🙂A single person spends $1,206 per month in Burgas vs $1,451 in Cartagena, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,826 per month in Burgas vs $2,148 in Cartagena, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,446 per month in Burgas vs $2,844 in Cartagena, rent included.
🙂Burgas is about 17% cheaper than Cartagena, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Burgas sits 12% below the global median, while Cartagena is 6% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Burgas
Cartagena
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.55BGN 24.20
$15.12€13.18
-3.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.64BGN 79.3
$58.5€51.0
-18.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.46BGN 17.40
$8.21€7.16
27.41%
Cappuccino
$3.46BGN 5.75
$2.67€2.33
29.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11BGN 1.85
$2.64€2.30
-57.95%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77BGN 1.28
$1.86€1.62
-58.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.12BGN 3.53
$3.44€3.00
-38.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04BGN 5.05
$4.00€3.48
-24.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Burgas
Cartagena
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.74BGN 2.90
$1.24€1.08
40.32%
White Bread(500g)
$0.94BGN 1.57
$1.22€1.06
-22.95%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16BGN 3.59
$2.63€2.29
-17.87%
Eggs
$3.50BGN 5.82
$4.02€3.51
-12.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.17BGN 15.25
$13.36€11.65
-31.36%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.22BGN 13.67
$7.03€6.13
16.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.41BGN 18.98
$19.36€16.88
-41.06%
Apples(1kg)
$2.24BGN 3.73
$2.46€2.14
-8.94%
Banana(1kg)
$2.10BGN 3.49
$2.06€1.80
1.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.03BGN 3.37
$1.64€1.43
23.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.59BGN 4.30
$3.18€2.77
-18.55%
Potato(1kg)
$1.35BGN 2.25
$1.31€1.14
3.05%
Onion(1kg)
$1.40BGN 2.32
$1.34€1.17
4.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.94BGN 1.57
$1.66€1.44
-43.37%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76BGN 1.27
$0.65€0.57
16.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.56BGN 5.93
$5.70€4.97
-37.54%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.11BGN 11.83
$6.16€5.37
15.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.01BGN 1.68
$1.30€1.13
-22.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91BGN 3.17
$1.17€1.02
63.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Burgas
Cartagena
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.94BGN 1.56
$1.51€1.32
-37.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$34.76BGN 57.8
$11.68€10.18
197.60%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.82BGN 3.02
$5.85€5.10
-68.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.79BGN 1.31
$2.25€1.96
-64.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$12.49BGN 20.78
$29.21€25.46
-57.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.69BGN 2.82
$1.68€1.47
0.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.8KBGN 51.2K
$35.8K€31.2K
-14.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1KBGN 38.4K
$30.6K€26.7K
-24.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Burgas
Cartagena
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$109BGN 181
$216€188
-49.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.21BGN 25.30
$20.01€17.44
-23.99%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.26BGN 20.40
$29.72€25.90
-58.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Burgas
Cartagena
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.75BGN 66.1
$42.17€36.76
-5.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.71BGN 24.47
$12.88€11.23
14.21%
Cinema Ticket
$8.98BGN 14.93
$8.27€7.21
8.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Burgas
Cartagena
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$232BGN 386
$425€371
-45.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.4KBGN 25.6K
$2,791€2,433
451.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Burgas
Cartagena
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.4BGN 100
$47.37€41.29
27.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.78BGN 49.54
$36.32€31.66
-18.01%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$73.5BGN 122
$62.7€54.7
17.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.4BGN 129
$108€93.8
-28.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Burgas
Cartagena
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$534BGN 888
$614€535
-12.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$435BGN 724
$510€445
-14.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$819BGN 1,363
$891€776
-7.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$653BGN 1,087
$746€650
-12.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,612BGN 4,346
$1,792€1,562
45.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,881BGN 3,129
$1,463€1,276
28.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Burgas
Cartagena
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,059BGN 1,762
$1,741€1,518
-39.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.25
4.06
-19.95%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Burgas: September 14, 2026
Last update for Cartagena: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $534 in Burgas versus $614 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 64% 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 $48.00 in Burgas versus $59.0 in Cartagena. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 vs $274 – 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 in Cartagena compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,206 in Burgas, $1,451 in Cartagena – roughly 20% apart. Cartagena costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Burgas compared to Cartagena?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,809 per month in Burgas and $2,177 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 in Cartagena?
Public transport costs about 198% 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 $232 per month in Burgas and $425 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 $1,206, than in Cartagena at $1,451. 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 $1,206 in Burgas to $1,451 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.