Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Varna

For one person, living is cheaper in Varna: $1,408 a month against $1,608 in Mexico City, rent and utilities included – about $2,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Mexico City, Mexico
Varna, Bulgaria
Mexico City
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,608
/mo nomad
Varna
🇧🇬 Bulgaria
$1,408
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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 Varna actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,608 in Mexico City versus $1,408 in Varna.

  • Mexico City $1,608
  • Varna $1,408

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,549 in Mexico City versus $2,217 in Varna.

  • Mexico City $2,549
  • Varna $2,217

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,490 in Mexico City versus $3,026 in Varna.

  • Mexico City $3,490
  • Varna $3,026

Living in Mexico City is roughly 14% more expensive than in Varna, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City 18% above, Varna 3% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Varna
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.62 MX$198
$12.46 BGN 21.94
-14.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.35 MX$901
$59.9 BGN 106
-19.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.35 MX$193
$10.16 BGN 17.87
1.87%
Cappuccino
$3.69 MX$68.8
$2.87 BGN 5.05
28.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 MX$31.07
$1.89 BGN 3.32
-11.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27 MX$23.59
$1.62 BGN 2.85
-21.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.19 MX$59.5
$2.81 BGN 4.94
13.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.31 MX$98.9
$3.50 BGN 6.15
51.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Varna
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 MX$32.15
$1.92 BGN 3.38
-10.42%
White Bread (500g)
$3.04 MX$56.7
$1.24 BGN 2.18
145.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.94 MX$36.19
$2.58 BGN 4.55
-24.81%
Eggs
$2.89 MX$53.8
$3.53 BGN 6.21
-18.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.97 MX$205
$11.53 BGN 20.30
-4.86%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.25 MX$172
$9.28 BGN 16.34
-0.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.13 MX$282
$13.97 BGN 24.60
8.30%
Apples (1kg)
$3.05 MX$56.8
$1.90 BGN 3.34
60.53%
Banana (1kg)
$1.94 MX$36.19
$2.16 BGN 3.81
-10.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.03 MX$37.75
$2.12 BGN 3.74
-4.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.31 MX$43.15
$3.00 BGN 5.28
-23.00%
Potato (1kg)
$2.04 MX$37.94
$1.30 BGN 2.29
56.92%
Onion (1kg)
$1.80 MX$33.55
$1.04 BGN 1.83
73.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.48 MX$27.58
$1.05 BGN 1.85
40.95%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 MX$23.63
$0.78 BGN 1.37
62.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.30 MX$98.9
$4.03 BGN 7.08
31.51%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.10 MX$300
$8.90 BGN 15.66
80.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.98 MX$36.97
$1.17 BGN 2.06
69.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.25 MX$79.3
$1.80 BGN 3.17
136.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Varna
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.31 MX$5.69
$1.13 BGN 1.99
-72.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.73 MX$368
$28.11 BGN 49.47
-29.81%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.84 MX$34.25
$1.56 BGN 2.75
17.95%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 MX$9.94
$0.88 BGN 1.55
-39.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.30 MX$98.7
$12.19 BGN 21.46
-56.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.51 MX$28.16
$1.74 BGN 3.07
-13.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K MX$405.5K
$29.6K BGN 52.0K
-26.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.0K MX$447.1K
$24.7K BGN 43.5K
-3.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Varna
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$63.0 MX$1,174
$176 BGN 310
-64.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.39 MX$511
$20.41 BGN 35.91
34.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.67 MX$665
$15.68 BGN 27.59
127.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Varna
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.9 MX$1,099
$51.4 BGN 90.5
14.62%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.64 MX$441
$19.47 BGN 34.26
21.42%
Cinema Ticket
$6.40 MX$119
$9.06 BGN 15.95
-29.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Varna
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$432 MX$8,045
$498 BGN 877
-13.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.4K MX$212.9K
$6,292 BGN 11.1K
81.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Varna
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.2 MX$1,272
$65.3 BGN 115
4.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.1 MX$990
$33.01 BGN 58.1
60.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$108 MX$2,009
$102 BGN 180
5.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117 MX$2,186
$99.7 BGN 175
17.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Varna
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,113 MX$20.8K
$640 BGN 1,126
74.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$710 MX$13.2K
$482 BGN 848
47.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,588 MX$48.2K
$1,362 BGN 2,397
90.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,406 MX$26.2K
$916 BGN 1,612
53.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,631 MX$67.7K
$2,998 BGN 5,276
21.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,135 MX$39.8K
$2,090 BGN 3,678
2.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Varna
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$946 MX$17.6K
$1,286 BGN 2,263
-26.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.35
2.82
302.48%

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

Last update for Mexico City: October 25, 2026

Last update for Varna: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
$710
Varna
$482 32.2% $229
Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
$320
Varna
$272 15% $48
Eating Out
Mexico City
$199
Varna
$200 0.5% $1
Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
$156
Varna
$135 13.3% $21
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
$126
Varna
$212 68.3% $86
Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
$72
Varna
$70 3.1% $2.2
Getting Around
Mexico City
$25
Varna
$39 51.7% $13

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,113 in Mexico City and $640 in Varna. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Varna pays 36% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $48 in Mexico City vs $60 in Varna. Groceries flip the comparison at $320 vs $272, with Varna cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Mexico City
🇧🇬 Varna
🕒 Local time
14:48 2:48 PM
22:48 10:48 PM
8 h ahead of Mexico City
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
9,209,944 Capital
348,058
💱 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 28, 2026: 1 USD = 18.64 MXN (100 MXN = 5.36 USD). 1 EUR = 20.75 MXN (100 MXN = 4.82 EUR).

Bulgarian Lev exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 1.76 BGN (1 BGN = 0.568 USD). 1 EUR = 1.96 BGN (1 BGN = 0.51 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Mexico City Varna 11,200 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Mexico City
  • Varna

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 Varna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Varna?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $1,608 in Mexico City and $1,408 in Varna, so Varna is about 12% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 26% lower in Mexico City. 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 Varna?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,113 in Mexico City versus $640 in Varna. 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 Varna?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 30% less than in Varna. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mexico City and Varna?
Childcare runs $432 in Mexico City versus $498 in Varna. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How far does $2,000 go in Mexico City compared to Varna?
Either city works on $2,000 a month, though Varna gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Varna?
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.

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