Cost of Living Comparison Between Shumen and Varna Cost of Living Comparison Between Shumen and Varna

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $943 per month in Shumen vs $1,441 in Varna, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,474 per month in Shumen vs $2,310 in Varna, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,005 per month in Shumen vs $3,179 in Varna, rent included.

Shumen is about 35% cheaper than Varna, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Shumen sits 31% below the global median, while Varna is 5% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.72 BGN 16.18

$14.06 BGN 23.39

-30.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.07 BGN 58.3

$60.4 BGN 101

-41.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.12 BGN 15.17

$10.73 BGN 17.85

-15.00%

Cappuccino

$1.81 BGN 3.00

$2.93 BGN 4.88

-38.23%

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

$1.47 BGN 2.44

$1.88 BGN 3.12

-21.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.05 BGN 1.74

$1.65 BGN 2.75

-36.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.91 BGN 4.83

$3.01 BGN 5.00

-3.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 BGN 4.82

$3.77 BGN 6.27

-23.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 BGN 3.17

$1.95 BGN 3.24

-2.05%

White Bread (500g)

$1.12 BGN 1.86

$1.25 BGN 2.07

-10.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.60 BGN 4.33

$2.76 BGN 4.59

-5.80%

Eggs

$2.98 BGN 4.96

$3.61 BGN 6.00

-17.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.57 BGN 15.91

$11.70 BGN 19.47

-18.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.06 BGN 8.42

$9.25 BGN 15.38

-45.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.18 BGN 15.27

$14.84 BGN 24.69

-38.14%

Apples (1kg)

$1.56 BGN 2.60

$1.97 BGN 3.27

-20.81%

Banana (1kg)

$2.12 BGN 3.53

$2.16 BGN 3.60

-1.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.19 BGN 3.64

$2.29 BGN 3.81

-4.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.27 BGN 3.78

$3.17 BGN 5.27

-28.39%

Potato (1kg)

$2.09 BGN 3.47

$1.35 BGN 2.24

54.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.32 BGN 2.20

$1.13 BGN 1.87

16.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.83 BGN 1.38

$1.05 BGN 1.75

-20.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 BGN 1.31

$0.78 BGN 1.30

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.74 BGN 6.22

$4.11 BGN 6.83

-9.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.18 BGN 11.95

$8.85 BGN 14.72

-18.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 BGN 1.65

$1.21 BGN 2.01

-18.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 BGN 2.44

$1.83 BGN 3.05

-20.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.92 BGN 1.53

$1.06 BGN 1.77

-13.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.37 BGN 43.86

$30.00 BGN 49.90

-12.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.79 BGN 2.98

$1.65 BGN 2.75

8.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.52 BGN 0.86

$0.88 BGN 1.46

-40.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.56 BGN 20.90

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.58 BGN 2.62

$1.74 BGN 2.89

-9.20%

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

$31.9K BGN 53.0K

$30.8K BGN 51.3K

3.33%

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

$23.1K BGN 38.5K

$26.3K BGN 43.8K

-12.07%

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

$136 BGN 226

$179 BGN 298

-24.08%

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

$18.06 BGN 30.05

$21.16 BGN 35.21

-14.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.42 BGN 28.98

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.40 BGN 67.2

$53.5 BGN 89.1

-24.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.74 BGN 19.53

$20.73 BGN 34.49

-43.37%

Cinema Ticket

$6.99 BGN 11.62

$8.98 BGN 14.95

-22.16%

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

$588 BGN 979

$517 BGN 859

13.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K BGN 17.6K

$6,405 BGN 10.7K

64.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.68 BGN 82.6

$66.2 BGN 110

-24.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.8 BGN 86.2

$35.07 BGN 58.3

47.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.2 BGN 157

$105 BGN 174

-10.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$63.7 BGN 106

$105 BGN 175

-39.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$276 BGN 459

$649 BGN 1,080

-57.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$186 BGN 310

$487 BGN 809

-61.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$439 BGN 730

$1,360 BGN 2,263

-67.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$341 BGN 567

$933 BGN 1,552

-63.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,261 BGN 2,098

$3,250 BGN 5,407

-61.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,030 BGN 1,714

$2,145 BGN 3,569

-51.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,035 BGN 1,722

$1,272 BGN 2,116

-18.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.25

2.9

12.07%

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

Last update for Shumen: September 13, 2026

Last update for Varna: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $276 in Shumen versus $649 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 23% 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 $35.00 in Shumen versus $60.0 in Varna. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $219 vs $278 – making Shumen 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

Shumen vs Varna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $943 in Shumen, $1,441 in Varna – roughly 53% apart. Varna costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,414 per month in Shumen and $2,162 in Varna. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Shumen, 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 $943 in Shumen and $1,441 in Varna. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 14% less in Shumen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Shumen, where all-in costs run around $943, than in Varna at $1,441. In Shumen 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 $943 in Shumen to $1,441 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 Shumen. 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.