Cost of Living Comparison Between Shumen and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Shumen and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $889 per month in Shumen vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,376 per month in Shumen vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,862 per month in Shumen vs $2,990 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Shumen is about 29% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Shumen and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Shumen 33% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.49 BGN 15.80

$11.72 MX$203

-19.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.38 BGN 48.87

$41.89 MX$725

-29.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.66 BGN 14.41

$10.51 MX$182

-17.60%

Cappuccino

$1.70 BGN 2.83

$3.59 MX$62.0

-52.65%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.37 BGN 2.28

$1.51 MX$26.10

-9.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 BGN 1.19

$0.92 MX$15.83

-22.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.01 BGN 3.34

$2.96 MX$51.2

-32.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 BGN 3.87

$4.41 MX$76.3

-47.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 BGN 2.73

$1.40 MX$24.16

17.14%

White Bread (500g)

$0.95 BGN 1.59

$1.88 MX$32.60

-49.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.91 BGN 3.18

$1.56 MX$26.97

22.44%

Eggs

$3.08 BGN 5.12

$2.61 MX$45.14

18.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.41 BGN 15.66

$8.32 MX$144

13.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 BGN 9.37

$8.35 MX$145

-32.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.73 BGN 19.51

$10.86 MX$188

8.01%

Apples (1kg)

$1.76 BGN 2.93

$2.71 MX$46.93

-35.06%

Banana (1kg)

$2.05 BGN 3.41

$1.51 MX$26.04

35.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.06 BGN 3.42

$1.87 MX$32.41

10.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 BGN 3.74

$2.19 MX$37.89

2.74%

Potato (1kg)

$1.45 BGN 2.42

$1.86 MX$32.14

-22.04%

Onion (1kg)

$1.33 BGN 2.21

$2.23 MX$38.59

-40.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.93 BGN 1.54

$1.07 MX$18.48

-13.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 BGN 1.31

$1.09 MX$18.79

-27.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.57 BGN 5.94

$4.19 MX$72.4

-14.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.22 BGN 12.00

$10.43 MX$180

-30.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 BGN 1.55

$1.66 MX$28.68

-43.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 BGN 2.68

$2.61 MX$45.19

-38.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 BGN 1.45

$0.54 MX$9.37

61.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.71 BGN 44.44

$26.16 MX$453

2.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.25 BGN 2.08

$3.08 MX$53.3

-59.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 BGN 0.51

$2.40 MX$41.61

-87.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.36 BGN 22.22

$3.13 MX$54.1

326.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 BGN 2.47

$1.31 MX$22.69

13.74%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$32.0K BGN 53.2K

$29.8K MX$515.7K

7.22%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.2K BGN 41.9K

$23.3K MX$403.5K

7.97%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$96.4 BGN 160

$81.3 MX$1,406

18.54%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$16.33 BGN 27.16

$22.56 MX$390

-27.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.90 BGN 23.13

$30.05 MX$520

-53.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.73 BGN 66.1

$52.9 MX$915

-24.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.67 BGN 19.41

$18.39 MX$318

-36.54%

Cinema Ticket

$6.94 BGN 11.54

$4.92 MX$85.1

41.06%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$237 BGN 394

$201 MX$3,474

18.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K BGN 17.6K

$5,175 MX$89.5K

104.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.5 BGN 90.6

$35.92 MX$622

51.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.57 BGN 69.2

$40.13 MX$694

3.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.1 BGN 138

$79.7 MX$1,379

4.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 BGN 120

$86.5 MX$1,496

-16.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$272 BGN 452

$978 MX$16.9K

-72.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$189 BGN 314

$470 MX$8,140

-59.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$508 BGN 844

$1,651 MX$28.6K

-69.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$326 BGN 542

$1,203 MX$20.8K

-72.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,289 BGN 2,144

$3,953 MX$68.4K

-67.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,017 BGN 1,691

$6,607 MX$114.3K

-84.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,034 BGN 1,719

$677 MX$11.7K

52.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.57

11.42

-59.98%

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

Last update for Shumen: July 26, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $272 in Shumen versus $978 in Playa del Carmen. 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 $29.00 in Shumen versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $221 vs $252 – 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 Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 42%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,334 per month in Shumen and $1,890 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $889 in Shumen and $1,260 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 2% less in Shumen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Shumen, where all-in costs run around $889, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. In Shumen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Shumen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.