Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Shumen

For one person, living is cheaper in Shumen: $906 a month against $1,567 in Mexico City, rent and utilities included – about $7,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Mexico City
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,567
/mo nomad
Shumen
🇧🇬 Bulgaria
$906
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Mexico City and in Shumen

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,567 in Mexico City versus $906 in Shumen.

  • Mexico City $1,567
  • Shumen $906

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,450 in Mexico City versus $1,409 in Shumen.

  • Mexico City $2,450
  • Shumen $1,409

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,333 in Mexico City versus $1,912 in Shumen.

  • Mexico City $3,333
  • Shumen $1,912

Living in Mexico City is roughly 73% more expensive than in Shumen, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 16% above, Shumen is 33% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Shumen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.75 MX$199
$9.24 BGN 16.07
16.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.3 MX$929
$33.55 BGN 58.4
49.78%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.10 MX$205
$8.87 BGN 15.44
25.14%
Cappuccino
$3.68 MX$68.1
$1.73 BGN 3.01
112.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 MX$30.42
$1.48 BGN 2.58
11.49%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30 MX$24.08
$1.00 BGN 1.75
30.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.32 MX$61.3
$2.92 BGN 5.08
13.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.54 MX$102
$2.83 BGN 4.93
95.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Shumen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.77 MX$32.68
$1.81 BGN 3.15
-2.21%
White Bread (500g)
$3.05 MX$56.4
$1.03 BGN 1.79
196.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.01 MX$37.20
$2.43 BGN 4.22
-17.28%
Eggs
$2.77 MX$51.1
$2.88 BGN 5.02
-3.82%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.91 MX$220
$8.90 BGN 15.49
33.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.33 MX$172
$5.08 BGN 8.85
83.66%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.02 MX$278
$8.75 BGN 15.23
71.66%
Apples (1kg)
$3.08 MX$56.8
$1.50 BGN 2.62
105.33%
Banana (1kg)
$1.95 MX$35.97
$2.06 BGN 3.58
-5.34%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.03 MX$37.54
$2.18 BGN 3.80
-6.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.21 MX$40.92
$2.27 BGN 3.95
-2.64%
Potato (1kg)
$2.02 MX$37.41
$2.04 BGN 3.54
-0.98%
Onion (1kg)
$1.82 MX$33.67
$1.31 BGN 2.28
38.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.52 MX$28.07
$0.83 BGN 1.44
83.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 MX$23.65
$0.75 BGN 1.30
70.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.27 MX$97.4
$3.68 BGN 6.41
43.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.12 MX$298
$7.18 BGN 12.50
124.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.95 MX$36.05
$0.95 BGN 1.66
105.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.25 MX$78.6
$1.40 BGN 2.44
203.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Shumen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.31 MX$5.82
$0.94 BGN 1.64
-67.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.85 MX$367
$25.92 BGN 45.10
-23.42%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.00 MX$36.93
$1.75 BGN 3.04
14.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 MX$9.86
$0.48 BGN 0.84
10.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.62 MX$104
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 MX$28.07
$1.52 BGN 2.64
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K MX$388.7K
$30.3K BGN 52.8K
-30.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.2K MX$465.3K
$22.2K BGN 38.6K
13.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Shumen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.5 MX$1,155
$133 BGN 231
-52.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.77 MX$532
$17.28 BGN 30.07
66.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.45 MX$637
$17.28 BGN 30.06
99.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Shumen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.1 MX$1,055
$38.57 BGN 67.1
48.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.81 MX$458
$11.34 BGN 19.72
118.78%
Cinema Ticket
$6.67 MX$123
$6.79 BGN 11.82
-1.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Shumen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$431 MX$7,964
$570 BGN 991
-24.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.7K MX$216.9K
$10.2K BGN 17.8K
14.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Shumen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.8 MX$1,308
$48.34 BGN 84.1
46.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.8 MX$958
$51.3 BGN 89.2
1.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$109 MX$2,011
$94.1 BGN 164
15.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112 MX$2,076
$60.2 BGN 105
86.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Shumen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,051 MX$19.4K
$262 BGN 455
301.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$665 MX$12.3K
$176 BGN 306
278.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,346 MX$43.3K
$430 BGN 748
445.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,227 MX$22.7K
$326 BGN 567
276.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,554 MX$65.7K
$1,263 BGN 2,197
181.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,977 MX$36.5K
$986 BGN 1,716
100.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Shumen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$975 MX$18.0K
$1,004 BGN 1,747
-2.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.3
3.25
247.69%

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

Last update for Mexico City: October 11, 2026

Last update for Shumen: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
$665
Shumen
$176 73.6% $489
Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
$323
Shumen
$211 34.6% $112
Eating Out
Mexico City
$203
Shumen
$151 25.4% $52
Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
$155
Shumen
$114 26.1% $40
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
$126
Shumen
$167 33.1% $42
Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
$70
Shumen
$52 26% $18
Getting Around
Mexico City
$26
Shumen
$34 31.3% $8.1

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,051 in Mexico City and $262 in Shumen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Shumen pays 3% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $50.0 in Mexico City vs $34.00 in Shumen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $323 vs $211 per month, with Shumen cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Mexico City
🇧🇬 Shumen
🕒 Local time
14:59 2:59 PM
23:59 11:59 PM
9 h ahead of Mexico City
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
9,209,944 Capital
85,504
💱 Currency
Bulgarian Lev BGN лв.
Exchange rates and currency converter

BGN, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

Bulgarian Lev exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 1.74 BGN (1 BGN = 0.575 USD). 1 EUR = 1.96 BGN (1 BGN = 0.511 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Mexico City Shumen 11,140 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Mexico City
  • Shumen

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
Mexico City vs Shumen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Shumen?
Mexico City and Shumen differ by about 73% in total monthly costs ($1,567 vs $906 including rent). Shumen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 3% lower in Shumen. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Mexico City and in Shumen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,051 in Mexico City versus $262 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 in Shumen?
A monthly transit pass in Shumen runs roughly 31% 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 $431 in Mexico City versus $570 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 $906 in Shumen versus $1,567 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 73% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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