Cost of Living Comparison Between Karlovo and Varna Cost of Living Comparison Between Karlovo and Varna

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $813 per month in Karlovo vs $1,468 in Varna, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,324 per month in Karlovo vs $2,264 in Varna, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,834 per month in Karlovo vs $3,059 in Varna, rent included.

Karlovo is about 45% cheaper than Varna, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Karlovo sits 41% below the global median, while Varna is 7% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.42 BGN 12.34

$14.11 BGN 23.47

-47.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.60 BGN 59.2

$61.8 BGN 103

-42.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.96 BGN 14.91

$10.71 BGN 17.81

-16.34%

Cappuccino

$1.46 BGN 2.43

$2.95 BGN 4.90

-50.51%

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

$1.07 BGN 1.77

$1.93 BGN 3.21

-44.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.79 BGN 1.31

$1.73 BGN 2.87

-54.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 BGN 3.54

$2.92 BGN 4.86

-27.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 BGN 3.03

$3.80 BGN 6.32

-52.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 BGN 2.01

$1.98 BGN 3.29

-38.89%

White Bread (500g)

$0.91 BGN 1.52

$1.32 BGN 2.19

-31.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.95 BGN 3.25

$2.66 BGN 4.42

-26.69%

Eggs

$3.52 BGN 5.86

$3.59 BGN 5.97

-1.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.27 BGN 15.42

$11.99 BGN 19.94

-22.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.43 BGN 14.02

$9.68 BGN 16.11

-12.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.77 BGN 9.60

$14.79 BGN 24.61

-60.99%

Apples (1kg)

$1.35 BGN 2.24

$1.98 BGN 3.30

-31.82%

Banana (1kg)

$2.07 BGN 3.45

$2.27 BGN 3.77

-8.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.98 BGN 3.29

$2.27 BGN 3.78

-12.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 BGN 3.79

$3.10 BGN 5.15

-26.45%

Potato (1kg)

$0.47 BGN 0.78

$1.37 BGN 2.28

-65.69%

Onion (1kg)

$0.90 BGN 1.50

$1.12 BGN 1.86

-19.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 BGN 1.70

$1.06 BGN 1.76

-3.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 BGN 1.34

$0.80 BGN 1.33

1.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.49 BGN 5.81

$4.23 BGN 7.03

-17.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.95 BGN 11.55

$9.09 BGN 15.12

-23.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 BGN 1.67

$1.19 BGN 1.98

-15.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.86 BGN 3.10

$1.87 BGN 3.11

-0.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.20 BGN 2.00

$1.14 BGN 1.90

5.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.48 BGN 42.38

$29.17 BGN 48.53

-12.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.22 BGN 2.04

$1.52 BGN 2.53

-19.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.80 BGN 1.33

$0.91 BGN 1.52

-12.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.41 BGN 20.64

$12.55 BGN 20.87

-1.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 BGN 2.43

$1.73 BGN 2.89

-15.61%

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

$31.7K BGN 52.8K

$30.7K BGN 51.1K

3.16%

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

$23.3K BGN 38.8K

$26.3K BGN 43.8K

-11.31%

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

$112 BGN 186

$182 BGN 302

-38.40%

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

$15.02 BGN 24.99

$21.15 BGN 35.19

-28.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.13 BGN 20.18

$17.25 BGN 28.70

-29.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.72 BGN 52.8

$54.4 BGN 90.4

-41.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.13 BGN 33.49

$20.77 BGN 34.55

-3.08%

Cinema Ticket

$5.76 BGN 9.59

$9.03 BGN 15.02

-36.21%

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

$242 BGN 402

$520 BGN 865

-53.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,030 BGN 10.0K

$6,550 BGN 10.9K

-7.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.31 BGN 48.75

$67.8 BGN 113

-56.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$11.66 BGN 19.41

$35.02 BGN 58.3

-66.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$58.3 BGN 96.9

$104 BGN 173

-43.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.83 BGN 77.9

$106 BGN 176

-55.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$351 BGN 583

$644 BGN 1,071

-45.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$199 BGN 332

$480 BGN 799

-58.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$559 BGN 931

$1,307 BGN 2,174

-57.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$415 BGN 691

$932 BGN 1,550

-55.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,569 BGN 2,610

$3,351 BGN 5,575

-53.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,133 BGN 1,884

$2,215 BGN 3,684

-48.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$477 BGN 794

$1,240 BGN 2,062

-61.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.25

2.93

10.92%

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

Last update for Karlovo: August 31, 2026

Last update for Varna: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $351 in Karlovo versus $644 in Varna. 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 160% higher in Varna, 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 $36.00 in Karlovo versus $62.0 in Varna. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $208 vs $283 – making Karlovo 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

Karlovo vs Varna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Varna is pricier by about 81%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,220 per month in Karlovo and $2,203 in Varna. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Karlovo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 14% less in Karlovo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $242 per month in Karlovo and $520 in Varna. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Karlovo, where all-in costs run around $813, than in Varna at $1,468. In Karlovo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Varna it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Karlovo – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Karlovo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Varna makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.