😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,448 in Mexico City versus $872 in Shumen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,354 in Mexico City versus $1,388 in Shumen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,260 in Mexico City versus $1,903 in Shumen.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 66% more expensive than Shumen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 9% above, Shumen is 35% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Shumen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.96MX$223
$9.76BGN 16.24
32.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.3MX$900
$29.12BGN 48.45
79.70%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.69MX$167
$9.09BGN 15.13
6.60%
Cappuccino
$3.75MX$64.6
$1.71BGN 2.84
119.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56MX$26.91
$1.33BGN 2.22
17.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16MX$19.93
$0.71BGN 1.18
63.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.24MX$55.8
$2.08BGN 3.46
55.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.90MX$84.3
$2.27BGN 3.78
115.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Shumen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.29
$1.62BGN 2.70
4.94%
White Bread(500g)
$2.67MX$45.90
$0.94BGN 1.57
184.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.89MX$32.49
$1.97BGN 3.27
-4.06%
Eggs
$2.52MX$43.37
$3.06BGN 5.10
-17.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.02MX$172
$9.16BGN 15.24
9.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.53MX$147
$5.67BGN 9.43
50.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94MX$205
$11.44BGN 19.03
4.37%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97MX$51.1
$1.71BGN 2.85
73.68%
Banana(1kg)
$1.79MX$30.88
$2.10BGN 3.50
-14.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.40
$2.09BGN 3.47
-4.31%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.96MX$33.74
$2.33BGN 3.88
-15.88%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.21
$1.50BGN 2.50
44.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.04
$1.33BGN 2.21
70.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.14
$0.93BGN 1.55
50.54%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.11MX$19.18
$0.80BGN 1.33
38.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20MX$72.2
$3.58BGN 5.95
17.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.54MX$285
$7.46BGN 12.41
121.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$28.94
$1.00BGN 1.67
68.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59MX$61.8
$1.60BGN 2.66
124.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Shumen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.65
$0.87BGN 1.45
-55.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.19MX$330
$26.10BGN 43.42
-26.48%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.77
$1.25BGN 2.08
10.40%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.19
$0.31BGN 0.51
-3.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.39MX$92.7
$12.97BGN 21.57
-58.44%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.29MX$22.13
$1.49BGN 2.48
-13.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KMX$325.1K
$32.6KBGN 54.3K
-42.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$409.5K
$25.8KBGN 42.9K
-7.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Shumen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$39.86MX$686
$94.7BGN 158
-57.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.83MX$479
$16.37BGN 27.23
70.01%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.77MX$512
$13.71BGN 22.80
117.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Shumen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$894
$39.89BGN 66.4
30.26%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.22MX$451
$11.60BGN 19.30
126.03%
Cinema Ticket
$6.27MX$108
$7.07BGN 11.76
-11.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Shumen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$433MX$7,443
$236BGN 393
83.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$181.3K
$10.5KBGN 17.5K
0.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Shumen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.0MX$981
$55.5BGN 92.3
2.74%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.33MX$780
$41.49BGN 69.0
9.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102MX$1,753
$80.7BGN 134
26.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109MX$1,867
$70.5BGN 117
54.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Shumen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$994MX$17.1K
$277BGN 460
259.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$617MX$10.6K
$194BGN 322
218.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,086MX$35.9K
$510BGN 848
309.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,256MX$21.6K
$329BGN 547
282.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,936MX$67.7K
$1,291BGN 2,147
204.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,089MX$35.9K
$1,045BGN 1,738
99.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Shumen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,131MX$19.5K
$1,052BGN 1,750
7.56%
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: June 14, 2026
Last update for Shumen: June 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $994 in Mexico City and $277 in Shumen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 8% 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: $52.0 in Mexico City vs $29.00 in Shumen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $221 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 66% in total monthly costs ($1,448 vs $872 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 8% 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: $994 in Mexico City versus $277 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 36% 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 $433 in Mexico City versus $236 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 $872 in Shumen versus $1,448 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 66% 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