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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $791 per month in Karlovo vs $1,189 in Varna, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,255 per month in Karlovo vs $1,839 in Varna, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,718 per month in Karlovo vs $2,489 in Varna, rent included.

Karlovo is about 33% cheaper than Varna, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Karlovo and Varna are more affordable than the global median – Karlovo 41% lower, Varna 11% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karlovo
Varna
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.49 BGN 12.46
$11.58 BGN 19.26
-35.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.49 BGN 59.0
$46.66 BGN 77.6
-23.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.94 BGN 14.87
$8.68 BGN 14.43
3.00%
Cappuccino
$1.50 BGN 2.49
$2.58 BGN 4.30
-41.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08 BGN 1.80
$1.82 BGN 3.03
-40.66%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 BGN 1.16
$1.28 BGN 2.13
-45.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.09 BGN 3.48
$2.88 BGN 4.79
-27.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 BGN 2.99
$3.02 BGN 5.03
-40.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karlovo
Varna
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 BGN 1.91
$1.88 BGN 3.14
-38.83%
White Bread (500g)
$0.86 BGN 1.43
$1.08 BGN 1.79
-20.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.91 BGN 3.18
$2.44 BGN 4.06
-21.72%
Eggs
$3.36 BGN 5.59
$3.30 BGN 5.48
1.82%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.28 BGN 15.43
$11.00 BGN 18.30
-15.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.76 BGN 12.92
$8.46 BGN 14.08
-8.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.94 BGN 9.88
$12.26 BGN 20.40
-51.55%
Apples (1kg)
$1.28 BGN 2.14
$1.66 BGN 2.77
-22.89%
Banana (1kg)
$2.14 BGN 3.56
$2.13 BGN 3.54
0.47%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.08 BGN 3.46
$1.85 BGN 3.08
12.43%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.21 BGN 3.68
$2.79 BGN 4.64
-20.79%
Potato (1kg)
$0.45 BGN 0.75
$1.19 BGN 1.98
-62.18%
Onion (1kg)
$0.87 BGN 1.44
$1.14 BGN 1.90
-23.68%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 BGN 1.76
$1.03 BGN 1.71
2.91%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 BGN 1.30
$0.70 BGN 1.16
11.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.41 BGN 5.67
$3.76 BGN 6.26
-9.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.65 BGN 11.07
$9.12 BGN 15.16
-27.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.01 BGN 1.67
$1.16 BGN 1.92
-12.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 BGN 3.01
$1.92 BGN 3.19
-5.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Karlovo
Varna
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 BGN 1.94
$1.20 BGN 2.00
-2.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.08 BGN 45.04
$29.96 BGN 49.84
-9.61%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.21 BGN 2.02
$1.39 BGN 2.31
-12.95%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.70 BGN 1.17
$0.71 BGN 1.17
-1.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.19 BGN 21.94
$12.51 BGN 20.80
5.44%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 BGN 2.41
$1.51 BGN 2.51
-3.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.0K BGN 53.2K
$31.7K BGN 52.7K
1.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.2K BGN 41.8K
$28.7K BGN 47.7K
-12.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karlovo
Varna
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$95.7 BGN 159
$125 BGN 208
-23.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.31 BGN 27.13
$19.16 BGN 31.87
-14.87%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.75 BGN 21.20
$15.85 BGN 26.37
-19.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karlovo
Varna
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.31 BGN 48.75
$40.38 BGN 67.2
-27.41%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.82 BGN 24.66
$14.52 BGN 24.15
2.07%
Cinema Ticket
$5.74 BGN 9.54
$9.11 BGN 15.16
-36.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karlovo
Varna
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$234 BGN 389
$400 BGN 666
-41.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,076 BGN 6,781
$5,515 BGN 9,174
-26.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karlovo
Varna
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.19 BGN 48.57
$60.2 BGN 100
-51.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$12.03 BGN 20.01
$33.44 BGN 55.6
-64.03%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$59.6 BGN 99.1
$92.6 BGN 154
-35.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$47.03 BGN 78.2
$100 BGN 167
-53.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karlovo
Varna
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$289 BGN 481
$515 BGN 857
-43.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$197 BGN 328
$391 BGN 650
-49.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$473 BGN 787
$907 BGN 1,508
-47.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$355 BGN 590
$646 BGN 1,075
-45.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,367 BGN 2,275
$3,420 BGN 5,690
-60.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,110 BGN 1,847
$2,147 BGN 3,572
-48.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karlovo
Varna
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$485 BGN 807
$1,196 BGN 1,989
-59.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.57
4.71
-2.97%

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

Last update for Karlovo: June 1, 2026

Last update for Varna: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $289 in Karlovo versus $515 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 146% 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 $35.00 in Karlovo versus $47.00 in Varna. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $203 vs $253 – 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
Is Varna cheaper than Karlovo?
Yes – Varna is pricier by about 50%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,187 per month in Karlovo and $1,783 in Varna. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 11% less in Karlovo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $234 per month in Karlovo and $400 in Varna. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Karlovo or Varna?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Karlovo, where all-in costs run around $791, than in Varna at $1,189. In Karlovo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Varna it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Karlovo or Varna more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Karlovo or Varna?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
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.

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