Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Silistra and Varna

For one person, living is cheaper in Silistra: $858 a month against $1,411 in Varna, rent and utilities included – about $6,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Silistra
🇧🇬 Bulgaria
$858
/mo nomad
Varna
🇧🇬 Bulgaria
$1,411
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Silistra and in Varna

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Silistra and in Varna actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $858 in Silistra versus $1,411 in Varna.

  • Silistra $858
  • Varna $1,411

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,223 in Silistra versus $2,223 in Varna.

  • Silistra $1,223
  • Varna $2,223

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,589 in Silistra versus $3,035 in Varna.

  • Silistra $1,589
  • Varna $3,035

Living in Silistra costs roughly 39% less than in Varna, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Silistra is 37% below, Varna is 4% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Silistra
Varna
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.13 BGN 17.62
$12.74 BGN 22.18
-20.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.96 BGN 43.43
$59.4 BGN 103
-57.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.75 BGN 15.22
$10.24 BGN 17.81
-14.55%
Cappuccino
$1.66 BGN 2.89
$2.92 BGN 5.08
-43.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11 BGN 1.93
$1.97 BGN 3.42
-43.65%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79 BGN 1.38
$1.64 BGN 2.86
-51.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.83 BGN 3.19
$2.82 BGN 4.90
-35.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00 BGN 3.48
$3.48 BGN 6.06
-42.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Silistra
Varna
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 BGN 2.98
$1.95 BGN 3.39
-12.31%
White Bread (500g)
$0.81 BGN 1.42
$1.24 BGN 2.16
-34.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.49 BGN 2.59
$2.67 BGN 4.64
-44.19%
Eggs
$2.35 BGN 4.10
$3.42 BGN 5.96
-31.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.41 BGN 16.37
$11.35 BGN 19.74
-17.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.36 BGN 11.07
$9.31 BGN 16.21
-31.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.31 BGN 14.46
$14.35 BGN 24.98
-42.09%
Apples (1kg)
$1.25 BGN 2.17
$2.01 BGN 3.50
-37.81%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 BGN 2.97
$2.08 BGN 3.62
-17.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.68 BGN 2.92
$2.11 BGN 3.67
-20.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 BGN 3.42
$2.92 BGN 5.08
-32.53%
Potato (1kg)
$0.96 BGN 1.66
$1.28 BGN 2.23
-25.00%
Onion (1kg)
$0.71 BGN 1.23
$1.04 BGN 1.81
-31.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.56 BGN 0.97
$1.02 BGN 1.78
-45.10%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67 BGN 1.17
$0.77 BGN 1.34
-12.99%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.64 BGN 6.33
$4.03 BGN 7.01
-9.68%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.16 BGN 8.98
$8.97 BGN 15.61
-42.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 BGN 1.87
$1.18 BGN 2.05
-8.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69 BGN 2.94
$1.79 BGN 3.12
-5.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Silistra
Varna
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 BGN 1.44
$0.88 BGN 1.52
-5.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$23.87 BGN 41.54
$28.86 BGN 50.2
-17.29%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.16 BGN 2.03
$1.57 BGN 2.74
-26.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.65 BGN 1.13
$0.90 BGN 1.56
-27.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.61 BGN 9.76
$12.06 BGN 20.99
-53.48%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.42 BGN 2.47
$1.74 BGN 3.03
-18.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K BGN 52.6K
$30.4K BGN 52.9K
-0.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K BGN 37.9K
$24.5K BGN 42.7K
-11.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Silistra
Varna
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$92.5 BGN 161
$177 BGN 307
-47.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.56 BGN 25.33
$21.08 BGN 36.67
-30.93%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.13 BGN 21.10
$15.97 BGN 27.80
-24.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Silistra
Varna
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.10 BGN 54.1
$51.2 BGN 89.0
-39.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.20 BGN 29.93
$19.51 BGN 33.94
-11.84%
Cinema Ticket
$6.66 BGN 11.58
$9.52 BGN 16.56
-30.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Silistra
Varna
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$232 BGN 404
$511 BGN 890
-54.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,274 BGN 3,958
$6,289 BGN 10.9K
-63.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Silistra
Varna
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$30.97 BGN 53.9
$65.1 BGN 113
-52.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.44 BGN 33.83
$33.59 BGN 58.5
-42.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$63.3 BGN 110
$102 BGN 178
-37.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$52.0 BGN 90.5
$103 BGN 179
-49.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Silistra
Varna
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$332 BGN 578
$645 BGN 1,122
-48.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$248 BGN 431
$477 BGN 830
-48.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$333 BGN 580
$1,365 BGN 2,376
-75.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$243 BGN 423
$914 BGN 1,590
-73.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,304 BGN 2,268
$2,941 BGN 5,118
-55.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,082 BGN 1,883
$2,142 BGN 3,726
-49.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Silistra
Varna
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$720 BGN 1,252
$1,271 BGN 2,211
-43.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.99
2.82
6.03%

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

Last update for Silistra: October 20, 2026

Last update for Varna: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Silistra
$248
Varna
$477 92.7% $230
Groceries & Markets
Silistra
$192
Varna
$272 41.5% $80
Eating Out
Silistra
$148
Varna
$203 37.3% $55
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Silistra
$119
Varna
$214 79.2% $94
Clothing & Footwear
Silistra
$75
Varna
$137 83.1% $62
Sport & Entertainment
Silistra
$44
Varna
$70 58.1% $26
Getting Around
Silistra
$32
Varna
$38 21.5% $6.8

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $332 in Silistra and $645 in Varna. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Varna pays 77% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $25.00 in Silistra vs $59.0 in Varna for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $192 vs $272 per month, with Silistra cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇧🇬 Silistra
🇧🇬 Varna
🕒 Local time
13:49 1:49 PM
13:49 1:49 PM
Same time as Silistra
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
37,923
348,058
💱 Currency
Bulgarian Lev BGN лв.
Bulgarian Lev BGN лв.
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to BGN – Bulgarian Lev Converter

Bulgarian Lev exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 1.74 BGN (1 BGN = 0.575 USD). 1 EUR = 1.96 BGN (1 BGN = 0.511 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Silistra Varna 110 km
From you
  • Silistra
  • Varna

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Silistra vs Varna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Silistra and in Varna?
Silistra and Varna differ by about 65% in total monthly costs ($858 vs $1,411 including rent). Silistra is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 77% lower in Varna. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Silistra and in Varna?
Rent for a central apartment: $332 in Silistra versus $645 in Varna. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 42% higher in Varna. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Silistra – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $59.0 in Varna. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $858 in Silistra versus $1,411 in Varna, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Silistra but tight or insufficient in Varna. The gap between the two cities makes Silistra the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Silistra and Varna?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Silistra or Varna safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Silistra and Varna are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Silistra or Varna?
Expats usually find Silistra gentler on the wallet – expenses run 65% less than in Varna. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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