🙂A single person spends $815 per month in Pleven vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,291 per month in Pleven vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,766 per month in Pleven vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Pleven is about 21% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Pleven and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Pleven39% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pleven
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.60BGN 14.31
$6.16COP 20.1K
39.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.12BGN 50.1
$32.60COP 106.1K
-7.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.34BGN 10.54
$7.34COP 23.9K
-13.62%
Cappuccino
$1.88BGN 3.13
$1.72COP 5,599
9.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33BGN 2.21
$1.05COP 3,420
26.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70BGN 1.16
$0.77COP 2,515
-9.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.21BGN 2.02
$1.69COP 5,487
-28.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01BGN 3.34
$3.17COP 10.3K
-36.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pleven
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.51BGN 2.51
$1.05COP 3,423
43.81%
White Bread(500g)
$0.79BGN 1.32
$1.30COP 4,236
-39.23%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55BGN 2.58
$1.40COP 4,544
10.71%
Eggs
$2.26BGN 3.76
$2.16COP 7,046
4.63%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.18BGN 15.27
$4.39COP 14.3K
109.11%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.60BGN 12.65
$5.88COP 19.1K
29.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.62BGN 14.34
$8.64COP 28.1K
-0.23%
Apples(1kg)
$1.31BGN 2.18
$2.28COP 7,425
-42.54%
Banana(1kg)
$1.67BGN 2.77
$1.11COP 3,603
50.45%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.78BGN 2.96
$1.53COP 4,982
16.34%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.17BGN 3.60
$1.35COP 4,410
60.74%
Potato(1kg)
$1.01BGN 1.67
$1.13COP 3,674
-10.62%
Onion(1kg)
$0.86BGN 1.42
$1.13COP 3,692
-23.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.61BGN 1.02
$0.85COP 2,753
-28.24%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77BGN 1.27
$0.91COP 2,975
-15.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.64BGN 6.06
$2.34COP 7,629
55.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.43BGN 10.70
$12.37COP 40.3K
-48.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.79BGN 1.31
$1.20COP 3,909
-34.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23BGN 2.05
$2.49COP 8,104
-50.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Pleven
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.91BGN 1.51
$0.84COP 2,727
8.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.97BGN 68.2
$40.57COP 132.1K
0.99%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.33BGN 2.21
$1.42COP 4,623
-6.34%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.71BGN 1.19
$1.92COP 6,235
-63.02%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.82BGN 19.66
$7.66COP 24.9K
54.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.52BGN 2.52
$0.99COP 3,223
53.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.3KBGN 42.0K
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
40.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.6KBGN 29.3K
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
-33.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pleven
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$99.2BGN 165
$80.8COP 263.1K
22.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.07BGN 25.06
$9.95COP 32.4K
51.46%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.18BGN 18.61
$24.18COP 78.7K
-53.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pleven
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$26.23BGN 43.63
$25.08COP 81.6K
4.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.04BGN 25.01
$19.15COP 62.3K
-21.46%
Cinema Ticket
$8.17BGN 13.59
$3.98COP 13.0K
105.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pleven
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$237BGN 395
$305COP 993.4K
-22.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,406BGN 4,002
$6,059COP 19.7M
-60.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pleven
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.47BGN 64.0
$58.1COP 189.2K
-33.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.81BGN 31.29
$32.20COP 104.8K
-41.58%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.3BGN 125
$101COP 327.9K
-25.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.4BGN 125
$108COP 350.8K
-30.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pleven
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$340BGN 566
$477COP 1.6M
-28.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$180BGN 300
$376COP 1.2M
-52.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$595BGN 990
$845COP 2.7M
-29.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$346BGN 575
$730COP 2.4M
-52.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,487BGN 2,474
$3,215COP 10.5M
-53.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,117BGN 1,859
$1,372COP 4.5M
-18.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pleven
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$932BGN 1,550
$617COP 2.0M
51.04%
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: July 11, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $340 in Pleven versus $477 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 51% 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 $30.00 in Pleven versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $200 in Pleven vs $193 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 26%, 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 $1,222 per month in Pleven and $1,546 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 $30.00 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 and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $815 in Pleven and $1,031 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 $815, than in Medellin at $1,031. 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.