🙂A single person spends $794 per month in Sliven vs $1,618 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,270 per month in Sliven vs $2,460 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,746 per month in Sliven vs $3,302 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Sliven is about 51% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Sliven sits 41% below the global median, while Medellin is 19% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sliven
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.92BGN 19.82
$7.69COP 24.8K
55.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.70BGN 59.4
$43.28COP 139.8K
-17.51%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.70BGN 17.80
$9.50COP 30.7K
12.63%
Cappuccino
$1.83BGN 3.05
$2.81COP 9,077
-34.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32BGN 2.20
$1.84COP 5,930
-28.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89BGN 1.48
$1.51COP 4,868
-41.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.73BGN 2.88
$3.08COP 9,964
-43.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28BGN 3.80
$5.49COP 17.7K
-58.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sliven
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.50BGN 2.50
$1.34COP 4,343
11.94%
White Bread(500g)
$0.83BGN 1.38
$2.31COP 7,448
-64.07%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.75BGN 4.58
$1.47COP 4,747
87.07%
Eggs
$2.24BGN 3.72
$2.69COP 8,683
-16.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.25BGN 13.73
$8.87COP 28.7K
-6.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.67BGN 9.43
$10.64COP 34.4K
-46.71%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.84BGN 11.39
$14.47COP 46.8K
-52.73%
Apples(1kg)
$1.43BGN 2.37
$3.75COP 12.1K
-61.87%
Banana(1kg)
$1.69BGN 2.81
$1.39COP 4,480
21.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.44BGN 2.39
$2.22COP 7,179
-35.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.29BGN 3.82
$1.98COP 6,398
15.66%
Potato(1kg)
$0.49BGN 0.81
$2.05COP 6,638
-76.10%
Onion(1kg)
$0.91BGN 1.51
$1.60COP 5,169
-43.13%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.05BGN 1.75
$1.04COP 3,366
0.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51BGN 0.85
$1.27COP 4,099
-59.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.70BGN 6.16
$3.75COP 12.1K
-1.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.13BGN 10.20
$13.10COP 42.3K
-53.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.03BGN 1.71
$1.58COP 5,094
-34.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31BGN 2.17
$3.02COP 9,754
-56.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Sliven
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.69BGN 1.15
$1.17COP 3,774
-41.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$36.54BGN 60.8
$76.0COP 245.4K
-51.90%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.17BGN 1.94
$1.50COP 4,856
-22.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56BGN 0.94
$2.09COP 6,739
-73.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.96BGN 14.91
$8.10COP 26.2K
10.62%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.52BGN 2.52
$1.26COP 4,079
20.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KBGN 51.4K
$26.9KCOP 86.9M
14.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.0KBGN 38.3K
$34.9KCOP 112.7M
-34.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sliven
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$88.8BGN 148
$148COP 479.2K
-40.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.81BGN 34.61
$13.03COP 42.1K
59.71%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.69BGN 16.11
$31.48COP 101.7K
-69.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sliven
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.73BGN 39.47
$45.50COP 147.0K
-47.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.02COP 55.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.76BGN 9.59
$6.32COP 20.4K
-8.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sliven
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$529BGN 880
$837COP 2.7M
-36.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,573BGN 10.9K
$8,663COP 28.0M
-24.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sliven
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.6BGN 99.1
$88.8COP 286.9K
-32.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.74BGN 39.49
$54.9COP 177.5K
-56.78%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$71.2BGN 118
$134COP 434.4K
-47.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$62.7BGN 104
$108COP 350.0K
-42.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sliven
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$233BGN 387
$939COP 3.0M
-75.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$146BGN 244
$646COP 2.1M
-77.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$342BGN 569
$1,941COP 6.3M
-82.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$261BGN 435
$1,126COP 3.6M
-76.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,136BGN 1,889
$3,638COP 11.8M
-68.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$936BGN 1,557
$1,553COP 5.0M
-39.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sliven
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,330BGN 2,212
$628COP 2.0M
111.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.87
10.43
-72.48%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sliven: August 2, 2026
Last update for Medellin: August 3, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $233 in Sliven versus $939 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 112% 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 $43.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $185 vs $291 – making Sliven 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
Sliven vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Sliven?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 104%, 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 $1,191 per month in Sliven and $2,427 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 in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Sliven and $43.00 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 and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $794 in Sliven and $1,618 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 living in Sliven or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Sliven, where all-in costs run around $794, than in Medellin at $1,618. 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.