Cost of Living Comparison Between Qingdao, Shandong and Stara Zagora Cost of Living Comparison Between Qingdao, Shandong and Stara Zagora

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $756 per month in Qingdao, Shandong vs $903 in Stara Zagora, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,217 per month in Qingdao, Shandong vs $1,422 in Stara Zagora, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,677 per month in Qingdao, Shandong vs $1,940 in Stara Zagora, rent included.

Qingdao, Shandong is about 16% cheaper than Stara Zagora, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Qingdao, Shandong and Stara Zagora are more affordable than the global median – Qingdao, Shandong 45% lower, Stara Zagora 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.94 ¥19.70

$10.68 BGN 17.77

-72.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.61 ¥118

$52.4 BGN 87.3

-66.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.51 ¥30.29

$9.47 BGN 15.75

-52.38%

Cappuccino

$2.79 ¥18.72

$2.34 BGN 3.89

19.23%

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

$0.54 ¥3.61

$1.56 BGN 2.59

-65.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ¥2.16

$0.84 BGN 1.40

-61.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.13 ¥7.57

$2.25 BGN 3.75

-49.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 ¥17.96

$2.06 BGN 3.43

30.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 ¥12.63

$1.80 BGN 3.00

4.44%

White Bread (500g)

$1.35 ¥9.04

$0.84 BGN 1.39

60.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.02 ¥6.85

$1.52 BGN 2.53

-32.89%

Eggs

$1.35 ¥9.04

$2.42 BGN 4.03

-44.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.94 ¥107

$9.38 BGN 15.60

69.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.24 ¥28.44

$6.75 BGN 11.23

-37.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.47 ¥63.5

$8.71 BGN 14.50

8.73%

Apples (1kg)

$1.39 ¥9.35

$1.30 BGN 2.17

6.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ¥7.90

$1.75 BGN 2.91

-32.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ¥11.35

$1.76 BGN 2.93

-3.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.24 ¥8.34

$1.97 BGN 3.27

-37.06%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 ¥4.70

$1.04 BGN 1.73

-32.69%

Onion (1kg)

$0.95 ¥6.37

$0.74 BGN 1.23

28.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.00 ¥6.71

$0.58 BGN 0.96

72.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 ¥4.33

$0.66 BGN 1.09

-1.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.79 ¥25.42

$3.84 BGN 6.39

-1.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.46 ¥97.0

$5.29 BGN 8.80

173.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 ¥7.17

$1.13 BGN 1.88

-5.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 ¥10.87

$1.83 BGN 3.04

-11.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.31 ¥2.11

$0.92 BGN 1.54

-66.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.50 ¥117

$18.78 BGN 31.23

-6.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.46 ¥9.81

$1.39 BGN 2.32

5.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.41 ¥2.74

$0.63 BGN 1.05

-34.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.78 ¥58.9

$11.67 BGN 19.42

-24.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 ¥8.47

$1.66 BGN 2.77

-24.10%

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

$19.3K ¥129.2K

$31.4K BGN 52.2K

-38.60%

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

$16.1K ¥108.2K

$21.8K BGN 36.3K

-26.08%

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

$67.9 ¥456

$96.0 BGN 160

-29.28%

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

$6.63 ¥44.52

$15.63 BGN 26.00

-57.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.60 ¥51.0

$12.41 BGN 20.65

-38.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.43 ¥137

$28.08 BGN 46.72

-27.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.56 ¥118

$22.42 BGN 37.31

-21.68%

Cinema Ticket

$6.49 ¥43.55

$9.15 BGN 15.22

-29.07%

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

$359 ¥2,410

$235 BGN 392

52.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.4K ¥116.4K

$2,345 BGN 3,902

639.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.2 ¥350

$31.63 BGN 52.6

65.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.67 ¥320

$20.06 BGN 33.37

137.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.2 ¥612

$66.1 BGN 110

37.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.8 ¥610

$53.8 BGN 89.5

68.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$344 ¥2,311

$306 BGN 509

12.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$197 ¥1,325

$264 BGN 439

-25.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$747 ¥5,014

$514 BGN 855

45.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$414 ¥2,776

$405 BGN 674

2.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,556 ¥23.9K

$1,495 BGN 2,488

137.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,105 ¥14.1K

$1,107 BGN 1,841

90.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,234 ¥8,280

$1,094 BGN 1,819

12.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.37

2.99

12.71%

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

Last update for Qingdao, Shandong: September 1, 2026

Last update for Stara Zagora: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $344 in Qingdao, Shandong versus $306 in Stara Zagora. 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 13% higher in Qingdao, Shandong, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Qingdao, Shandong versus $52.0 in Stara Zagora. Groceries tell a different story – $219 in Qingdao, Shandong vs $199 in Stara Zagora – so Stara Zagora wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Qingdao, Shandong vs Stara Zagora: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Stara Zagora is pricier by about 19%, 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 $1,134 per month in Qingdao, Shandong and $1,355 in Stara Zagora. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Interestingly, groceries are about 10% cheaper in Stara Zagora – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Qingdao, Shandong and $52.0 in Stara Zagora. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $756 in Qingdao, Shandong and $903 in Stara Zagora, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Qingdao, Shandong – 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 Qingdao, Shandong. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Stara Zagora makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.