Cost of Living Comparison Between Sandanski and Varna Cost of Living Comparison Between Sandanski and Varna

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $973 per month in Sandanski vs $1,189 in Varna, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,522 per month in Sandanski vs $1,839 in Varna, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,072 per month in Sandanski vs $2,489 in Varna, rent included.

Sandanski is about 18% cheaper than Varna, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Sandanski and Varna are more affordable than the global median – Sandanski 27% lower, Varna 11% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.98 BGN 14.95

$11.58 BGN 19.26

-22.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.71 BGN 79.4

$46.66 BGN 77.6

2.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.58 BGN 14.27

$8.68 BGN 14.43

-1.15%

Cappuccino

$2.43 BGN 4.04

$2.58 BGN 4.30

-5.81%

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

$1.43 BGN 2.39

$1.82 BGN 3.03

-21.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 BGN 1.43

$1.28 BGN 2.13

-32.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.03 BGN 5.04

$2.88 BGN 4.79

5.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 BGN 5.05

$3.02 BGN 5.03

0.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 BGN 2.89

$1.88 BGN 3.14

-7.45%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 BGN 1.71

$1.08 BGN 1.79

-4.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.13 BGN 3.55

$2.44 BGN 4.06

-12.70%

Eggs

$3.15 BGN 5.25

$3.30 BGN 5.48

-4.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.67 BGN 19.41

$11.00 BGN 18.30

6.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.79 BGN 12.96

$8.46 BGN 14.08

-7.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.04 BGN 20.02

$12.26 BGN 20.40

-1.79%

Apples (1kg)

$1.51 BGN 2.51

$1.66 BGN 2.77

-9.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 BGN 2.93

$2.13 BGN 3.54

-17.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 BGN 2.67

$1.85 BGN 3.08

-13.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.81 BGN 3.01

$2.79 BGN 4.64

-35.13%

Potato (1kg)

$0.99 BGN 1.65

$1.19 BGN 1.98

-16.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 BGN 1.85

$1.14 BGN 1.90

-2.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 BGN 1.82

$1.03 BGN 1.71

5.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 BGN 1.35

$0.70 BGN 1.16

15.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.59 BGN 5.97

$3.76 BGN 6.26

-4.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.02 BGN 10.02

$9.12 BGN 15.16

-33.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 BGN 1.62

$1.16 BGN 1.92

-16.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 BGN 2.29

$1.92 BGN 3.19

-28.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 BGN 1.41

$1.20 BGN 2.00

-29.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.83 BGN 44.63

$29.96 BGN 49.84

-10.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 BGN 2.01

$1.39 BGN 2.31

-12.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.65 BGN 1.07

$0.71 BGN 1.17

-8.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.53 BGN 17.51

$12.51 BGN 20.80

-15.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 BGN 2.56

$1.51 BGN 2.51

1.99%

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

$32.1K BGN 53.4K

$31.7K BGN 52.7K

1.30%

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

$28.4K BGN 47.2K

$28.7K BGN 47.7K

-1.07%

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

$95.3 BGN 159

$125 BGN 208

-23.63%

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

$17.58 BGN 29.24

$19.16 BGN 31.87

-8.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.36 BGN 25.55

$15.85 BGN 26.37

-3.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.47 BGN 49.03

$40.38 BGN 67.2

-27.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.49 BGN 24.10

$14.52 BGN 24.15

-0.21%

Cinema Ticket

$8.89 BGN 14.78

$9.11 BGN 15.16

-2.41%

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

$420 BGN 699

$400 BGN 666

4.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,365 BGN 8,926

$5,515 BGN 9,174

-2.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.0 BGN 103

$60.2 BGN 100

2.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.34 BGN 58.8

$33.44 BGN 55.6

5.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.7 BGN 166

$92.6 BGN 154

7.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 BGN 176

$100 BGN 167

5.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$286 BGN 476

$515 BGN 857

-44.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$234 BGN 389

$391 BGN 650

-40.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$472 BGN 785

$907 BGN 1,508

-47.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$350 BGN 583

$646 BGN 1,075

-45.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,341 BGN 2,231

$3,420 BGN 5,690

-60.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,117 BGN 1,858

$2,147 BGN 3,572

-47.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$597 BGN 993

$1,196 BGN 1,989

-50.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.49

4.71

-4.67%

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

Last update for Sandanski: May 31, 2026

Last update for Varna: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $286 in Sandanski 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 100% 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 $48.00 in Sandanski versus $47.00 in Varna. Groceries tell a different story – $231 in Sandanski vs $253 in Varna – so Sandanski 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

Sandanski vs Varna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $973 in Sandanski, $1,189 in Varna – roughly 22% apart. Varna costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,459 per month in Sandanski and $1,783 in Varna. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $973 in Sandanski and $1,189 in Varna. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 12% less in Sandanski. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sandanski, where all-in costs run around $973, than in Varna at $1,189. In Sandanski 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 $973 in Sandanski to $1,189 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 Sandanski. 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.