$50K in Sofia = $36,458 in Medellín

Your $50K salary in Sofia (COL 48) has the same purchasing power as $36,458 in Medellín (COL 35). Medellín is cheaper — your money goes 27% further there.

$50K in Sofia, BG
$2,744/mo take-home
Rent: $540/mo (20% of take-home)
Very comfortable
$36,458/yr in Medellín, CO
$2,487/mo take-home
Rent: $500/mo (20% of take-home)
Very comfortable

Budget breakdown — $50K in both cities

What $50K actually buys you in each city after taxes and core expenses.

Expense
Sofia
$50K
Medellín
$50K (same salary)
Monthly take-home$2,744$3,160
1BR rent$540$500
Groceries$380$380
Transport$150$150
Utilities$75$55
Internet$20$30
Left after essentials$1,579/month$2,045/month
To match your Sofia purchasing power in Medellín, you'd need to earn $36,458/year (27% less than $50K). At that salary, you'd have $1,372/mo left after essentials — vs $1,579/mo in Sofia.

Frequently asked questions

What is $50K in Sofia equivalent to in Medellín?

$50K in Sofia (COL index 48) has the same purchasing power as $36,458 in Medellín (COL index 35). That's 27% less than your current salary.

If I move from Sofia to Medellín keeping my $50K salary, will I be better off?

Yes. If you keep earning $50K after moving to Medellín, you'd have $466 more per month after core expenses — because Medellín is cheaper than Sofia.

How is the salary equivalent calculated?

The equivalent salary is calculated by multiplying your current salary by the ratio of the two cities' overall cost of living indices: $50K × (35 ÷ 48) = $36,458. This adjusts for differences in housing, food, transport, and general cost of living.

Equivalency uses overall COL index ratio. Take-home uses simplified federal/state brackets. Zillow · BLS · Numbeo · Q1 2026 · For general guidance only