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 $900 per month in Shumen vs $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,382 per month in Shumen vs $2,126 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,865 per month in Shumen vs $2,980 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

$9.51 BGN 15.82

$11.87 MX$204

-19.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.11 BGN 48.42

$42.90 MX$736

-32.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.73 BGN 14.53

$10.65 MX$183

-18.03%

Cappuccino

$1.63 BGN 2.71

$3.45 MX$59.2

-52.75%

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

$1.33 BGN 2.21

$1.50 MX$25.81

-11.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.65 BGN 1.08

$0.95 MX$16.28

-31.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.00 BGN 3.33

$3.03 MX$51.9

-33.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 BGN 3.86

$4.61 MX$79.1

-49.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 BGN 2.82

$1.38 MX$23.61

23.19%

White Bread (500g)

$0.96 BGN 1.60

$1.85 MX$31.70

-48.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.94 BGN 3.23

$1.61 MX$27.65

20.50%

Eggs

$3.02 BGN 5.02

$2.59 MX$44.51

16.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.18 BGN 15.27

$8.26 MX$142

11.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.80 BGN 9.64

$8.37 MX$144

-30.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.75 BGN 19.55

$10.66 MX$183

10.23%

Apples (1kg)

$1.77 BGN 2.94

$2.63 MX$45.12

-32.70%

Banana (1kg)

$2.06 BGN 3.43

$1.49 MX$25.53

38.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.02 BGN 3.36

$1.92 MX$32.94

5.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.27 BGN 3.77

$2.09 MX$35.81

8.61%

Potato (1kg)

$1.44 BGN 2.39

$1.86 MX$31.88

-22.58%

Onion (1kg)

$1.37 BGN 2.29

$2.26 MX$38.81

-39.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 BGN 1.52

$1.06 MX$18.23

-13.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 BGN 1.23

$1.09 MX$18.67

-32.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.69 BGN 6.15

$4.15 MX$71.2

-11.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.18 BGN 11.95

$10.39 MX$178

-30.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 BGN 1.67

$1.72 MX$29.59

-41.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 BGN 2.67

$2.61 MX$44.85

-38.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.95 BGN 1.59

$0.54 MX$9.30

75.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.38 BGN 43.88

$26.94 MX$462

-2.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.26 BGN 2.09

$3.13 MX$53.7

-59.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 BGN 0.55

$2.51 MX$43.09

-86.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.25 BGN 22.04

$3.15 MX$54.1

320.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.50 BGN 2.49

$1.27 MX$21.88

18.11%

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

$32.5K BGN 54.1K

$30.4K MX$521.3K

7.01%

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

$26.0K BGN 43.3K

$23.6K MX$404.5K

10.44%

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

$96.0 BGN 160

$83.0 MX$1,425

15.64%

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

$16.63 BGN 27.66

$22.71 MX$390

-26.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.04 BGN 23.35

$29.46 MX$506

-52.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.48 BGN 67.3

$51.0 MX$875

-20.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.02 BGN 20.00

$18.33 MX$315

-34.42%

Cinema Ticket

$7.27 BGN 12.10

$4.93 MX$84.5

47.46%

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

$238 BGN 397

$197 MX$3,386

20.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K BGN 17.5K

$5,280 MX$90.6K

99.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.2 BGN 90.2

$36.90 MX$633

46.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.69 BGN 69.4

$39.89 MX$685

4.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.9 BGN 136

$80.0 MX$1,373

2.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.7 BGN 119

$89.5 MX$1,536

-19.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$280 BGN 465

$956 MX$16.4K

-70.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$194 BGN 322

$477 MX$8,189

-59.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$509 BGN 846

$1,646 MX$28.3K

-69.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$328 BGN 546

$1,225 MX$21.0K

-73.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,266 BGN 2,106

$3,918 MX$67.2K

-67.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,051 BGN 1,748

$6,459 MX$110.9K

-83.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,044 BGN 1,737

$667 MX$11.4K

56.52%

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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $280 in Shumen versus $956 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 57% 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 $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $221 vs $250 – 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 41%, 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 $1,350 per month in Shumen and $1,906 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 $900 in Shumen and $1,271 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 $900, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. 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.