Shumen, Bulgaria 🇧🇬
#1539
,
Nomad Score:
61%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
87%
Weight: 150
Shumen offers a low cost of living compared to Western Europe, making it very affordable for digital nomads.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
89%
Weight: 80
Rental prices are quite low, with many affordable apartments available for short and long-term stays.
🍎 Food & Groceries
85%
Weight: 40
Local markets and supermarkets provide inexpensive fresh produce and groceries.
🚌 Transportation Cost
90%
Weight: 20
Public transport and taxis are very cheap, making commuting affordable.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
72%
Weight: 15
Entertainment options are limited but affordable, with local cinemas and cafes offering budget-friendly prices.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
78%
Weight: 10
Gyms are reasonably priced, though fewer in number compared to larger Bulgarian cities.
💱 Currency Stability
75%
Weight: 30
Bulgarian Lev is relatively stable, pegged to the Euro, with low inflation rates.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
70%
Weight: 100
Average internet speeds are decent but can vary; fiber is available but not widespread.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
32%
Weight: 40
Very limited coworking spaces; most nomads rely on cafes or remote work from accommodation.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
65%
Weight: 30
Several cafes offer WiFi, but quality and speed can be inconsistent.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
40%
Weight: 30
Few cafes specifically cater to digital nomads; quiet workspaces are limited.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
25%
Weight: 100
Shumen is not a well-known destination among digital nomads, resulting in a small community.
📱 Local SIM Card Availability
80%
Weight: 25
SIM cards are easy to purchase with affordable prepaid plans.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
78%
Weight: 30
Relaxed lifestyle with less hustle compared to big cities, supporting good work-life balance.
🌳 Environmental Quality
70%
Weight: 15
Generally good air quality and low pollution, though some industrial areas nearby.
🧼 Cleanliness
68%
Weight: 10
Moderately clean city with occasional littering in public spaces.
🗨️ Language Barrier
45%
Weight: 30
Bulgarian is the main language; English is not widely spoken outside younger generations.
💨 Air Quality
72%
Weight: 15
Air quality is generally good, with occasional pollution spikes during winter heating season.
👨👩👧👦 Family Friendly
60%
Weight: 25
Suitable for families seeking quiet lifestyle but limited international schools.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
55%
Weight: 20
Basic healthcare services are available but limited in quality compared to larger cities.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
80%
Weight: 25
Healthcare costs are low, making private clinics affordable for expats.
🏥 Healthcare
58%
Weight: 20
Access to healthcare is adequate but specialized services require travel to bigger cities.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
63%
Weight: 80
Continental climate with hot summers and cold winters; some seasonal variation with snow.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
85%
Weight: 10
Low risk of natural disasters such as earthquakes or floods.
🏞️ Green Spaces
67%
Weight: 10
Several parks and green areas, though not extensive compared to larger urban centers.
❄️ Air Conditioning
50%
Weight: 15
Air conditioning is not standard in many buildings; summers can be warm but manageable.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
70%
Weight: 10
Distinct four seasons with warm summers and cold winters, offering variety but some harsh winter days.
🔊 Noise Pollution
75%
Weight: 10
Low noise pollution; quiet residential areas.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
75%
Weight: 20
Rich historical and cultural heritage with museums, festivals, and traditional Bulgarian customs.
🌃 Nightlife
40%
Weight: 15
Limited nightlife options; a few bars and cafes but no vibrant club scene.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
78%
Weight: 15
Close to nature reserves and hiking trails, offering good outdoor activities.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
50%
Weight: 10
Few formal language schools; informal opportunities exist but limited.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
65%
Weight: 10
Some local tours and cultural experiences available, though not heavily commercialized.
🎳 Indoors Fun
45%
Weight: 10
Limited indoor entertainment options such as cinemas or cultural centers.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
68%
Weight: 25
Traditional Bulgarian cuisine is accessible; international options are limited.
🧠 Yoga Studios
30%
Weight: 10
Very few yoga studios or wellness centers in the city.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
60%
Weight: 15
Basic gyms available but limited variety of fitness classes.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
65%
Weight: 15
Fresh produce is abundant; organic and health-focused stores are limited.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
75%
Weight: 20
Eastern European Time (UTC+2/3) is convenient for European and some Middle Eastern clients.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
35%
Weight: 25
Few professional networking events or digital nomad meetups.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
40%
Weight: 20
Local remote job market is small; most opportunities come from international clients.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
38%
Weight: 20
Limited local freelance community and support infrastructure.
🏢 Coworking Quality
30%
Weight: 30
Few coworking spaces with basic facilities; not comparable to larger cities.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
35%
Weight: 15
Minimal startup activity; most tech startups are concentrated in Sofia.
💳 Local Payment Services
60%
Weight: 10
Basic banking and payment services available; cash still widely used.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
50%
Weight: 15
Growing interest but limited mainstream adoption or infrastructure.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
35%
Weight: 30
Nearest major airport is in Varna (~90 km away); limited direct flights.
🚇 Public Transit
65%
Weight: 20
Local bus services are available but infrequent and limited in coverage.
🚶 Walkability
70%
Weight: 20
City center is walkable with pedestrian-friendly streets.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
40%
Weight: 15
Ride-sharing apps like Uber are not widely available; taxis are common.
🚲 Cycling
50%
Weight: 10
Limited cycling infrastructure; some bike lanes but not extensive.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
60%
Weight: 15
Bus and train connections to other Bulgarian cities are available but not very frequent.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
25%
Weight: 10
Very limited or no scooter/bike rental services.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
75%
Weight: 20
Good mobile coverage with 4G widely available; 5G limited.
🔒 VPN Reliability
80%
Weight: 20
VPN services work reliably with no significant restrictions.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
70%
Weight: 15
Generally stable power supply with occasional outages.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
55%
Weight: 10
Public WiFi is available in some cafes and public buildings but not widespread.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
65%
Weight: 40
Bulgaria is in the EU; visa-free access for many nationalities but no specific digital nomad visa.
📊 Tax Friendliness
60%
Weight: 30
Flat income tax rate of 10%; tax system is straightforward but requires local knowledge.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
75%
Weight: 15
Generally good freedom of speech with democratic governance.
🏛️ Political Stability
65%
Weight: 20
Stable political environment but occasional protests and government changes.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
55%
Weight: 15
Opening a bank account can be bureaucratic and requires local documentation.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
60%
Weight: 10
Business registration is possible but involves paperwork and some delays.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
0%
Weight: 35
No dedicated digital nomad visa available in Bulgaria as of 2025.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
35%
Weight: 50
Limited infrastructure and community for digital nomads; better suited for budget travelers.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
20%
Weight: 25
Very few or no regular digital nomad events or meetups.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
30%
Weight: 20
Minimal online presence or forums dedicated to Shumen digital nomads.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
78%
Weight: 100
Generally safe with low violent crime rates.
♀️ Female Friendly
65%
Weight: 50
Moderately female-friendly; some cultural conservatism but generally safe for women.
✊ Racial Tolerance
55%
Weight: 50
Moderate tolerance; some reports of discrimination but generally peaceful.