Cost of Living Comparison Between Plovdiv and Veliko Tarnovo Cost of Living Comparison Between Plovdiv and Veliko Tarnovo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,214 per month in Plovdiv vs $1,027 in Veliko Tarnovo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,882 per month in Plovdiv vs $1,597 in Veliko Tarnovo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,551 per month in Plovdiv vs $2,167 in Veliko Tarnovo, rent included.

Plovdiv costs about 18% more than Veliko Tarnovo, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Plovdiv and Veliko Tarnovo are more affordable than the global median – Plovdiv 11% lower, Veliko Tarnovo 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.17 BGN 15.25

$11.72 BGN 19.49

-21.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.82 BGN 77.9

$41.28 BGN 68.7

13.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.19 BGN 16.95

$9.86 BGN 16.40

3.35%

Cappuccino

$2.97 BGN 4.94

$1.83 BGN 3.04

62.30%

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

$1.68 BGN 2.80

$1.31 BGN 2.18

28.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 BGN 2.61

$0.90 BGN 1.50

74.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.69 BGN 4.47

$2.12 BGN 3.52

26.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.08 BGN 6.78

$2.88 BGN 4.79

41.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.83 BGN 3.04

$1.89 BGN 3.15

-3.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 BGN 2.07

$1.09 BGN 1.82

14.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.34 BGN 3.89

$2.49 BGN 4.14

-6.02%

Eggs

$3.77 BGN 6.27

$3.69 BGN 6.14

2.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.15 BGN 20.22

$10.65 BGN 17.72

14.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.64 BGN 14.37

$8.33 BGN 13.85

3.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.71 BGN 24.48

$13.11 BGN 21.82

12.20%

Apples (1kg)

$1.68 BGN 2.80

$1.60 BGN 2.67

5.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.87 BGN 3.12

$2.11 BGN 3.51

-11.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.05 BGN 3.40

$2.01 BGN 3.34

1.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.74 BGN 4.56

$2.75 BGN 4.58

-0.36%

Potato (1kg)

$1.08 BGN 1.79

$1.13 BGN 1.88

-4.42%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 BGN 1.86

$1.23 BGN 2.05

-8.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 BGN 2.00

$1.01 BGN 1.68

18.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 BGN 1.24

$0.79 BGN 1.31

-6.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.06 BGN 6.76

$4.19 BGN 6.96

-3.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.60 BGN 10.98

$6.95 BGN 11.56

-5.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 BGN 1.96

$1.21 BGN 2.01

-2.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 BGN 3.52

$1.66 BGN 2.76

27.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.61 BGN 1.01

$0.91 BGN 1.52

-32.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.00 BGN 49.90

$24.07 BGN 40.04

24.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.28 BGN 2.14

$1.16 BGN 1.93

10.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.62 BGN 1.03

$0.73 BGN 1.21

-15.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.79 BGN 17.95

$11.60 BGN 19.29

-6.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.63 BGN 2.71

$1.57 BGN 2.62

3.82%

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

$31.2K BGN 51.9K

$31.1K BGN 51.7K

0.41%

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

$25.2K BGN 41.9K

$32.1K BGN 53.4K

-21.50%

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

$117 BGN 194

$99.3 BGN 165

17.70%

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

$19.07 BGN 31.73

$19.44 BGN 32.34

-1.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.19 BGN 26.93

$16.05 BGN 26.70

0.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.94 BGN 69.8

$31.73 BGN 52.8

32.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.99 BGN 34.91

$20.72 BGN 34.47

1.30%

Cinema Ticket

$9.23 BGN 15.35

$6.94 BGN 11.55

33.00%

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

$531 BGN 883

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,699 BGN 9,480

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.7 BGN 118

$48.89 BGN 81.3

44.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.62 BGN 72.6

$31.82 BGN 52.9

37.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.7 BGN 166

$127 BGN 212

-21.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 BGN 180

$95.6 BGN 159

13.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$547 BGN 911

$362 BGN 602

51.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$399 BGN 663

$269 BGN 447

48.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$902 BGN 1,501

$581 BGN 967

55.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$685 BGN 1,139

$425 BGN 706

61.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,348 BGN 3,907

$2,531 BGN 4,210

-7.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,591 BGN 2,647

$1,379 BGN 2,295

15.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,203 BGN 2,001

$997 BGN 1,659

20.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.1

2.74

13.14%

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

Last update for Plovdiv: September 12, 2026

Last update for Veliko Tarnovo: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $547 in Plovdiv versus $362 in Veliko Tarnovo. 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 21% higher in Plovdiv, 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 $47.00 in Plovdiv versus $41.00 in Veliko Tarnovo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $263 vs $253 – making Veliko Tarnovo 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

Plovdiv vs Veliko Tarnovo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,214 in Plovdiv, $1,027 in Veliko Tarnovo – roughly 18% apart. Plovdiv costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,821 per month in Plovdiv and $1,541 in Veliko Tarnovo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 25% less in Veliko Tarnovo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 4% more in Plovdiv, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Veliko Tarnovo, where all-in costs run around $1,027, than in Plovdiv at $1,214. In Veliko Tarnovo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Plovdiv it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Plovdiv has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,027 in Veliko Tarnovo to $1,214 in Plovdiv. 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 Veliko Tarnovo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Plovdiv makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.