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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $942 per month in Shumen vs $1,650 in Sofia, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,463 per month in Shumen vs $2,556 in Sofia, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,984 per month in Shumen vs $3,462 in Sofia, rent included.

Shumen is about 43% cheaper than Sofia, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Shumen sits 31% below the global median, while Sofia is 20% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.62 BGN 16.00

$17.41 BGN 28.96

-44.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.55 BGN 59.2

$65.4 BGN 109

-45.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.22 BGN 15.34

$12.17 BGN 20.25

-24.24%

Cappuccino

$1.81 BGN 3.01

$3.63 BGN 6.05

-50.14%

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

$1.56 BGN 2.60

$2.36 BGN 3.92

-33.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.06 BGN 1.76

$1.95 BGN 3.24

-45.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.96 BGN 4.92

$3.54 BGN 5.89

-16.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 BGN 5.02

$4.56 BGN 7.59

-33.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.86 BGN 3.09

$2.01 BGN 3.35

-7.46%

White Bread (500g)

$1.12 BGN 1.86

$1.62 BGN 2.69

-30.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.59 BGN 4.31

$2.42 BGN 4.02

7.02%

Eggs

$2.95 BGN 4.91

$4.41 BGN 7.33

-33.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.49 BGN 15.78

$11.80 BGN 19.64

-19.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.11 BGN 8.50

$9.25 BGN 15.39

-44.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.43 BGN 15.69

$17.23 BGN 28.66

-45.27%

Apples (1kg)

$1.66 BGN 2.76

$2.17 BGN 3.61

-23.50%

Banana (1kg)

$2.14 BGN 3.57

$2.05 BGN 3.41

4.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.24 BGN 3.73

$1.93 BGN 3.21

16.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.27 BGN 3.78

$4.22 BGN 7.03

-46.21%

Potato (1kg)

$2.18 BGN 3.63

$1.15 BGN 1.91

89.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.30 BGN 2.16

$1.00 BGN 1.66

30.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.86 BGN 1.43

$1.18 BGN 1.97

-27.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 BGN 1.41

$0.90 BGN 1.50

-5.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.79 BGN 6.31

$4.33 BGN 7.21

-12.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.57 BGN 12.59

$7.69 BGN 12.80

-1.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.95 BGN 1.57

$1.21 BGN 2.00

-21.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 BGN 2.54

$1.85 BGN 3.08

-17.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.99 BGN 1.64

$0.92 BGN 1.52

7.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.74 BGN 44.48

$30.12 BGN 50.1

-11.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.75 BGN 2.90

$1.88 BGN 3.12

-6.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.52 BGN 0.86

$0.91 BGN 1.52

-42.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.21 BGN 26.96

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.61 BGN 2.68

$1.76 BGN 2.94

-8.52%

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

$31.5K BGN 52.4K

$31.4K BGN 52.2K

0.30%

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

$23.5K BGN 39.1K

$27.4K BGN 45.6K

-14.19%

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

$138 BGN 229

$170 BGN 283

-18.97%

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

$18.52 BGN 30.81

$22.02 BGN 36.64

-15.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.87 BGN 29.73

$15.43 BGN 25.67

15.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.41 BGN 65.6

$47.50 BGN 79.0

-17.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.77 BGN 19.58

$29.53 BGN 49.13

-60.14%

Cinema Ticket

$7.20 BGN 11.98

$10.33 BGN 17.18

-30.30%

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

$594 BGN 988

$799 BGN 1,330

-25.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.8K BGN 18.0K

$13.4K BGN 22.2K

-19.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.80 BGN 82.9

$88.5 BGN 147

-43.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 BGN 87.4

$42.54 BGN 70.8

23.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.7 BGN 163

$108 BGN 179

-9.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$62.9 BGN 105

$112 BGN 187

-43.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$278 BGN 463

$784 BGN 1,305

-64.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$186 BGN 309

$622 BGN 1,034

-70.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$452 BGN 752

$1,576 BGN 2,622

-71.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$340 BGN 565

$1,073 BGN 1,785

-68.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,280 BGN 2,129

$4,637 BGN 7,714

-72.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,059 BGN 1,763

$3,355 BGN 5,581

-68.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,046 BGN 1,740

$1,742 BGN 2,898

-39.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.25

2.9

12.07%

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

Last update for Shumen: September 1, 2026

Last update for Sofia: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $278 in Shumen versus $784 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 67% 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 $36.00 in Shumen versus $65.0 in Sofia. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $221 vs $295 – 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: $942 in Shumen, $1,650 in Sofia – roughly 75% apart. Sofia costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,413 per month in Shumen and $2,475 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 $942 in Shumen and $1,650 in Sofia. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 13% 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 $942, than in Sofia at $1,650. 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 $942 in Shumen to $1,650 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.