Medellin vs Sofia: cost of living for digital nomads

Medellin, Colombia and Sofia, Bulgaria, line by line from the catalogue: what a month costs, rent, food, coworking, safety and internet. Every figure links back to its source on the city page.

The short version

  • Sofia is about 13% cheaper than Medellin for a month of nomad living ($1,300 vs $1,500).
  • Rent is the biggest gap: $600 in Sofia against $720 in Medellin.
  • Sofia scores higher on safety (8/10 vs 6/10).
  • Internet is faster in Sofia: 200 Mbps typical against 100 Mbps.
  • Medellin is tropical; Sofia is continental.

Medellin wins 1 of the measured lines; Sofia wins 7.

Frequently asked questions

Which city is cheaper, Medellin or Sofia?

Sofia is cheaper: about $1,300/month against $1,500/month in Medellin, roughly 13% less for a typical remote worker's budget.

Which city is safer, Medellin or Sofia?

Sofia scores higher on safety: 8/10 against 6/10 for Medellin.

Which has faster internet, Medellin or Sofia?

Sofia has faster typical internet: 200 Mbps against 100 Mbps in Medellin.

LineMedellinSofia
Monthly total (USD)$1,500$1,300
Rent$720$600
Food$380$360
Transport$45$35
Coworking$120$100
Safety (out of 10)6/108/10
Internet (Mbps)100200
Climatetropicalcontinental
City sizemetrometro
Settingmountainmountain
Nomad score (out of 10)10/108/10

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Costs are typical monthly figures for one person in USD, from the sources named on each city page; safety and internet are the catalogue's own ratings. Cost figures verified (Eastern Time): Medellin November 8, 2026, Sofia November 4, 2026.