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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,373 per month in Sofia vs $873 in Shumen, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,132 per month in Sofia vs $1,369 in Shumen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,892 per month in Sofia vs $1,866 in Shumen, rent included.

Sofia costs about 57% more than Shumen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Sofia sits 2% above the global median, while Shumen is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.89 BGN 19.78

$9.58 BGN 15.94

24.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.6 BGN 84.2

$29.12 BGN 48.45

73.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.76 BGN 14.57

$9.01 BGN 14.98

-2.77%

Cappuccino

$2.60 BGN 4.32

$1.70 BGN 2.83

52.94%

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

$1.74 BGN 2.89

$1.33 BGN 2.21

30.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 BGN 2.38

$0.65 BGN 1.08

120.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.93 BGN 4.88

$2.07 BGN 3.44

41.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 BGN 5.37

$2.27 BGN 3.78

42.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 BGN 3.23

$1.62 BGN 2.70

19.75%

White Bread (500g)

$1.20 BGN 2.00

$0.90 BGN 1.50

33.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.99 BGN 3.31

$1.97 BGN 3.28

1.02%

Eggs

$3.82 BGN 6.35

$3.11 BGN 5.18

22.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.54 BGN 20.86

$9.30 BGN 15.47

34.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.74 BGN 14.55

$5.58 BGN 9.29

56.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.29 BGN 22.11

$11.47 BGN 19.08

15.87%

Apples (1kg)

$1.90 BGN 3.16

$1.70 BGN 2.83

11.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.90 BGN 3.16

$2.07 BGN 3.45

-8.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.00 BGN 3.33

$1.99 BGN 3.31

0.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.84 BGN 4.73

$2.27 BGN 3.77

25.11%

Potato (1kg)

$1.10 BGN 1.83

$1.50 BGN 2.49

-26.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 BGN 1.69

$1.31 BGN 2.18

-22.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 BGN 1.96

$0.91 BGN 1.52

29.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 BGN 1.10

$0.81 BGN 1.34

-18.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.81 BGN 6.33

$3.65 BGN 6.07

4.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.65 BGN 12.73

$7.30 BGN 12.14

4.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 BGN 1.82

$1.02 BGN 1.70

6.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 BGN 2.98

$1.62 BGN 2.70

10.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.92 BGN 1.53

$0.88 BGN 1.47

4.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.72 BGN 49.45

$26.63 BGN 44.31

11.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 BGN 2.48

$1.22 BGN 2.03

22.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 BGN 1.27

$0.33 BGN 0.55

130.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.34 BGN 23.86

$13.14 BGN 21.86

9.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.51 BGN 2.51

$1.49 BGN 2.48

1.34%

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

$32.5K BGN 54.0K

$32.2K BGN 53.6K

0.78%

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

$28.4K BGN 47.3K

$25.9K BGN 43.2K

9.51%

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

$154 BGN 256

$95.3 BGN 158

61.72%

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

$18.05 BGN 30.04

$16.45 BGN 27.36

9.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.97 BGN 24.90

$14.04 BGN 23.36

6.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.03 BGN 73.3

$39.97 BGN 66.5

10.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.88 BGN 36.40

$11.66 BGN 19.40

87.65%

Cinema Ticket

$9.24 BGN 15.37

$7.25 BGN 12.06

27.45%

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

$624 BGN 1,037

$232 BGN 386

168.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,327 BGN 15.5K

$10.6K BGN 17.6K

-11.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$71.3 BGN 119

$54.9 BGN 91.4

29.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.76 BGN 59.5

$42.37 BGN 70.5

-15.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 BGN 175

$80.7 BGN 134

30.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 BGN 198

$72.0 BGN 120

65.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$696 BGN 1,157

$281 BGN 468

147.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$501 BGN 834

$189 BGN 314

165.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,296 BGN 2,157

$502 BGN 835

158.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$910 BGN 1,513

$331 BGN 550

174.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,510 BGN 7,502

$1,308 BGN 2,176

244.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,161 BGN 5,258

$1,031 BGN 1,716

206.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,674 BGN 2,786

$1,056 BGN 1,756

58.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.09

4.57

-32.39%

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

Last update for Sofia: May 30, 2026

Last update for Shumen: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $696 in Sofia versus $281 in Shumen. 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 59% 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 $51.0 in Sofia versus $29.00 in Shumen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $261 vs $219 – 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

Sofia vs Shumen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,373 in Sofia, $873 in Shumen – roughly 57% apart. Sofia costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,060 per month in Sofia and $1,309 in Shumen. 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 $1,373 in Sofia and $873 in Shumen. 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 $873, than in Sofia at $1,373. 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 $873 in Shumen to $1,373 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.