Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Stara Zagora and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Stara Zagora: $908 a month against $1,639 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $8,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
Medellin, Colombia
Stara Zagora
🇧🇬 Bulgaria
$908
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Stara Zagora and in Medellin

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Stara Zagora and in Medellin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $908 per month in Stara Zagora vs $1,639 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Stara Zagora $908
  • Medellin $1,639

A couple spends around $1,415 per month in Stara Zagora vs $2,413 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Stara Zagora $1,415
  • Medellin $2,413

A family of three spends $1,921 per month in Stara Zagora vs $3,186 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Stara Zagora $1,921
  • Medellin $3,186

Stara Zagora is about 45% cheaper than Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Stara Zagora sits 33% below the global median, while Medellin is 20% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stara Zagora
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.38 BGN 18.16
$8.09 COP 26.1K
28.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.7 BGN 90.5
$47.05 COP 151.9K
9.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.15 BGN 16.02
$9.50 COP 30.7K
-3.68%
Cappuccino
$2.34 BGN 4.09
$3.01 COP 9,735
-22.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 BGN 2.62
$1.80 COP 5,809
-16.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 BGN 1.52
$1.41 COP 4,561
-38.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 BGN 3.87
$3.18 COP 10.3K
-30.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 BGN 3.56
$5.75 COP 18.6K
-64.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stara Zagora
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.73 BGN 3.02
$1.51 COP 4,876
14.57%
White Bread (500g)
$0.86 BGN 1.51
$2.38 COP 7,678
-63.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.45 BGN 2.54
$1.77 COP 5,720
-18.08%
Eggs
$2.36 BGN 4.12
$2.89 COP 9,333
-18.34%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.38 BGN 16.42
$10.19 COP 32.9K
-7.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.39 BGN 11.18
$9.87 COP 31.9K
-35.26%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.59 BGN 15.03
$13.99 COP 45.2K
-38.60%
Apples (1kg)
$1.25 BGN 2.19
$3.97 COP 12.8K
-68.51%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 BGN 2.98
$1.55 COP 5,012
9.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.76 BGN 3.08
$2.18 COP 7,048
-19.27%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.93 BGN 3.38
$2.18 COP 7,051
-11.47%
Potato (1kg)
$1.00 BGN 1.74
$1.96 COP 6,337
-48.98%
Onion (1kg)
$0.72 BGN 1.26
$1.59 COP 5,132
-54.72%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.55 BGN 0.97
$1.15 COP 3,699
-52.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63 BGN 1.10
$1.24 COP 4,014
-49.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.64 BGN 6.38
$3.96 COP 12.8K
-8.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.25 BGN 9.18
$13.68 COP 44.2K
-61.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 BGN 1.91
$1.66 COP 5,359
-34.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 BGN 3.03
$2.26 COP 7,291
-23.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Stara Zagora
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.85 BGN 1.49
$1.17 COP 3,771
-27.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.45 BGN 35.79
$77.4 COP 249.8K
-73.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.29 BGN 2.26
$1.27 COP 4,094
1.57%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.64 BGN 1.13
$2.05 COP 6,612
-68.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.40 BGN 19.95
$8.55 COP 27.6K
33.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.57 BGN 2.75
$1.35 COP 4,349
16.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K BGN 52.0K
$34.1K COP 110.0M
-12.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5K BGN 41.1K
$34.7K COP 111.9M
-32.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stara Zagora
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$91.4 BGN 160
$170 COP 547.8K
-46.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.59 BGN 25.53
$13.55 COP 43.8K
7.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.26 BGN 21.46
$28.07 COP 90.6K
-56.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stara Zagora
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.21 BGN 58.1
$43.70 COP 141.1K
-24.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.06 BGN 36.86
$17.19 COP 55.5K
22.51%
Cinema Ticket
$8.89 BGN 15.55
$6.91 COP 22.3K
28.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stara Zagora
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$227 BGN 398
$797 COP 2.6M
-71.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,270 BGN 3,972
$9,112 COP 29.4M
-75.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stara Zagora
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$30.35 BGN 53.1
$84.7 COP 273.5K
-64.18%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.39 BGN 33.93
$58.0 COP 187.2K
-66.55%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$64.0 BGN 112
$135 COP 435.8K
-52.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$51.9 BGN 90.8
$97.9 COP 316.0K
-47.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stara Zagora
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$330 BGN 577
$1,208 COP 3.9M
-72.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$279 BGN 489
$642 COP 2.1M
-56.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$498 BGN 871
$2,028 COP 6.5M
-75.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$399 BGN 699
$1,012 COP 3.3M
-60.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,506 BGN 2,635
$4,170 COP 13.5M
-63.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,109 BGN 1,941
$1,910 COP 6.2M
-41.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stara Zagora
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,067 BGN 1,867
$657 COP 2.1M
62.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.99
10.94
-72.67%

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

Last update for Stara Zagora: October 27, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Stara Zagora
$279
Medellin
$642 130% $362
Groceries & Markets
Stara Zagora
$194
Medellin
$297 53.3% $103
Eating Out
Stara Zagora
$163
Medellin
$170 4% $6.5
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stara Zagora
$118
Medellin
$211 78.7% $93
Clothing & Footwear
Stara Zagora
$75
Medellin
$169 127% $94
Sport & Entertainment
Stara Zagora
$51
Medellin
$58 12.8% $6.6
Getting Around
Stara Zagora
$28
Medellin
$94 230% $65

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $330 in Stara Zagora versus $1,208 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 62% higher in Stara Zagora, 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 $52 in Stara Zagora versus $47 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $194 in Stara Zagora vs $297 in Medellin – so Stara Zagora wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇧🇬 Stara Zagora
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
10:07 10:07 AM
03:07 3:07 AM
7 h behind Stara Zagora
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,266
2,486,723
💱 Currency
Bulgarian Lev BGN лв.
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD, EUR to BGN – Bulgarian Lev Converter

Bulgarian Lev exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 1.75 BGN (1 BGN = 0.571 USD). 1 EUR = 1.95 BGN (1 BGN = 0.512 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 3,229 COP (10,000 COP = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 3,603 COP (10,000 COP = 2.78 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Stara Zagora Medellin 10,450 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Stara Zagora
  • Medellin

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Stara Zagora vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Stara Zagora cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 81%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,362 per month in Stara Zagora and $2,459 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 Stara Zagora, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $330 there versus $1,208 in Medellin.
Is eating out cheaper in Stara Zagora or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $52 in Stara Zagora and $47 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 Stara Zagora and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $908 in Stara Zagora and $1,639 in Medellin. That makes Stara Zagora about 45% cheaper.
Is $1,200 a realistic budget for living in Stara Zagora or in Medellin?
A $1,200 monthly budget goes further in Stara Zagora, where all-in costs run around $908, than in Medellin at $1,639. In Stara Zagora it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Stara Zagora or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Stara Zagora – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Stara Zagora vs other spots: cost of living compared

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