Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Varna Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Varna

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,472 in Mexico City versus $1,223 in Varna.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,359 in Mexico City versus $1,849 in Varna.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,245 in Mexico City versus $2,476 in Varna.

Living in Mexico City is roughly 20% more expensive than in Varna, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 11% above, Varna is 8% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Varna
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.14 MX$229
$11.69 BGN 19.45
12.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.5 MX$934
$47.30 BGN 78.7
13.17%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.33 MX$163
$9.07 BGN 15.09
2.87%
Cappuccino
$3.70 MX$64.5
$2.47 BGN 4.12
49.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60 MX$27.98
$1.73 BGN 2.87
-7.51%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12 MX$19.49
$1.32 BGN 2.19
-15.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.14 MX$54.7
$2.89 BGN 4.80
8.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.85 MX$84.5
$2.93 BGN 4.88
65.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Varna
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 MX$28.84
$1.79 BGN 2.98
-7.82%
White Bread (500g)
$2.71 MX$47.34
$1.03 BGN 1.71
163.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.91 MX$33.29
$2.44 BGN 4.05
-21.72%
Eggs
$2.59 MX$45.17
$3.44 BGN 5.73
-24.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.81 MX$171
$10.79 BGN 17.95
-9.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.43 MX$147
$8.10 BGN 13.47
4.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.93 MX$208
$12.26 BGN 20.40
-2.69%
Apples (1kg)
$2.95 MX$51.5
$1.69 BGN 2.80
74.56%
Banana (1kg)
$1.74 MX$30.35
$2.04 BGN 3.40
-14.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.04 MX$35.66
$1.87 BGN 3.10
9.09%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.06 MX$35.93
$2.73 BGN 4.54
-24.54%
Potato (1kg)
$2.15 MX$37.49
$1.20 BGN 2.00
79.17%
Onion (1kg)
$2.26 MX$39.33
$1.14 BGN 1.89
98.25%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.39 MX$24.17
$1.00 BGN 1.66
39.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12 MX$19.47
$0.74 BGN 1.23
51.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.22 MX$73.6
$3.74 BGN 6.22
12.83%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.51 MX$305
$8.68 BGN 14.44
101.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 MX$29.82
$1.11 BGN 1.85
54.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 MX$63.4
$1.91 BGN 3.18
90.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Varna
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.35 MX$6.15
$1.16 BGN 1.93
-69.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.32 MX$337
$29.23 BGN 48.62
-33.90%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.38 MX$24.00
$1.35 BGN 2.25
2.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.28 MX$4.81
$0.72 BGN 1.19
-61.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.28 MX$92.0
$12.42 BGN 20.67
-57.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 MX$23.69
$1.50 BGN 2.50
-9.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.1K MX$333.2K
$32.3K BGN 53.8K
-40.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6K MX$411.7K
$29.5K BGN 49.1K
-19.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Varna
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.53 MX$707
$124 BGN 207
-67.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.38 MX$478
$18.60 BGN 30.94
47.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38 MX$530
$15.89 BGN 26.43
91.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Varna
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.2 MX$911
$41.68 BGN 69.3
25.29%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.48 MX$462
$14.85 BGN 24.70
78.32%
Cinema Ticket
$6.19 MX$108
$8.94 BGN 14.87
-30.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Varna
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$425 MX$7,414
$413 BGN 687
2.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K MX$187.2K
$5,503 BGN 9,156
95.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Varna
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.3 MX$1,017
$60.4 BGN 100
-3.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.57 MX$777
$33.21 BGN 55.3
34.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 MX$1,805
$92.6 BGN 154
11.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 MX$1,897
$102 BGN 170
6.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Varna
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,014 MX$17.7K
$510 BGN 848
98.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$623 MX$10.9K
$389 BGN 647
60.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,119 MX$37.0K
$893 BGN 1,485
137.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,223 MX$21.3K
$650 BGN 1,082
88.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,792 MX$66.1K
$3,269 BGN 5,438
16.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,110 MX$36.8K
$2,167 BGN 3,606
-2.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Varna
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,052 MX$18.4K
$1,207 BGN 2,008
-12.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.34
4.71
140.76%

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

Last update for Mexico City: July 25, 2026

Last update for Varna: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,014 in Mexico City and $510 in Varna. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Varna pays 15% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $47.00 in Varna for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $249 per month, with Varna 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 Varna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Varna?
Mexico City and Varna differ by about 20% in total monthly costs ($1,472 vs $1,223 including rent). Varna 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 15% lower in Varna. 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: $1,014 in Mexico City versus $510 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 Varna runs roughly 51% 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 Varna?
Childcare runs $425 in Mexico City versus $413 in Varna. 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 $1,223 in Varna versus $1,472 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Varna but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Varna the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
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.
Is Mexico City or Varna safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Varna 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 Varna?
Expats usually find Varna gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% 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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