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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $872 per month in Shumen vs $1,207 in Varna, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,388 per month in Shumen vs $1,870 in Varna, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,903 per month in Shumen vs $2,533 in Varna, rent included.

Shumen is about 28% cheaper than Varna, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Shumen and Varna are more affordable than the global median – Shumen 35% lower, Varna 9% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.76 BGN 16.24

$11.71 BGN 19.48

-16.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.12 BGN 48.45

$46.60 BGN 77.5

-37.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.09 BGN 15.13

$8.82 BGN 14.68

3.06%

Cappuccino

$1.71 BGN 2.84

$2.58 BGN 4.29

-33.72%

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

$1.33 BGN 2.22

$1.76 BGN 2.92

-24.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 BGN 1.18

$1.27 BGN 2.11

-44.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.08 BGN 3.46

$2.92 BGN 4.85

-28.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 BGN 3.78

$2.87 BGN 4.77

-20.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 BGN 2.70

$1.86 BGN 3.10

-12.90%

White Bread (500g)

$0.94 BGN 1.57

$1.02 BGN 1.70

-7.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.97 BGN 3.27

$2.47 BGN 4.10

-20.24%

Eggs

$3.06 BGN 5.10

$3.38 BGN 5.62

-9.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.16 BGN 15.24

$10.77 BGN 17.91

-14.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.67 BGN 9.43

$8.41 BGN 14.00

-32.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.44 BGN 19.03

$12.36 BGN 20.56

-7.44%

Apples (1kg)

$1.71 BGN 2.85

$1.66 BGN 2.77

3.01%

Banana (1kg)

$2.10 BGN 3.50

$2.08 BGN 3.47

0.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.09 BGN 3.47

$1.84 BGN 3.06

13.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 BGN 3.88

$2.66 BGN 4.43

-12.41%

Potato (1kg)

$1.50 BGN 2.50

$1.16 BGN 1.93

29.31%

Onion (1kg)

$1.33 BGN 2.21

$1.09 BGN 1.81

22.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.93 BGN 1.55

$1.03 BGN 1.72

-9.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 BGN 1.33

$0.71 BGN 1.18

12.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.58 BGN 5.95

$3.79 BGN 6.31

-5.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.46 BGN 12.41

$8.85 BGN 14.72

-15.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 BGN 1.67

$1.14 BGN 1.90

-12.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 BGN 2.66

$1.91 BGN 3.18

-16.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 BGN 1.45

$1.21 BGN 2.01

-28.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.10 BGN 43.42

$29.44 BGN 48.98

-11.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.25 BGN 2.08

$1.40 BGN 2.33

-10.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 BGN 0.51

$0.68 BGN 1.12

-54.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.97 BGN 21.57

$12.19 BGN 20.27

6.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 BGN 2.48

$1.50 BGN 2.49

-0.67%

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

$32.6K BGN 54.3K

$32.7K BGN 54.5K

-0.31%

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

$25.8K BGN 42.9K

$28.7K BGN 47.7K

-10.18%

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

$94.7 BGN 158

$125 BGN 209

-24.50%

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

$16.37 BGN 27.23

$19.00 BGN 31.61

-13.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.71 BGN 22.80

$15.50 BGN 25.79

-11.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.89 BGN 66.4

$41.21 BGN 68.6

-3.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.60 BGN 19.30

$14.84 BGN 24.69

-21.83%

Cinema Ticket

$7.07 BGN 11.76

$8.73 BGN 14.53

-19.01%

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

$236 BGN 393

$413 BGN 687

-42.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K BGN 17.5K

$5,422 BGN 9,019

93.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 BGN 92.3

$59.8 BGN 99.5

-7.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.49 BGN 69.0

$33.26 BGN 55.3

24.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.7 BGN 134

$90.6 BGN 151

-10.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 BGN 117

$98.3 BGN 164

-28.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$277 BGN 460

$514 BGN 855

-46.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$194 BGN 322

$392 BGN 651

-50.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$510 BGN 848

$893 BGN 1,486

-42.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$329 BGN 547

$652 BGN 1,085

-49.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,291 BGN 2,147

$3,269 BGN 5,438

-60.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,045 BGN 1,738

$2,115 BGN 3,519

-50.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,052 BGN 1,750

$1,200 BGN 1,996

-12.31%

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: June 14, 2026

Last update for Varna: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $277 in Shumen versus $514 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 14% 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 $29.00 in Shumen versus $47.00 in Varna. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $221 vs $251 – 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: $872 in Shumen, $1,207 in Varna – roughly 38% apart. Varna costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,309 per month in Shumen and $1,811 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 $872 in Shumen and $1,207 in Varna. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 13% 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 $872, than in Varna at $1,207. 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 $872 in Shumen to $1,207 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.