Cost of Living Comparison Between Shumen and Sofia Cost of Living Comparison Between Shumen and Sofia

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $891 per month in Shumen vs $1,365 in Sofia, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,377 per month in Shumen vs $2,143 in Sofia, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,864 per month in Shumen vs $2,922 in Sofia, rent included.

Shumen is about 35% cheaper than Sofia, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Shumen sits 33% below the global median, while Sofia is 2% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.76 BGN 16.23

$11.72 BGN 19.51

-16.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.74 BGN 49.47

$49.80 BGN 82.8

-40.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.80 BGN 14.64

$8.77 BGN 14.59

0.34%

Cappuccino

$1.66 BGN 2.77

$2.63 BGN 4.38

-36.88%

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

$1.36 BGN 2.27

$1.78 BGN 2.96

-23.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 BGN 1.18

$1.42 BGN 2.36

-50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.07 BGN 3.44

$2.96 BGN 4.92

-30.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 BGN 3.86

$3.27 BGN 5.43

-29.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.69 BGN 2.82

$1.86 BGN 3.09

-9.14%

White Bread (500g)

$0.88 BGN 1.46

$1.20 BGN 2.00

-26.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.96 BGN 3.25

$1.99 BGN 3.31

-1.51%

Eggs

$3.18 BGN 5.28

$3.96 BGN 6.58

-19.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.45 BGN 15.72

$12.18 BGN 20.26

-22.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.82 BGN 9.69

$8.72 BGN 14.51

-33.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.59 BGN 19.29

$12.98 BGN 21.60

-10.71%

Apples (1kg)

$1.71 BGN 2.85

$1.91 BGN 3.18

-10.47%

Banana (1kg)

$2.12 BGN 3.53

$1.96 BGN 3.27

8.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.01 BGN 3.34

$1.99 BGN 3.31

1.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 BGN 3.79

$2.75 BGN 4.57

-17.09%

Potato (1kg)

$1.51 BGN 2.51

$1.12 BGN 1.86

34.82%

Onion (1kg)

$1.31 BGN 2.18

$1.05 BGN 1.75

24.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 BGN 1.58

$1.19 BGN 1.98

-20.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 BGN 1.24

$0.66 BGN 1.10

12.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.58 BGN 5.96

$3.87 BGN 6.43

-7.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.12 BGN 11.84

$7.39 BGN 12.29

-3.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 BGN 1.70

$1.10 BGN 1.83

-7.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 BGN 2.65

$1.83 BGN 3.04

-13.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 BGN 1.56

$0.98 BGN 1.63

-4.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.34 BGN 43.82

$29.45 BGN 48.99

-10.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.27 BGN 2.12

$1.45 BGN 2.40

-12.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 BGN 0.51

$0.78 BGN 1.30

-60.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.84 BGN 21.36

$14.34 BGN 23.86

-10.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.53 BGN 2.55

$1.57 BGN 2.62

-2.55%

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

$32.6K BGN 54.2K

$32.1K BGN 53.3K

1.56%

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

$25.1K BGN 41.7K

$29.0K BGN 48.3K

-13.63%

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

$94.9 BGN 158

$150 BGN 249

-36.63%

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

$16.33 BGN 27.17

$17.78 BGN 29.57

-8.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.65 BGN 22.71

$15.40 BGN 25.62

-11.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.03 BGN 64.9

$43.98 BGN 73.2

-11.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.87 BGN 19.74

$21.48 BGN 35.73

-44.74%

Cinema Ticket

$7.02 BGN 11.68

$9.61 BGN 15.98

-26.95%

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

$238 BGN 396

$642 BGN 1,068

-62.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K BGN 17.6K

$9,298 BGN 15.5K

13.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 BGN 90.9

$71.9 BGN 120

-23.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.33 BGN 70.4

$35.78 BGN 59.5

18.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.8 BGN 139

$107 BGN 178

-21.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.5 BGN 119

$119 BGN 198

-39.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$278 BGN 462

$695 BGN 1,156

-59.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$190 BGN 316

$504 BGN 838

-62.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$495 BGN 823

$1,257 BGN 2,091

-60.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$323 BGN 537

$893 BGN 1,485

-63.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,274 BGN 2,120

$4,422 BGN 7,356

-71.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,015 BGN 1,689

$3,336 BGN 5,550

-69.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,019 BGN 1,696

$1,674 BGN 2,785

-39.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.57

3.09

47.90%

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

Last update for Shumen: July 11, 2026

Last update for Sofia: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $278 in Shumen versus $695 in Sofia. 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 64% higher in Sofia, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in Shumen versus $50.0 in Sofia. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $222 vs $259 – 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 Sofia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $891 in Shumen, $1,365 in Sofia – roughly 53% apart. Sofia costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,336 per month in Shumen and $2,047 in Sofia. 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 $891 in Shumen and $1,365 in Sofia. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 12% 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 $891, than in Sofia at $1,365. In Shumen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sofia it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Sofia has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $891 in Shumen to $1,365 in Sofia. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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, Sofia makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.