🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $761 in Sliven versus $1,467 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,207 in Sliven versus $2,371 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,653 in Sliven versus $3,274 in Mexico City.
🙂Living in Sliven costs roughly 48% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Sliven is 43% below, Mexico City is 10% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sliven
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.77BGN 14.59
$13.18MX$228
-33.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.75BGN 59.5
$53.9MX$932
-33.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.71BGN 14.49
$9.42MX$163
-7.54%
Cappuccino
$1.84BGN 3.06
$3.55MX$61.4
-48.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27BGN 2.11
$1.62MX$27.98
-21.60%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91BGN 1.51
$1.11MX$19.27
-18.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.74BGN 2.90
$3.12MX$54.0
-44.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29BGN 3.81
$4.63MX$80.1
-50.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sliven
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.59BGN 2.64
$1.70MX$29.43
-6.47%
White Bread(500g)
$0.80BGN 1.33
$2.72MX$47.02
-70.59%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.21BGN 3.68
$1.91MX$33.07
15.71%
Eggs
$2.15BGN 3.57
$2.54MX$43.86
-15.35%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.08BGN 13.44
$10.03MX$174
-19.44%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.51BGN 9.16
$8.09MX$140
-31.89%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.94BGN 11.54
$11.62MX$201
-40.28%
Apples(1kg)
$1.45BGN 2.40
$2.97MX$51.3
-51.18%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72BGN 2.86
$1.81MX$31.24
-4.97%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.48BGN 2.47
$2.01MX$34.82
-26.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26BGN 3.75
$2.03MX$35.20
11.33%
Potato(1kg)
$0.51BGN 0.85
$2.12MX$36.75
-75.94%
Onion(1kg)
$0.90BGN 1.51
$2.27MX$39.25
-60.35%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.05BGN 1.74
$1.40MX$24.22
-25.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48BGN 0.79
$1.13MX$19.55
-57.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.53BGN 5.87
$4.27MX$73.9
-17.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.20BGN 10.31
$15.56MX$269
-60.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.04BGN 1.74
$1.76MX$30.39
-40.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27BGN 2.12
$3.60MX$62.2
-64.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Sliven
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.74BGN 1.23
$0.38MX$6.62
94.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$36.12BGN 60.1
$19.18MX$332
88.32%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.16BGN 1.94
$1.38MX$23.79
-15.94%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.77BGN 1.29
$0.28MX$4.78
175.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.96BGN 14.90
$5.45MX$94.2
64.40%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.43BGN 2.37
$1.30MX$22.55
10.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.9KBGN 53.1K
$18.7KMX$323.2K
70.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.8KBGN 46.2K
$23.1KMX$400.1K
20.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sliven
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$89.0BGN 148
$40.86MX$707
117.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.99BGN 29.94
$26.81MX$464
-32.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.21BGN 15.33
$29.96MX$518
-69.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sliven
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.18BGN 38.57
$52.0MX$900
-55.44%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.92BGN 24.82
$26.84MX$464
-44.41%
Cinema Ticket
$6.03BGN 10.04
$6.30MX$109
-4.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sliven
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$422BGN 703
$436MX$7,544
-3.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,038BGN 11.7K
$10.4KMX$180.2K
-32.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sliven
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0BGN 99.8
$56.7MX$980
5.91%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.21BGN 38.62
$44.38MX$768
-47.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$69.6BGN 116
$103MX$1,780
-32.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.6BGN 107
$106MX$1,825
-38.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sliven
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$233BGN 387
$1,022MX$17.7K
-77.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$150BGN 249
$631MX$10.9K
-76.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$336BGN 559
$2,136MX$36.9K
-84.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$269BGN 447
$1,243MX$21.5K
-78.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,181BGN 1,965
$3,903MX$67.5K
-69.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$965BGN 1,605
$2,064MX$35.7K
-53.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sliven
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,395BGN 2,320
$1,115MX$19.3K
25.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.25
11.34
-62.52%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sliven: June 1, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $233 in Sliven and $1,022 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Sliven pays 25% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $36.00 in Sliven vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $182 vs $288 per month, with Sliven cheaper across the board.
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
Sliven vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Sliven and Mexico City?
Sliven and Mexico City differ by about 93% in total monthly costs ($761 vs $1,467 including rent). Sliven is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Sliven or Mexico City?
Sliven pays 25% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Sliven and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $233 in Sliven versus $1,022 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Sliven and Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Sliven runs roughly 88% less than in Mexico City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Sliven and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $422 in Sliven versus $436 in Mexico City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $761 in Sliven versus $1,467 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Sliven but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Sliven the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Sliven and Mexico City?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Sliven or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Sliven and Mexico City are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Sliven or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Sliven gentler on the wallet – expenses run 93% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.