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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $780 per month in Karlovo vs $1,194 in Varna, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,253 per month in Karlovo vs $1,839 in Varna, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,726 per month in Karlovo vs $2,485 in Varna, rent included.

Karlovo is about 35% cheaper than Varna, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Karlovo and Varna are more affordable than the global median – Karlovo 42% lower, Varna 11% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.32 BGN 12.19

$11.85 BGN 19.71

-38.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.97 BGN 58.2

$46.45 BGN 77.3

-24.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.82 BGN 14.67

$8.96 BGN 14.90

-1.56%

Cappuccino

$1.44 BGN 2.40

$2.59 BGN 4.30

-44.40%

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

$1.08 BGN 1.80

$1.76 BGN 2.93

-38.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 BGN 1.17

$1.27 BGN 2.12

-44.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.03 BGN 3.38

$3.01 BGN 5.00

-32.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 BGN 2.86

$2.88 BGN 4.79

-40.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.20 BGN 2.00

$1.86 BGN 3.10

-35.48%

White Bread (500g)

$0.90 BGN 1.49

$1.08 BGN 1.79

-16.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.94 BGN 3.23

$2.52 BGN 4.20

-23.02%

Eggs

$3.29 BGN 5.48

$3.37 BGN 5.61

-2.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.68 BGN 16.10

$10.62 BGN 17.67

-8.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.84 BGN 13.04

$8.43 BGN 14.03

-7.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.94 BGN 9.88

$12.25 BGN 20.37

-51.51%

Apples (1kg)

$1.33 BGN 2.22

$1.63 BGN 2.72

-18.40%

Banana (1kg)

$2.14 BGN 3.56

$2.15 BGN 3.57

-0.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.06 BGN 3.43

$1.84 BGN 3.07

11.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 BGN 3.77

$2.76 BGN 4.60

-18.12%

Potato (1kg)

$0.45 BGN 0.74

$1.16 BGN 1.93

-61.21%

Onion (1kg)

$0.86 BGN 1.42

$1.09 BGN 1.81

-21.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 BGN 1.69

$1.03 BGN 1.71

-0.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 BGN 1.23

$0.74 BGN 1.24

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.38 BGN 5.62

$3.74 BGN 6.23

-9.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.90 BGN 11.48

$8.62 BGN 14.33

-19.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 BGN 1.65

$1.10 BGN 1.83

-10.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.80 BGN 3.00

$1.89 BGN 3.15

-4.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.15 BGN 1.91

$1.21 BGN 2.02

-4.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.93 BGN 44.80

$29.77 BGN 49.52

-9.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 BGN 1.93

$1.39 BGN 2.32

-16.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.71 BGN 1.18

$0.66 BGN 1.10

7.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.21 BGN 21.98

$12.56 BGN 20.89

5.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 BGN 2.37

$1.51 BGN 2.51

-5.30%

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

$31.8K BGN 52.8K

$31.8K BGN 52.9K

-0.08%

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

$25.5K BGN 42.3K

$29.3K BGN 48.7K

-12.99%

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

$93.8 BGN 156

$126 BGN 209

-25.38%

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

$16.38 BGN 27.25

$18.91 BGN 31.46

-13.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.06 BGN 21.72

$15.54 BGN 25.85

-15.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.92 BGN 48.11

$40.40 BGN 67.2

-28.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.00 BGN 24.95

$14.59 BGN 24.26

2.81%

Cinema Ticket

$5.75 BGN 9.57

$8.97 BGN 14.91

-35.90%

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

$238 BGN 395

$413 BGN 688

-42.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,109 BGN 6,836

$5,520 BGN 9,183

-25.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.76 BGN 49.51

$59.8 BGN 99.6

-50.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$11.62 BGN 19.33

$33.55 BGN 55.8

-65.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$58.9 BGN 98.0

$93.7 BGN 156

-37.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.55 BGN 77.5

$98.4 BGN 164

-52.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$289 BGN 481

$520 BGN 865

-44.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$196 BGN 326

$388 BGN 646

-49.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$463 BGN 770

$894 BGN 1,488

-48.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$349 BGN 580

$633 BGN 1,054

-44.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,258 BGN 2,093

$3,359 BGN 5,589

-62.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,101 BGN 1,832

$2,134 BGN 3,550

-48.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$473 BGN 787

$1,212 BGN 2,017

-60.97%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Varna: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $289 in Karlovo versus $520 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 156% 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 $46.00 in Varna. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $205 vs $251 – 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 53%, 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 $1,170 per month in Karlovo and $1,791 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 11% less in Karlovo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $238 per month in Karlovo and $413 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 $780, than in Varna at $1,194. 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.