🙂A single person spends $889 per month in Shumen vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,376 per month in Shumen vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,862 per month in Shumen vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Shumen is about 11% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Shumen and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Shumen33% lower, Medellin25% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shumen
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.49BGN 15.80
$5.91COP 18.6K
60.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.38BGN 48.87
$32.96COP 103.8K
-10.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.66BGN 14.41
$7.43COP 23.4K
16.55%
Cappuccino
$1.70BGN 2.83
$1.65COP 5,207
3.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37BGN 2.28
$1.10COP 3,468
24.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71BGN 1.19
$0.78COP 2,458
-8.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.01BGN 3.34
$1.72COP 5,412
16.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33BGN 3.87
$3.18COP 10.0K
-26.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shumen
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64BGN 2.73
$1.10COP 3,474
49.09%
White Bread(500g)
$0.95BGN 1.59
$1.26COP 3,962
-24.60%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91BGN 3.18
$1.38COP 4,349
38.41%
Eggs
$3.08BGN 5.12
$2.18COP 6,858
41.28%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.41BGN 15.66
$4.49COP 14.1K
109.58%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.63BGN 9.37
$5.79COP 18.2K
-2.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.73BGN 19.51
$8.97COP 28.2K
30.77%
Apples(1kg)
$1.76BGN 2.93
$2.32COP 7,308
-24.14%
Banana(1kg)
$2.05BGN 3.41
$1.06COP 3,352
93.40%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.06BGN 3.42
$1.52COP 4,774
35.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25BGN 3.74
$1.36COP 4,270
65.44%
Potato(1kg)
$1.45BGN 2.42
$1.13COP 3,552
28.32%
Onion(1kg)
$1.33BGN 2.21
$1.17COP 3,689
13.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.93BGN 1.54
$0.90COP 2,838
3.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79BGN 1.31
$0.90COP 2,823
-12.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.57BGN 5.94
$2.23COP 7,034
60.09%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.22BGN 12.00
$12.12COP 38.2K
-40.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.93BGN 1.55
$1.19COP 3,743
-21.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61BGN 2.68
$2.48COP 7,815
-35.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Shumen
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.87BGN 1.45
$0.85COP 2,687
2.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.71BGN 44.44
$41.62COP 131.0K
-35.82%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.25BGN 2.08
$1.42COP 4,459
-11.97%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31BGN 0.51
$1.95COP 6,141
-84.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.36BGN 22.22
$7.89COP 24.8K
69.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49BGN 2.47
$0.99COP 3,118
50.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.0KBGN 53.2K
$17.6KCOP 55.4M
81.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.2KBGN 41.9K
$26.8KCOP 84.4M
-6.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shumen
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$96.4BGN 160
$83.0COP 261.4K
16.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.33BGN 27.16
$9.70COP 30.5K
68.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.90BGN 23.13
$23.52COP 74.1K
-40.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shumen
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.73BGN 66.1
$25.26COP 79.5K
57.28%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.67BGN 19.41
$19.10COP 60.1K
-38.90%
Cinema Ticket
$6.94BGN 11.54
$3.95COP 12.4K
75.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shumen
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$237BGN 394
$316COP 994.2K
-24.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.6KBGN 17.6K
$5,975COP 18.8M
76.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shumen
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.5BGN 90.6
$60.0COP 188.9K
-9.25%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.57BGN 69.2
$31.82COP 100.2K
30.64%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.1BGN 138
$102COP 320.1K
-18.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.2BGN 120
$107COP 338.3K
-32.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shumen
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$272BGN 452
$475COP 1.5M
-42.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$189BGN 314
$374COP 1.2M
-49.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$508BGN 844
$849COP 2.7M
-40.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$326BGN 542
$719COP 2.3M
-54.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,289BGN 2,144
$3,265COP 10.3M
-60.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,017BGN 1,691
$1,441COP 4.5M
-29.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shumen
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,034BGN 1,719
$624COP 2.0M
65.51%
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: July 26, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $272 in Shumen versus $475 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 66% 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 $193 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 13%, 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 $1,334 per month in Shumen and $1,504 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 $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 and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $889 in Shumen and $1,003 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 $889, than in Medellin at $1,003. 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.