😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,484 in Mexico City versus $878 in Shumen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,381 in Mexico City versus $1,375 in Shumen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,278 in Mexico City versus $1,872 in Shumen.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 69% more expensive than Shumen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 11% above, Shumen is 34% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Shumen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$227
$9.76BGN 16.30
32.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.1MX$929
$30.01BGN 50.1
76.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.72MX$170
$8.66BGN 14.47
12.24%
Cappuccino
$3.75MX$65.6
$1.66BGN 2.77
125.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57MX$27.46
$1.38BGN 2.30
13.77%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.76
$0.70BGN 1.16
61.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.18MX$55.7
$1.98BGN 3.31
60.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66MX$81.6
$2.37BGN 3.95
96.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Shumen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62MX$28.37
$1.68BGN 2.81
-3.57%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71MX$47.36
$0.96BGN 1.60
182.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88MX$32.89
$1.87BGN 3.13
0.53%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.90
$3.02BGN 5.04
-16.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$176
$9.69BGN 16.19
4.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$5.90BGN 9.85
40.51%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94MX$209
$11.53BGN 19.26
3.56%
Apples(1kg)
$2.86MX$50.1
$1.75BGN 2.93
63.43%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75MX$30.62
$2.07BGN 3.46
-15.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.48
$2.05BGN 3.42
1.46%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.97MX$34.46
$2.28BGN 3.81
-13.60%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.79
$1.50BGN 2.50
44.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.16
$1.38BGN 2.30
57.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39MX$24.34
$0.97BGN 1.62
43.30%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.69
$0.79BGN 1.31
41.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20MX$73.5
$3.63BGN 6.07
15.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.25MX$249
$7.27BGN 12.15
96.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.85
$1.00BGN 1.67
76.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68MX$64.5
$1.62BGN 2.70
127.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Shumen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.74
$0.89BGN 1.48
-56.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.66MX$327
$26.38BGN 44.06
-29.26%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.39MX$24.26
$1.26BGN 2.10
10.32%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.32
$0.31BGN 0.51
-3.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$94.9
$13.29BGN 22.20
-59.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35MX$23.63
$1.49BGN 2.49
-9.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KMX$330.5K
$32.6KBGN 54.5K
-42.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2KMX$405.2K
$25.6KBGN 42.8K
-9.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Shumen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.82MX$714
$95.1BGN 159
-57.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.50MX$481
$16.85BGN 28.14
63.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38MX$532
$14.05BGN 23.46
116.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Shumen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.4MX$935
$39.44BGN 65.9
35.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.30MX$460
$11.87BGN 19.82
121.57%
Cinema Ticket
$6.27MX$110
$7.17BGN 11.98
-12.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Shumen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,632
$235BGN 392
85.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$183.2K
$10.6KBGN 17.7K
-1.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Shumen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$993
$54.6BGN 91.2
3.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.79MX$784
$41.70BGN 69.6
7.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,799
$83.4BGN 139
23.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,888
$72.4BGN 121
48.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Shumen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,000MX$17.5K
$278BGN 464
260.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$620MX$10.9K
$189BGN 315
228.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,137MX$37.4K
$494BGN 826
332.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,235MX$21.6K
$324BGN 541
281.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,865MX$67.6K
$1,299BGN 2,169
197.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,332MX$40.8K
$1,039BGN 1,735
124.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Shumen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,067MX$18.7K
$1,053BGN 1,759
1.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
4.57
148.14%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026
Last update for Shumen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,000 in Mexico City and $278 in Shumen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 1% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $53.0 in Mexico City vs $30.00 in Shumen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 vs $223 per month, with Shumen cheaper across the board.
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
Mexico City vs Shumen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Shumen?
Mexico City and Shumen differ by about 69% in total monthly costs ($1,484 vs $878 including rent). Shumen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or Shumen?
Mexico City pays 1% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Mexico City and Shumen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,000 in Mexico City versus $278 in Shumen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and Shumen?
A monthly transit pass in Shumen runs roughly 41% less than in Mexico City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mexico City and Shumen?
Childcare runs $436 in Mexico City versus $235 in Shumen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $878 in Shumen versus $1,484 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Shumen but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Shumen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Shumen?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Mexico City or Shumen safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Shumen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Mexico City or Shumen?
Expats usually find Shumen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 69% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Mexico City vs other spots: cost of living compared