🙂A single person spends $1,136 per month in Burgas vs $1,397 in Cartagena, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,723 per month in Burgas vs $1,993 in Cartagena, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,310 per month in Burgas vs $2,589 in Cartagena, rent included.
🙂Burgas is about 19% cheaper than Cartagena, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Burgas sits 15% below the global median, while Cartagena is 4% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Burgas
Cartagena
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.71BGN 19.56
$13.94€11.94
-16.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.93BGN 70.0
$57.5€49.20
-27.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84BGN 14.76
$7.93€6.79
11.48%
Cappuccino
$2.57BGN 4.30
$2.57€2.20
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38BGN 2.30
$2.39€2.04
-42.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71BGN 1.19
$1.95€1.67
-63.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.08BGN 3.47
$3.44€2.95
-39.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87BGN 4.80
$3.45€2.95
-16.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Burgas
Cartagena
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64BGN 2.73
$1.14€0.97
43.86%
White Bread(500g)
$0.91BGN 1.52
$1.01€0.86
-9.90%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.95BGN 3.25
$1.76€1.51
10.80%
Eggs
$3.30BGN 5.52
$2.94€2.52
12.24%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.55BGN 15.94
$11.54€9.88
-17.24%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.75BGN 12.94
$8.43€7.22
-8.07%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.43BGN 19.09
$14.18€12.14
-19.39%
Apples(1kg)
$1.95BGN 3.25
$2.27€1.94
-14.10%
Banana(1kg)
$2.05BGN 3.43
$1.80€1.54
13.89%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.00BGN 3.34
$1.39€1.19
43.88%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.47BGN 4.13
$1.75€1.50
41.14%
Potato(1kg)
$1.51BGN 2.52
$1.29€1.10
17.05%
Onion(1kg)
$1.35BGN 2.26
$1.05€0.90
28.57%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06BGN 1.77
$1.10€0.94
-3.64%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79BGN 1.31
$0.56€0.48
41.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.51BGN 5.86
$5.65€4.84
-37.88%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.09BGN 10.18
$6.19€5.30
-1.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.00BGN 1.67
$1.15€0.98
-13.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74BGN 2.90
$1.29€1.11
34.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Burgas
Cartagena
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.85BGN 1.42
$1.41€1.21
-39.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$35.20BGN 58.8
$11.64€9.97
202.41%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.21BGN 2.02
$3.48€2.98
-65.23%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.67BGN 1.12
$1.20€1.02
-44.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$12.89BGN 21.53
$24.92€21.33
-48.27%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.53BGN 2.56
$1.76€1.51
-13.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.7KBGN 53.0K
$30.9K€26.5K
2.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.3KBGN 42.2K
$31.9K€27.3K
-20.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Burgas
Cartagena
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$94.0BGN 157
$143€123
-34.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.42BGN 27.42
$13.23€11.32
24.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.55BGN 22.62
$30.14€25.80
-55.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Burgas
Cartagena
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$30.98BGN 51.7
$38.62€33.06
-19.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.15BGN 25.30
$15.09€12.92
0.40%
Cinema Ticket
$9.01BGN 15.05
$8.13€6.96
10.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Burgas
Cartagena
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$240BGN 401
$433€370
-44.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,069BGN 6,795
$2,792€2,390
45.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Burgas
Cartagena
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.2BGN 98.8
$44.05€37.71
34.35%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.55BGN 69.4
$31.92€27.32
30.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.5BGN 138
$44.25€37.88
86.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.2BGN 122
$77.1€66.0
-5.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Burgas
Cartagena
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$512BGN 855
$778€666
-34.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$380BGN 635
$616€527
-38.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$859BGN 1,434
$921€789
-6.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$606BGN 1,012
$771€660
-21.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,405BGN 4,017
$1,839€1,574
30.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,690BGN 2,822
$1,467€1,256
15.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Burgas
Cartagena
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,064BGN 1,777
$1,842€1,576
-42.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.57
3.44
32.85%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Burgas: April 27, 2026
Last update for Cartagena: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $512 in Burgas versus $778 in Cartagena. 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 73% higher in Cartagena, 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 $42.00 in Burgas versus $57.0 in Cartagena. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $232 vs $234 – making Burgas 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
Burgas vs Cartagena: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Burgas and Cartagena compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,136 in Burgas, $1,397 in Cartagena – roughly 23% apart. Cartagena costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Burgas compared to Cartagena?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,704 per month in Burgas and $2,095 in Cartagena. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Burgas and Cartagena?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Burgas, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do commuting costs compare in Burgas and Cartagena?
Public transport costs about 202% less in Burgas. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Burgas and Cartagena?
Kindergarten costs $240 per month in Burgas and $433 in Cartagena. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Burgas, where all-in costs run around $1,136, than in Cartagena at $1,397. In Burgas it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cartagena it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Burgas and Cartagena?
It depends on your priorities. Burgas has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,136 in Burgas to $1,397 in Cartagena. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Burgas or Cartagena safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Burgas and Cartagena?
If budget matters most, go with Burgas. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cartagena makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.