Cost of Living Comparison Between Pleven and Varna Cost of Living Comparison Between Pleven and Varna

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Pleven vs $1,468 in Varna, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,456 per month in Pleven vs $2,264 in Varna, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,980 per month in Pleven vs $3,059 in Varna, rent included.

Pleven is about 37% cheaper than Varna, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Pleven sits 32% below the global median, while Varna is 7% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.75 BGN 14.55

$14.11 BGN 23.47

-37.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.20 BGN 51.9

$61.8 BGN 103

-49.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.63 BGN 11.02

$10.71 BGN 17.81

-38.10%

Cappuccino

$2.28 BGN 3.80

$2.95 BGN 4.90

-22.71%

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

$1.33 BGN 2.21

$1.93 BGN 3.21

-31.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.18 BGN 1.96

$1.73 BGN 2.87

-31.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.27 BGN 3.78

$2.92 BGN 4.86

-22.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 BGN 3.84

$3.80 BGN 6.32

-39.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 BGN 2.84

$1.98 BGN 3.29

-13.64%

White Bread (500g)

$1.22 BGN 2.03

$1.32 BGN 2.19

-7.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.81 BGN 3.02

$2.66 BGN 4.42

-31.95%

Eggs

$3.72 BGN 6.20

$3.59 BGN 5.97

3.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.68 BGN 16.10

$11.99 BGN 19.94

-19.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.09 BGN 13.45

$9.68 BGN 16.11

-16.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.51 BGN 24.14

$14.79 BGN 24.61

-1.89%

Apples (1kg)

$1.28 BGN 2.13

$1.98 BGN 3.30

-35.35%

Banana (1kg)

$2.13 BGN 3.54

$2.27 BGN 3.77

-6.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.29 BGN 3.80

$2.27 BGN 3.78

0.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.31 BGN 3.85

$3.10 BGN 5.15

-25.48%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 BGN 2.04

$1.37 BGN 2.28

-10.22%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 BGN 1.87

$1.12 BGN 1.86

0.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 BGN 1.78

$1.06 BGN 1.76

0.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 BGN 1.30

$0.80 BGN 1.33

-2.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.58 BGN 5.96

$4.23 BGN 7.03

-15.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.72 BGN 11.19

$9.09 BGN 15.12

-26.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 BGN 1.41

$1.19 BGN 1.98

-28.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.23 BGN 2.04

$1.87 BGN 3.11

-34.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 BGN 1.48

$1.14 BGN 1.90

-21.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.99 BGN 69.9

$29.17 BGN 48.53

43.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.51 BGN 2.50

$1.52 BGN 2.53

-0.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.93 BGN 1.54

$0.91 BGN 1.52

2.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.28 BGN 20.43

$12.55 BGN 20.87

-2.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.61 BGN 2.68

$1.73 BGN 2.89

-6.94%

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

$31.0K BGN 51.6K

$30.7K BGN 51.1K

0.87%

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

$26.4K BGN 43.8K

$26.3K BGN 43.8K

0.11%

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

$101 BGN 167

$182 BGN 302

-44.67%

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

$16.44 BGN 27.35

$21.15 BGN 35.19

-22.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.07 BGN 18.42

$17.25 BGN 28.70

-35.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.26 BGN 55.3

$54.4 BGN 90.4

-38.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.36 BGN 42.20

$20.77 BGN 34.55

22.10%

Cinema Ticket

$9.17 BGN 15.25

$9.03 BGN 15.02

1.55%

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

$535 BGN 890

$520 BGN 865

2.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,621 BGN 11.0K

$6,550 BGN 10.9K

1.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$43.16 BGN 71.8

$67.8 BGN 113

-36.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.45 BGN 49.00

$35.02 BGN 58.3

-15.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.8 BGN 163

$104 BGN 173

-5.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 BGN 174

$106 BGN 176

-0.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$351 BGN 584

$644 BGN 1,071

-45.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$178 BGN 296

$480 BGN 799

-62.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$584 BGN 972

$1,307 BGN 2,174

-55.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$336 BGN 559

$932 BGN 1,550

-63.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,478 BGN 2,458

$3,351 BGN 5,575

-55.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,177 BGN 1,958

$2,215 BGN 3,684

-46.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$954 BGN 1,587

$1,240 BGN 2,062

-23.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.93

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

Last update for Pleven: August 30, 2026

Last update for Varna: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $351 in Pleven 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 30% 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 $31.00 in Pleven versus $62.0 in Varna. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $283 – making Pleven 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

Pleven vs Varna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $932 in Pleven, $1,468 in Varna – roughly 58% apart. Varna costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Pleven 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 Pleven, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 16% more in Varna, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $31.00 in Pleven and $62.0 in Varna. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Pleven, where all-in costs run around $932, than in Varna at $1,468. In Pleven it covers expenses comfortably, while in Varna it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Varna has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $932 in Pleven to $1,468 in Varna. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Pleven. 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.