Cost of Living Comparison Between Shumen and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Shumen and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $872 per month in Shumen vs $1,028 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,388 per month in Shumen vs $1,586 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,903 per month in Shumen vs $2,144 in Medellin, rent included.

Shumen is about 15% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Shumen and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Shumen 35% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shumen
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.76 BGN 16.24
$6.00 COP 20.6K
62.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.12 BGN 48.45
$32.84 COP 112.5K
-11.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.09 BGN 15.13
$7.42 COP 25.4K
22.51%
Cappuccino
$1.71 BGN 2.84
$1.65 COP 5,659
3.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33 BGN 2.22
$1.07 COP 3,663
24.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 BGN 1.18
$0.76 COP 2,607
-6.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.08 BGN 3.46
$1.72 COP 5,908
20.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 BGN 3.78
$3.20 COP 11.0K
-29.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shumen
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.62 BGN 2.70
$1.05 COP 3,597
54.29%
White Bread (500g)
$0.94 BGN 1.57
$1.31 COP 4,479
-28.24%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.97 BGN 3.27
$1.34 COP 4,591
47.01%
Eggs
$3.06 BGN 5.10
$2.19 COP 7,521
39.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.16 BGN 15.24
$4.41 COP 15.1K
107.71%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.67 BGN 9.43
$5.69 COP 19.5K
-0.35%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.44 BGN 19.03
$8.52 COP 29.2K
34.27%
Apples (1kg)
$1.71 BGN 2.85
$2.34 COP 8,023
-26.92%
Banana (1kg)
$2.10 BGN 3.50
$1.11 COP 3,804
89.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.09 BGN 3.47
$1.52 COP 5,210
37.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 BGN 3.88
$1.37 COP 4,680
70.07%
Potato (1kg)
$1.50 BGN 2.50
$1.15 COP 3,950
30.43%
Onion (1kg)
$1.33 BGN 2.21
$1.18 COP 4,043
12.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.93 BGN 1.55
$0.84 COP 2,885
10.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 BGN 1.33
$0.86 COP 2,931
-6.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.58 BGN 5.95
$2.26 COP 7,753
58.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.46 BGN 12.41
$11.60 COP 39.8K
-35.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.00 BGN 1.67
$1.20 COP 4,109
-16.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60 BGN 2.66
$2.48 COP 8,484
-35.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Shumen
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.87 BGN 1.45
$0.79 COP 2,721
10.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.10 BGN 43.42
$40.83 COP 139.9K
-36.08%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.25 BGN 2.08
$1.47 COP 5,023
-14.97%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.31 BGN 0.51
$1.92 COP 6,568
-83.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$12.97 BGN 21.57
$7.77 COP 26.6K
66.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 BGN 2.48
$1.01 COP 3,464
47.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.6K BGN 54.3K
$17.7K COP 60.5M
84.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K BGN 42.9K
$26.5K COP 90.7M
-2.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shumen
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$94.7 BGN 158
$81.1 COP 277.9K
16.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.37 BGN 27.23
$9.43 COP 32.3K
73.59%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.71 BGN 22.80
$23.86 COP 81.8K
-42.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shumen
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.89 BGN 66.4
$25.99 COP 89.1K
53.48%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.60 BGN 19.30
$18.71 COP 64.1K
-38.00%
Cinema Ticket
$7.07 BGN 11.76
$4.09 COP 14.0K
72.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shumen
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$236 BGN 393
$315 COP 1.1M
-24.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.5K BGN 17.5K
$6,022 COP 20.6M
74.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shumen
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.5 BGN 92.3
$59.7 COP 204.6K
-7.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.49 BGN 69.0
$31.97 COP 109.6K
29.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.7 BGN 134
$101 COP 346.9K
-20.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.5 BGN 117
$105 COP 360.3K
-32.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shumen
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$277 BGN 460
$485 COP 1.7M
-42.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$194 BGN 322
$365 COP 1.3M
-46.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$510 BGN 848
$827 COP 2.8M
-38.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$329 BGN 547
$730 COP 2.5M
-55.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,291 BGN 2,147
$2,992 COP 10.3M
-56.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,045 BGN 1,738
$1,314 COP 4.5M
-20.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shumen
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,052 BGN 1,750
$551 COP 1.9M
90.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.57
13.43
-65.97%

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

Last update for Shumen: June 14, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $277 in Shumen versus $485 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 91% higher in Shumen, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $29.00 in Shumen versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $221 in Shumen vs $190 in Medellin – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Shumen vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Shumen?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 18%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,309 per month in Shumen and $1,542 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Shumen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Shumen or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $29.00 in Shumen and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Shumen vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $872 in Shumen and $1,028 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Shumen or Medellin?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Shumen, where all-in costs run around $872, than in Medellin at $1,028. In Shumen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Shumen or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Shumen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Shumen or Medellin?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Shumen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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