🙂A single person spends $820 per month in Pleven vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,287 per month in Pleven vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,755 per month in Pleven vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Pleven is about 19% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Pleven and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Pleven39% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pleven
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.99BGN 14.96
$5.99COP 21.3K
50.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.12BGN 51.8
$32.86COP 116.9K
-5.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.40BGN 10.65
$7.09COP 25.2K
-9.73%
Cappuccino
$1.87BGN 3.11
$1.71COP 6,093
9.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29BGN 2.14
$1.10COP 3,910
17.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68BGN 1.14
$0.78COP 2,771
-12.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.20BGN 2.00
$1.68COP 5,976
-28.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10BGN 3.49
$3.07COP 10.9K
-31.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pleven
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.56BGN 2.60
$1.09COP 3,892
43.12%
White Bread(500g)
$0.80BGN 1.33
$1.26COP 4,492
-36.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.50BGN 2.50
$1.38COP 4,905
8.70%
Eggs
$2.25BGN 3.74
$2.19COP 7,799
2.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.05BGN 15.06
$4.40COP 15.7K
105.68%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.44BGN 12.38
$5.63COP 20.0K
32.15%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.80BGN 14.64
$8.89COP 31.6K
-1.01%
Apples(1kg)
$1.28BGN 2.13
$2.34COP 8,319
-45.30%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65BGN 2.75
$1.06COP 3,764
55.66%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.81BGN 3.00
$1.50COP 5,355
20.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.20BGN 3.67
$1.38COP 4,906
59.42%
Potato(1kg)
$1.01BGN 1.68
$1.15COP 4,097
-12.17%
Onion(1kg)
$0.80BGN 1.33
$1.16COP 4,141
-31.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.60BGN 1.00
$0.89COP 3,170
-32.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75BGN 1.25
$0.84COP 2,986
-10.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.61BGN 6.00
$2.28COP 8,116
58.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.49BGN 10.79
$10.64COP 37.9K
-39.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.85BGN 1.41
$1.20COP 4,268
-29.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23BGN 2.04
$2.47COP 8,793
-50.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Pleven
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.91BGN 1.52
$0.86COP 3,045
5.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.31BGN 68.7
$41.40COP 147.3K
-0.22%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.32BGN 2.20
$1.47COP 5,245
-10.20%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.71BGN 1.18
$1.96COP 6,984
-63.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.59BGN 19.27
$7.74COP 27.5K
49.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.47BGN 2.45
$0.95COP 3,397
54.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.3KBGN 42.1K
$18.1KCOP 64.5M
39.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.6KBGN 29.2K
$26.5KCOP 94.2M
-33.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pleven
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$100.0BGN 166
$82.3COP 292.7K
21.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.82BGN 24.65
$9.50COP 33.8K
56.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.43BGN 19.02
$24.23COP 86.2K
-52.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pleven
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$26.86BGN 44.68
$25.89COP 92.1K
3.75%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.95BGN 24.88
$19.00COP 67.6K
-21.32%
Cinema Ticket
$8.00BGN 13.30
$3.93COP 14.0K
103.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pleven
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$234BGN 390
$309COP 1.1M
-24.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,355BGN 3,918
$5,965COP 21.2M
-60.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pleven
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.73BGN 64.4
$58.7COP 208.7K
-33.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.18BGN 31.92
$32.35COP 115.1K
-40.71%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.6BGN 129
$103COP 365.1K
-24.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.8BGN 126
$108COP 385.8K
-30.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pleven
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$348BGN 579
$476COP 1.7M
-26.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$175BGN 290
$379COP 1.3M
-53.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$581BGN 967
$838COP 3.0M
-30.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$337BGN 561
$724COP 2.6M
-53.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,489BGN 2,478
$2,791COP 9.9M
-46.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,170BGN 1,947
$1,211COP 4.3M
-3.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pleven
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$957BGN 1,591
$512COP 1.8M
86.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.4
13.43
-74.68%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Pleven: June 1, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $348 in Pleven versus $476 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 87% 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 $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $200 in Pleven vs $188 in Medellin – so Medellin 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
Pleven vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Pleven?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 24%, 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 $1,230 per month in Pleven and $1,519 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 Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $31.00 in Pleven and $33.00 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 vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $820 in Pleven and $1,013 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 Pleven or Medellin?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Pleven, where all-in costs run around $820, than in Medellin at $1,013. 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.