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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $943 per month in Shumen vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,474 per month in Shumen vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,005 per month in Shumen vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.

Shumen is about 44% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Shumen sits 31% below the global median, while Medellin is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shumen
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.72 BGN 16.18
$8.02 COP 25.0K
21.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.07 BGN 58.3
$47.87 COP 149.4K
-26.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.12 BGN 15.17
$9.89 COP 30.8K
-7.79%
Cappuccino
$1.81 BGN 3.00
$3.13 COP 9,767
-42.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 BGN 2.44
$1.91 COP 5,954
-23.04%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 BGN 1.74
$1.51 COP 4,712
-30.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.91 BGN 4.83
$3.12 COP 9,747
-6.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 BGN 4.82
$5.75 COP 17.9K
-49.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shumen
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.91 BGN 3.17
$1.44 COP 4,509
32.64%
White Bread (500g)
$1.12 BGN 1.86
$2.49 COP 7,759
-55.02%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.60 BGN 4.33
$1.77 COP 5,535
46.89%
Eggs
$2.98 BGN 4.96
$2.96 COP 9,235
0.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.57 BGN 15.91
$10.07 COP 31.4K
-4.97%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.06 BGN 8.42
$10.12 COP 31.6K
-50.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.18 BGN 15.27
$14.30 COP 44.6K
-35.80%
Apples (1kg)
$1.56 BGN 2.60
$4.14 COP 12.9K
-62.32%
Banana (1kg)
$2.12 BGN 3.53
$1.61 COP 5,019
31.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.19 BGN 3.64
$2.25 COP 7,007
-2.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.27 BGN 3.78
$2.25 COP 7,028
0.89%
Potato (1kg)
$2.09 BGN 3.47
$2.04 COP 6,375
2.45%
Onion (1kg)
$1.32 BGN 2.20
$1.54 COP 4,790
-14.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.83 BGN 1.38
$1.17 COP 3,651
-29.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 BGN 1.31
$1.31 COP 4,077
-40.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.74 BGN 6.22
$3.90 COP 12.2K
-4.10%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.18 BGN 11.95
$14.01 COP 43.7K
-48.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.99 BGN 1.65
$1.74 COP 5,439
-43.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46 BGN 2.44
$2.87 COP 8,956
-49.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Shumen
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.92 BGN 1.53
$1.22 COP 3,792
-24.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.37 BGN 43.86
$80.5 COP 251.1K
-67.23%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.79 BGN 2.98
$1.31 COP 4,084
36.64%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.52 BGN 0.86
$2.19 COP 6,825
-76.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$8.71 COP 27.2K
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.58 BGN 2.62
$1.37 COP 4,260
15.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.9K BGN 53.0K
$27.8K COP 86.9M
14.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1K BGN 38.5K
$35.8K COP 111.6M
-35.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shumen
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$136 BGN 226
$177 COP 553.2K
-23.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.06 BGN 30.05
$13.88 COP 43.3K
30.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.42 BGN 28.98
$29.72 COP 92.8K
-41.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shumen
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.40 BGN 67.2
$44.88 COP 140.1K
-9.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.74 BGN 19.53
$17.12 COP 53.4K
-31.43%
Cinema Ticket
$6.99 BGN 11.62
$6.65 COP 20.7K
5.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shumen
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$588 BGN 979
$813 COP 2.5M
-27.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.6K BGN 17.6K
$9,187 COP 28.7M
14.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shumen
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.68 BGN 82.6
$89.5 COP 279.3K
-44.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.8 BGN 86.2
$59.0 COP 184.0K
-12.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.2 BGN 157
$138 COP 431.2K
-31.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$63.7 BGN 106
$102 COP 318.7K
-37.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shumen
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$276 BGN 459
$1,062 COP 3.3M
-74.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$186 BGN 310
$663 COP 2.1M
-71.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$439 BGN 730
$1,888 COP 5.9M
-76.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$341 BGN 567
$1,027 COP 3.2M
-66.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,261 BGN 2,098
$4,183 COP 13.1M
-69.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,030 BGN 1,714
$1,675 COP 5.2M
-38.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shumen
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,035 BGN 1,722
$678 COP 2.1M
52.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.25
10.94
-70.29%

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

Last update for Shumen: September 13, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $276 in Shumen versus $1,062 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 53% 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 $35.00 in Shumen versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $219 vs $305 – making Shumen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 78%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,414 per month in Shumen and $2,521 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 in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Shumen and $48.00 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 and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $943 in Shumen and $1,681 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 living in Shumen or in Medellin?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Shumen, where all-in costs run around $943, than in Medellin at $1,681. 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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