🙂A single person spends $772 per month in Sliven vs $1,034 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,220 per month in Sliven vs $1,577 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,668 per month in Sliven vs $2,120 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Sliven is about 25% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Sliven and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Sliven42% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sliven
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.00BGN 15.03
$5.92COP 21.4K
52.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.73BGN 59.7
$32.75COP 118.2K
9.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.30BGN 13.87
$7.20COP 26.0K
15.28%
Cappuccino
$1.83BGN 3.06
$1.70COP 6,140
7.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27BGN 2.12
$1.10COP 3,966
15.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91BGN 1.52
$0.72COP 2,605
26.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.75BGN 2.93
$1.67COP 6,022
4.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30BGN 3.84
$3.10COP 11.2K
-25.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sliven
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.54BGN 2.57
$1.06COP 3,809
45.28%
White Bread(500g)
$0.79BGN 1.32
$1.25COP 4,497
-36.80%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.14BGN 3.57
$1.39COP 5,022
53.96%
Eggs
$2.25BGN 3.75
$2.26COP 8,168
-0.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.35BGN 13.94
$4.33COP 15.6K
92.84%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.44BGN 9.09
$5.84COP 21.1K
-6.85%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.74BGN 11.25
$8.83COP 31.9K
-23.67%
Apples(1kg)
$1.43BGN 2.39
$2.24COP 8,099
-36.16%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64BGN 2.74
$1.08COP 3,882
51.85%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.43BGN 2.39
$1.53COP 5,522
-6.54%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.18BGN 3.64
$1.37COP 4,950
59.12%
Potato(1kg)
$0.52BGN 0.87
$1.13COP 4,078
-53.98%
Onion(1kg)
$0.86BGN 1.44
$1.12COP 4,036
-23.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.05BGN 1.75
$0.85COP 3,057
23.53%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51BGN 0.85
$0.91COP 3,281
-43.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.50BGN 5.84
$2.33COP 8,414
50.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.41BGN 10.71
$11.13COP 40.2K
-42.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.03BGN 1.73
$1.19COP 4,309
-13.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.26BGN 2.11
$2.37COP 8,553
-46.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Sliven
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.69BGN 1.15
$0.79COP 2,838
-12.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$35.84BGN 59.9
$41.13COP 148.5K
-12.86%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.21BGN 2.03
$1.44COP 5,184
-15.97%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.72BGN 1.21
$1.91COP 6,901
-62.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.69BGN 14.51
$8.02COP 28.9K
8.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.43BGN 2.39
$0.94COP 3,385
52.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.9KBGN 53.2K
$17.9KCOP 64.7M
77.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.8KBGN 46.4K
$26.8KCOP 96.7M
3.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sliven
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$87.0BGN 145
$84.0COP 303.1K
3.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.56BGN 29.32
$9.60COP 34.7K
82.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.50BGN 15.86
$24.16COP 87.2K
-60.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sliven
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.89BGN 39.89
$25.88COP 93.4K
-7.69%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.06BGN 25.15
$19.04COP 68.7K
-20.90%
Cinema Ticket
$5.82BGN 9.72
$3.92COP 14.1K
48.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sliven
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$417BGN 697
$306COP 1.1M
36.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,110BGN 11.9K
$5,919COP 21.4M
20.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sliven
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9BGN 96.7
$57.9COP 209.1K
-0.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.94BGN 39.97
$31.82COP 114.9K
-24.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$71.5BGN 119
$99.9COP 360.6K
-28.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$62.4BGN 104
$107COP 386.8K
-41.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sliven
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$234BGN 390
$487COP 1.8M
-51.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$148BGN 246
$368COP 1.3M
-59.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$344BGN 575
$826COP 3.0M
-58.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$267BGN 445
$716COP 2.6M
-62.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,172BGN 1,957
$2,925COP 10.6M
-59.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$953BGN 1,592
$1,407COP 5.1M
-32.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sliven
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,374BGN 2,294
$546COP 2.0M
151.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.25
13.43
-68.35%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sliven: April 25, 2026
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $234 in Sliven versus $487 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 152% 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 $36.00 in Sliven versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $181 in Sliven vs $190 in Medellin – 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
Sliven vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Sliven?
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 $1,158 per month in Sliven and $1,550 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 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 Sliven or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Sliven 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 Sliven vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $772 in Sliven and $1,034 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Sliven or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Sliven, where all-in costs run around $772, than in Medellin at $1,034. In Sliven it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Sliven or Medellin 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, Sliven 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 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.