😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,726 in Hastings versus $1,070 in Veliko Tarnovo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,669 in Hastings versus $1,686 in Veliko Tarnovo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,613 in Hastings versus $2,302 in Veliko Tarnovo.
🌍Living in Hastings is roughly 155% more expensive than in Veliko Tarnovo, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Hastings is 98% above, Veliko Tarnovo is 22% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hastings
Veliko Tarnovo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.67£18.25
$11.80BGN 19.62
109.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.8£59.0
$48.39BGN 80.5
64.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.75£8.70
$10.21BGN 16.99
15.08%
Cappuccino
$4.65£3.44
$2.06BGN 3.43
125.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.22£2.39
$1.33BGN 2.22
142.11%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33£0.99
$1.08BGN 1.80
23.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.94£5.14
$1.82BGN 3.03
281.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.61£4.89
$3.04BGN 5.06
117.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hastings
Veliko Tarnovo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.69£0.51
$1.98BGN 3.30
-65.15%
White Bread(500g)
$1.69£1.25
$1.04BGN 1.74
62.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.66£1.97
$2.74BGN 4.56
-2.92%
Eggs
$3.34£2.47
$3.43BGN 5.71
-2.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.70£7.18
$10.86BGN 18.07
-10.68%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.84£7.28
$8.45BGN 14.05
16.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.70£10.14
$13.24BGN 22.03
3.47%
Apples(1kg)
$2.91£2.16
$1.68BGN 2.79
73.21%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72£1.27
$2.02BGN 3.36
-14.85%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.82£2.08
$2.04BGN 3.40
38.24%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.60£2.67
$2.74BGN 4.56
31.39%
Potato(1kg)
$1.82£1.35
$1.13BGN 1.88
61.06%
Onion(1kg)
$1.60£1.18
$1.24BGN 2.07
29.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.24£0.92
$1.05BGN 1.75
18.10%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.80£1.33
$0.80BGN 1.33
125.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$17.90£13.24
$4.11BGN 6.83
335.52%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.75£5.00
$6.72BGN 11.18
0.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.06£2.26
$1.20BGN 2.00
155.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43£2.54
$1.71BGN 2.85
100.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Hastings
Veliko Tarnovo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.29£2.44
$0.91BGN 1.52
261.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$92.2£68.2
$23.67BGN 39.37
289.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.41£3.27
$1.21BGN 2.01
264.46%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.05£0.78
$0.72BGN 1.20
45.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$32.21£23.84
$12.05BGN 20.04
167.30%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.00£1.48
$1.52BGN 2.52
31.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.7K£28.6K
$31.7KBGN 52.7K
22.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.7K£30.9K
$31.8KBGN 53.0K
31.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hastings
Veliko Tarnovo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$333£247
$107BGN 179
210.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.13£14.90
$19.33BGN 32.16
4.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.2£40.83
$14.59BGN 24.27
278.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hastings
Veliko Tarnovo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.79£31.66
$31.04BGN 51.6
37.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$21.21BGN 35.28
-
Cinema Ticket
$16.47£12.19
$7.34BGN 12.21
124.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hastings
Veliko Tarnovo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,625£1,202
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.0K£13.3K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hastings
Veliko Tarnovo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$108£79.6
$49.30BGN 82.0
118.15%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.9£39.11
$32.21BGN 53.6
64.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104£77.3
$128BGN 213
-18.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133£98.2
$99.4BGN 165
33.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hastings
Veliko Tarnovo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,476£1,092
$365BGN 608
304.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,291£955
$272BGN 452
375.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596£1,181
$593BGN 987
168.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,543£1,141
$438BGN 729
252.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$13.7K£10.2K
$2,510BGN 4,176
446.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,386BGN 2,305
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hastings
Veliko Tarnovo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,416£2,528
$953BGN 1,586
258.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.96
3.18
55.97%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hastings: August 30, 2026
Last update for Veliko Tarnovo: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,476 in Hastings and $365 in Veliko Tarnovo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Hastings pays 258% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $80.0 in Hastings vs $48.00 in Veliko Tarnovo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $254 per month, with Veliko Tarnovo 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
Hastings vs Veliko Tarnovo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Hastings and in Veliko Tarnovo?
Hastings and Veliko Tarnovo differ by about 155% in total monthly costs ($2,726 vs $1,070 including rent). Veliko Tarnovo is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Hastings or Veliko Tarnovo?
Average pay runs 258% higher in Hastings, 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 Hastings and in Veliko Tarnovo?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,476 in Hastings versus $365 in Veliko Tarnovo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 15% higher in Hastings. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Hastings or Veliko Tarnovo?
All in, you'll spend $2,726 per month in Hastings versus $1,070 in Veliko Tarnovo – a 155% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,070 in Veliko Tarnovo versus $2,726 in Hastings, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Veliko Tarnovo but tight or insufficient in Hastings. The gap between the two cities makes Veliko Tarnovo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Hastings and Veliko Tarnovo?
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 Hastings or Veliko Tarnovo safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Hastings and Veliko Tarnovo 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: Hastings or Veliko Tarnovo?
Expats usually find Veliko Tarnovo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 155% less than in Hastings. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.