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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $979 per month in Sandanski vs $1,194 in Varna, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,528 per month in Sandanski vs $1,839 in Varna, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,078 per month in Sandanski vs $2,485 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

$9.06 BGN 15.06

$11.85 BGN 19.71

-23.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.59 BGN 79.2

$46.45 BGN 77.3

2.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.38 BGN 13.94

$8.96 BGN 14.90

-6.47%

Cappuccino

$2.43 BGN 4.04

$2.59 BGN 4.30

-6.18%

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

$1.44 BGN 2.40

$1.76 BGN 2.93

-18.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 BGN 1.43

$1.27 BGN 2.12

-32.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.03 BGN 5.05

$3.01 BGN 5.00

0.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 BGN 4.82

$2.88 BGN 4.79

0.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 BGN 2.97

$1.86 BGN 3.10

-3.76%

White Bread (500g)

$1.05 BGN 1.75

$1.08 BGN 1.79

-2.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 BGN 3.62

$2.52 BGN 4.20

-13.89%

Eggs

$3.18 BGN 5.29

$3.37 BGN 5.61

-5.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.88 BGN 19.76

$10.62 BGN 17.67

11.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.84 BGN 13.03

$8.43 BGN 14.03

-7.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.09 BGN 20.11

$12.25 BGN 20.37

-1.31%

Apples (1kg)

$1.56 BGN 2.59

$1.63 BGN 2.72

-4.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 BGN 2.90

$2.15 BGN 3.57

-19.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 BGN 2.66

$1.84 BGN 3.07

-13.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.80 BGN 3.00

$2.76 BGN 4.60

-34.78%

Potato (1kg)

$1.00 BGN 1.66

$1.16 BGN 1.93

-13.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 BGN 1.92

$1.09 BGN 1.81

5.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 BGN 1.82

$1.03 BGN 1.71

5.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 BGN 1.38

$0.74 BGN 1.24

12.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.44 BGN 5.73

$3.74 BGN 6.23

-8.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.73 BGN 9.54

$8.62 BGN 14.33

-33.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 BGN 1.61

$1.10 BGN 1.83

-11.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 BGN 2.31

$1.89 BGN 3.15

-26.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 BGN 1.51

$1.21 BGN 2.02

-24.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.66 BGN 44.35

$29.77 BGN 49.52

-10.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 BGN 1.99

$1.39 BGN 2.32

-13.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.66 BGN 1.10

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.73 BGN 17.85

$12.56 BGN 20.89

-14.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.52 BGN 2.52

$1.51 BGN 2.51

0.66%

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

$32.0K BGN 53.3K

$31.8K BGN 52.9K

0.77%

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

$28.4K BGN 47.3K

$29.3K BGN 48.7K

-2.90%

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

$96.1 BGN 160

$126 BGN 209

-23.56%

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

$18.08 BGN 30.08

$18.91 BGN 31.46

-4.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.45 BGN 25.69

$15.54 BGN 25.85

-0.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.12 BGN 48.45

$40.40 BGN 67.2

-27.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.85 BGN 24.70

$14.59 BGN 24.26

1.78%

Cinema Ticket

$9.32 BGN 15.51

$8.97 BGN 14.91

3.90%

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

$431 BGN 716

$413 BGN 688

4.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,541 BGN 9,219

$5,520 BGN 9,183

0.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.1 BGN 102

$59.8 BGN 99.6

2.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.25 BGN 58.7

$33.55 BGN 55.8

5.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 BGN 168

$93.7 BGN 156

7.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 BGN 176

$98.4 BGN 164

7.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$288 BGN 479

$520 BGN 865

-44.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$234 BGN 390

$388 BGN 646

-39.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$479 BGN 797

$894 BGN 1,488

-46.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$360 BGN 599

$633 BGN 1,054

-43.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,357 BGN 2,258

$3,359 BGN 5,589

-59.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,088 BGN 1,810

$2,134 BGN 3,550

-49.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$582 BGN 969

$1,212 BGN 2,017

-51.97%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Varna: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $288 in Sandanski 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 108% 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 $46.00 in Varna. Groceries tell a different story – $233 in Sandanski vs $251 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: $979 in Sandanski, $1,194 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 $1,469 per month in Sandanski 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 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 $979 in Sandanski and $1,194 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 $979, than in Varna at $1,194. 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 $979 in Sandanski to $1,194 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.