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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $878 per month in Shumen vs $1,197 in Varna, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,375 per month in Shumen vs $1,871 in Varna, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,872 per month in Shumen vs $2,545 in Varna, rent included.

Shumen is about 27% cheaper than Varna, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Shumen and Varna are more affordable than the global median – Shumen 34% lower, Varna 11% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.76 BGN 16.30

$11.83 BGN 19.76

-17.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.01 BGN 50.1

$48.05 BGN 80.2

-37.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.66 BGN 14.47

$9.08 BGN 15.17

-4.63%

Cappuccino

$1.66 BGN 2.77

$2.52 BGN 4.21

-34.13%

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

$1.38 BGN 2.30

$1.75 BGN 2.92

-21.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 BGN 1.16

$1.34 BGN 2.23

-47.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.98 BGN 3.31

$3.02 BGN 5.04

-34.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 BGN 3.95

$2.88 BGN 4.81

-17.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 BGN 2.81

$1.87 BGN 3.12

-10.16%

White Bread (500g)

$0.96 BGN 1.60

$1.08 BGN 1.80

-11.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.87 BGN 3.13

$2.54 BGN 4.24

-26.38%

Eggs

$3.02 BGN 5.04

$3.32 BGN 5.54

-9.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.69 BGN 16.19

$10.96 BGN 18.31

-11.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.90 BGN 9.85

$8.13 BGN 13.57

-27.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.53 BGN 19.26

$12.21 BGN 20.40

-5.57%

Apples (1kg)

$1.75 BGN 2.93

$1.67 BGN 2.79

4.79%

Banana (1kg)

$2.07 BGN 3.46

$2.04 BGN 3.40

1.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.05 BGN 3.42

$1.80 BGN 3.00

13.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 BGN 3.81

$2.68 BGN 4.48

-14.93%

Potato (1kg)

$1.50 BGN 2.50

$1.15 BGN 1.92

30.43%

Onion (1kg)

$1.38 BGN 2.30

$1.14 BGN 1.91

21.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.97 BGN 1.62

$1.04 BGN 1.73

-6.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 BGN 1.31

$0.74 BGN 1.24

6.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.63 BGN 6.07

$3.85 BGN 6.42

-5.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.27 BGN 12.15

$7.64 BGN 12.75

-4.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 BGN 1.67

$1.11 BGN 1.85

-9.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 BGN 2.70

$1.84 BGN 3.07

-11.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 BGN 1.48

$1.15 BGN 1.91

-22.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.38 BGN 44.06

$29.53 BGN 49.32

-10.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.26 BGN 2.10

$1.35 BGN 2.25

-6.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 BGN 0.51

$0.67 BGN 1.11

-53.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.29 BGN 22.20

$12.27 BGN 20.49

8.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 BGN 2.49

$1.54 BGN 2.57

-3.25%

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

$32.6K BGN 54.5K

$32.9K BGN 54.9K

-0.77%

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

$25.6K BGN 42.8K

$28.8K BGN 48.2K

-11.08%

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

$95.1 BGN 159

$124 BGN 207

-23.08%

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

$16.85 BGN 28.14

$18.70 BGN 31.23

-9.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.05 BGN 23.46

$15.83 BGN 26.43

-11.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.44 BGN 65.9

$40.64 BGN 67.9

-2.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.87 BGN 19.82

$14.50 BGN 24.21

-18.14%

Cinema Ticket

$7.17 BGN 11.98

$8.61 BGN 14.37

-16.72%

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

$235 BGN 392

$412 BGN 688

-43.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K BGN 17.7K

$5,541 BGN 9,254

90.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 BGN 91.2

$62.0 BGN 104

-11.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.70 BGN 69.6

$33.87 BGN 56.6

23.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.4 BGN 139

$91.6 BGN 153

-8.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.4 BGN 121

$102 BGN 170

-28.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$278 BGN 464

$506 BGN 846

-45.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$189 BGN 315

$390 BGN 652

-51.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$494 BGN 826

$895 BGN 1,495

-44.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$324 BGN 541

$639 BGN 1,067

-49.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,299 BGN 2,169

$3,152 BGN 5,264

-58.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,039 BGN 1,735

$2,018 BGN 3,371

-48.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,053 BGN 1,759

$1,222 BGN 2,040

-13.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.57

4.71

-2.97%

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

Last update for Shumen: April 25, 2026

Last update for Varna: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $278 in Shumen versus $506 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 16% 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 $30.00 in Shumen versus $48.00 in Varna. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $223 vs $248 – 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: $878 in Shumen, $1,197 in Varna – roughly 36% apart. Varna costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,317 per month in Shumen and $1,795 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 $878 in Shumen and $1,197 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 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 $878, than in Varna at $1,197. 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 $878 in Shumen to $1,197 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.