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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $767 per month in Sliven vs $1,028 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,227 per month in Sliven vs $1,586 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,686 per month in Sliven vs $2,144 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 – Sliven 42% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sliven
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.66 BGN 14.40
$6.00 COP 20.6K
44.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.42 BGN 58.9
$32.84 COP 112.9K
7.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.80 BGN 14.64
$7.42 COP 25.5K
18.60%
Cappuccino
$1.91 BGN 3.18
$1.65 COP 5,675
15.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29 BGN 2.14
$1.07 COP 3,673
20.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 BGN 1.46
$0.76 COP 2,614
15.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.73 BGN 2.88
$1.72 COP 5,925
0.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32 BGN 3.86
$3.20 COP 11.0K
-27.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sliven
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.52 BGN 2.53
$1.05 COP 3,607
44.76%
White Bread (500g)
$0.81 BGN 1.35
$1.31 COP 4,492
-38.17%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.20 BGN 3.67
$1.34 COP 4,604
64.18%
Eggs
$2.21 BGN 3.68
$2.19 COP 7,543
0.91%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.45 BGN 14.06
$4.41 COP 15.2K
91.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.47 BGN 9.10
$5.69 COP 19.6K
-3.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.94 BGN 11.54
$8.52 COP 29.3K
-18.54%
Apples (1kg)
$1.45 BGN 2.42
$2.34 COP 8,046
-38.03%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 BGN 2.73
$1.11 COP 3,815
47.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.49 BGN 2.48
$1.52 COP 5,225
-1.97%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.29 BGN 3.80
$1.37 COP 4,694
67.15%
Potato (1kg)
$0.48 BGN 0.80
$1.15 COP 3,962
-58.26%
Onion (1kg)
$0.86 BGN 1.44
$1.18 COP 4,055
-27.12%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 BGN 1.73
$0.84 COP 2,893
23.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 BGN 0.81
$0.86 COP 2,940
-43.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.44 BGN 5.73
$2.26 COP 7,776
52.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.39 BGN 10.64
$11.60 COP 39.9K
-44.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.05 BGN 1.74
$1.20 COP 4,121
-12.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33 BGN 2.21
$2.48 COP 8,508
-46.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Sliven
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.74 BGN 1.23
$0.79 COP 2,729
-6.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$36.54 BGN 60.8
$40.83 COP 140.4K
-10.51%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.15 BGN 1.91
$1.47 COP 5,038
-21.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.74 BGN 1.23
$1.92 COP 6,587
-61.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.05 BGN 15.05
$7.77 COP 26.7K
16.47%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 BGN 2.48
$1.01 COP 3,474
47.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.5K BGN 54.1K
$17.7K COP 60.7M
84.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.7K BGN 47.7K
$26.5K COP 90.9M
8.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sliven
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$86.8 BGN 144
$81.1 COP 278.8K
7.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.87 BGN 29.73
$9.43 COP 32.4K
89.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.65 BGN 16.06
$23.86 COP 82.0K
-59.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sliven
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.28 BGN 38.73
$25.99 COP 89.4K
-10.43%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.87 BGN 24.74
$18.71 COP 64.3K
-20.52%
Cinema Ticket
$5.82 BGN 9.68
$4.09 COP 14.1K
42.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sliven
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$421 BGN 700
$315 COP 1.1M
33.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,091 BGN 11.8K
$6,022 COP 20.7M
17.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sliven
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.1 BGN 98.4
$59.7 COP 205.2K
-0.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.41 BGN 38.95
$31.97 COP 109.9K
-26.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.1 BGN 118
$101 COP 347.9K
-29.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$62.7 BGN 104
$105 COP 361.3K
-40.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sliven
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$239 BGN 397
$485 COP 1.7M
-50.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$145 BGN 241
$365 COP 1.3M
-60.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$334 BGN 555
$827 COP 2.8M
-59.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$269 BGN 448
$730 COP 2.5M
-63.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,172 BGN 1,950
$2,992 COP 10.3M
-60.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$963 BGN 1,603
$1,314 COP 4.5M
-26.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sliven
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,355 BGN 2,253
$551 COP 1.9M
145.92%
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: June 13, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $239 in Sliven versus $485 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 146% 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 $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $183 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 $1,151 per month in Sliven and $1,542 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 $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 and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $767 in Sliven and $1,028 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 $767, than in Medellin at $1,028. 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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