.51BGN 24.14
$14.73COP 46.0K
-1.49%
Apples(1kg)
$1.28BGN 2.13
$4.09COP 12.8K
-68.70%
Banana(1kg)
$2.13BGN 3.54
$1.57COP 4,911
35.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.29BGN 3.80
$2.13COP 6,642
7.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.31BGN 3.85
$2.21COP 6,917
4.52%
Potato(1kg)
$1.23BGN 2.04
$2.05COP 6,396
-40.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13BGN 1.87
$1.50COP 4,700
-24.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07BGN 1.78
$1.19COP 3,718
-10.08%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78BGN 1.30
$1.16COP 3,619
-32.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.58BGN 5.96
$3.90COP 12.2K
-8.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.72BGN 11.19
$14.44COP 45.1K
-53.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.85BGN 1.41
$1.58COP 4,948
-46.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23BGN 2.04
$2.83COP 8,836
-56.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Pleven
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.89BGN 1.48
$1.17COP 3,650
-23.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.99BGN 69.9
$77.7COP 242.9K
-45.98%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.51BGN 2.50
$1.28COP 4,014
17.97%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.93BGN 1.54
$2.09COP 6,537
-55.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$12.28BGN 20.43
$8.62COP 26.9K
42.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.61BGN 2.68
$1.30COP 4,056
23.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.0KBGN 51.6K
$27.7KCOP 86.4M
12.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4KBGN 43.8K
$35.5KCOP 110.9M
-25.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pleven
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$101BGN 167
$176COP 550.1K
-42.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.44BGN 27.35
$13.37COP 41.8K
22.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.07BGN 18.42
$29.89COP 93.4K
-62.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pleven
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$33.26BGN 55.3
$44.76COP 139.8K
-25.69%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.36BGN 42.20
$17.06COP 53.3K
48.65%
Cinema Ticket
$9.17BGN 15.25
$6.20COP 19.4K
47.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pleven
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$535BGN 890
$793COP 2.5M
-32.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,621BGN 11.0K
$9,019COP 28.2M
-26.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pleven
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.16BGN 71.8
$85.6COP 267.5K
-49.59%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.45BGN 49.00
$58.5COP 182.7K
-49.63%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.8BGN 163
$136COP 425.9K
-28.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105BGN 174
$103COP 322.2K
1.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pleven
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$351BGN 584
$1,060COP 3.3M
-66.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$178BGN 296
$680COP 2.1M
-73.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$584BGN 972
$2,012COP 6.3M
-70.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$336BGN 559
$1,169COP 3.7M
-71.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,478BGN 2,458
$4,111COP 12.8M
-64.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,177BGN 1,958
$1,701COP 5.3M
-30.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pleven
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$954BGN 1,587
$665COP 2.1M
43.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.93
10.94
-73.22%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Pleven: August 30, 2026
Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $351 in Pleven versus $1,060 in Medellin. 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 43% higher in Pleven, 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 $31.00 in Pleven versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $303 – making Pleven 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
Pleven vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Pleven?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 84%, 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 $1,398 per month in Pleven and $2,574 in Medellin. 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 Pleven, 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 Pleven or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $31.00 in Pleven and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Pleven and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $932 in Pleven and $1,716 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Pleven or in Medellin?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Pleven, where all-in costs run around $932, than in Medellin at $1,716. In Pleven it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Pleven or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Pleven – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Pleven or Medellin?
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 Pleven. 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.