Cost of Living Comparison Between Sliven and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Sliven and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $805 per month in Sliven vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,275 per month in Sliven vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,745 per month in Sliven vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.

Sliven is about 52% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Sliven sits 41% below the global median, while Medellin is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sliven
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.00 BGN 19.96
$8.02 COP 25.4K
49.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.18 BGN 58.5
$47.87 COP 152.0K
-26.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.53 BGN 17.51
$9.89 COP 31.4K
6.47%
Cappuccino
$1.86 BGN 3.09
$3.13 COP 9,937
-40.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33 BGN 2.21
$1.91 COP 6,058
-30.37%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 BGN 1.61
$1.51 COP 4,794
-35.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.79 BGN 2.99
$3.12 COP 9,917
-42.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33 BGN 3.88
$5.75 COP 18.3K
-59.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sliven
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.57 BGN 2.61
$1.44 COP 4,587
9.03%
White Bread (500g)
$0.81 BGN 1.35
$2.49 COP 7,894
-67.47%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.71 BGN 4.51
$1.77 COP 5,631
53.11%
Eggs
$2.17 BGN 3.61
$2.96 COP 9,396
-26.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.36 BGN 13.90
$10.07 COP 32.0K
-16.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.70 BGN 9.49
$10.12 COP 32.1K
-43.68%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.95 BGN 11.56
$14.30 COP 45.4K
-51.40%
Apples (1kg)
$1.46 BGN 2.43
$4.14 COP 13.1K
-64.73%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 BGN 2.78
$1.61 COP 5,106
3.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.46 BGN 2.42
$2.25 COP 7,129
-35.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.28 BGN 3.80
$2.25 COP 7,150
1.33%
Potato (1kg)
$0.51 BGN 0.86
$2.04 COP 6,486
-75.00%
Onion (1kg)
$0.91 BGN 1.51
$1.54 COP 4,873
-40.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 BGN 1.73
$1.17 COP 3,715
-11.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 BGN 0.86
$1.31 COP 4,148
-60.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.73 BGN 6.21
$3.90 COP 12.4K
-4.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.17 BGN 10.26
$14.01 COP 44.5K
-55.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.04 BGN 1.73
$1.74 COP 5,534
-40.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 BGN 2.13
$2.87 COP 9,112
-55.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Sliven
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.73 BGN 1.21
$1.22 COP 3,858
-40.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.62 BGN 59.3
$80.5 COP 255.5K
-55.74%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.15 BGN 1.91
$1.31 COP 4,155
-12.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.60 BGN 1.00
$2.19 COP 6,944
-72.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.68 BGN 14.44
$8.71 COP 27.7K
-0.34%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.50 BGN 2.49
$1.37 COP 4,334
9.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.1K BGN 51.7K
$27.8K COP 88.4M
11.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5K BGN 39.0K
$35.8K COP 113.6M
-34.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sliven
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$89.8 BGN 149
$177 COP 562.9K
-49.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.68 BGN 34.40
$13.88 COP 44.1K
48.99%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.40 BGN 15.64
$29.72 COP 94.4K
-68.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sliven
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.51 BGN 39.11
$44.88 COP 142.5K
-47.62%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.12 COP 54.4K
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.03 BGN 10.03
$6.65 COP 21.1K
-9.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sliven
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$516 BGN 858
$813 COP 2.6M
-36.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,373 BGN 10.6K
$9,187 COP 29.2M
-30.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sliven
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.2 BGN 100
$89.5 COP 284.1K
-32.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.72 BGN 39.46
$59.0 COP 187.2K
-59.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$69.6 BGN 116
$138 COP 438.8K
-49.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$62.2 BGN 103
$102 COP 324.2K
-39.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sliven
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$235 BGN 391
$1,062 COP 3.4M
-77.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$150 BGN 249
$663 COP 2.1M
-77.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$345 BGN 573
$1,888 COP 6.0M
-81.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$262 BGN 435
$1,027 COP 3.3M
-74.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,172 BGN 1,950
$4,183 COP 13.3M
-71.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$958 BGN 1,594
$1,675 COP 5.3M
-42.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sliven
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,376 BGN 2,290
$678 COP 2.2M
103.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.87
10.94
-73.77%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Sliven: September 13, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $235 in Sliven versus $1,062 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 103% 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 $35.00 in Sliven versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $186 vs $305 – 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 109%, 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 $1,207 per month in Sliven and $2,521 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 $35.00 in Sliven 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 Sliven and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $805 in Sliven and $1,681 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 $805, than in Medellin at $1,681. 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.

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