Cost of Living Comparison Between Sofia and Varna Cost of Living Comparison Between Sofia and Varna

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,650 per month in Sofia vs $1,468 in Varna, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,556 per month in Sofia vs $2,264 in Varna, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,462 per month in Sofia vs $3,059 in Varna, rent included.

Sofia costs about 12% more than Varna, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Sofia and Varna sit above the global median – Sofia by 20%, Varna by 7%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.41 BGN 28.96

$14.11 BGN 23.47

23.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.4 BGN 109

$61.8 BGN 103

5.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.17 BGN 20.25

$10.71 BGN 17.81

13.63%

Cappuccino

$3.63 BGN 6.05

$2.95 BGN 4.90

23.05%

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

$2.36 BGN 3.92

$1.93 BGN 3.21

22.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 BGN 3.24

$1.73 BGN 2.87

12.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.54 BGN 5.89

$2.92 BGN 4.86

21.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.56 BGN 7.59

$3.80 BGN 6.32

20.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.01 BGN 3.35

$1.98 BGN 3.29

1.52%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 BGN 2.69

$1.32 BGN 2.19

22.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.42 BGN 4.02

$2.66 BGN 4.42

-9.02%

Eggs

$4.41 BGN 7.33

$3.59 BGN 5.97

22.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.80 BGN 19.64

$11.99 BGN 19.94

-1.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.25 BGN 15.39

$9.68 BGN 16.11

-4.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.23 BGN 28.66

$14.79 BGN 24.61

16.50%

Apples (1kg)

$2.17 BGN 3.61

$1.98 BGN 3.30

9.60%

Banana (1kg)

$2.05 BGN 3.41

$2.27 BGN 3.77

-9.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.93 BGN 3.21

$2.27 BGN 3.78

-14.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.22 BGN 7.03

$3.10 BGN 5.15

36.13%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 BGN 1.91

$1.37 BGN 2.28

-16.06%

Onion (1kg)

$1.00 BGN 1.66

$1.12 BGN 1.86

-10.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 BGN 1.97

$1.06 BGN 1.76

11.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 BGN 1.50

$0.80 BGN 1.33

12.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.33 BGN 7.21

$4.23 BGN 7.03

2.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.69 BGN 12.80

$9.09 BGN 15.12

-15.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 BGN 2.00

$1.19 BGN 1.98

1.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.85 BGN 3.08

$1.87 BGN 3.11

-1.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.92 BGN 1.52

$1.14 BGN 1.90

-19.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.12 BGN 50.1

$29.17 BGN 48.53

3.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.88 BGN 3.12

$1.52 BGN 2.53

23.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.91 BGN 1.52

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.21 BGN 26.96

$12.55 BGN 20.87

29.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.76 BGN 2.94

$1.73 BGN 2.89

1.73%

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

$31.4K BGN 52.2K

$30.7K BGN 51.1K

2.06%

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

$27.4K BGN 45.6K

$26.3K BGN 43.8K

4.08%

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

$170 BGN 283

$182 BGN 302

-6.47%

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

$22.02 BGN 36.64

$21.15 BGN 35.19

4.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.43 BGN 25.67

$17.25 BGN 28.70

-10.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.50 BGN 79.0

$54.4 BGN 90.4

-12.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.53 BGN 49.13

$20.77 BGN 34.55

42.18%

Cinema Ticket

$10.33 BGN 17.18

$9.03 BGN 15.02

14.40%

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

$799 BGN 1,330

$520 BGN 865

53.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.4K BGN 22.2K

$6,550 BGN 10.9K

104.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$88.5 BGN 147

$67.8 BGN 113

30.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.54 BGN 70.8

$35.02 BGN 58.3

21.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 BGN 179

$104 BGN 173

3.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 BGN 187

$106 BGN 176

6.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$784 BGN 1,305

$644 BGN 1,071

21.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$622 BGN 1,034

$480 BGN 799

29.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,576 BGN 2,622

$1,307 BGN 2,174

20.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,073 BGN 1,785

$932 BGN 1,550

15.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,637 BGN 7,714

$3,351 BGN 5,575

38.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,355 BGN 5,581

$2,215 BGN 3,684

51.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,742 BGN 2,898

$1,240 BGN 2,062

40.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.9

2.93

-1.02%

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

Last update for Sofia: August 30, 2026

Last update for Varna: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $784 in Sofia versus $644 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 41% higher in Sofia, 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 $65.0 in Sofia versus $62.0 in Varna. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $295 vs $283 – making Varna 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

Sofia vs Varna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,650 in Sofia, $1,468 in Varna – roughly 12% apart. Sofia costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,475 per month in Sofia and $2,203 in Varna. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Varna, 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 $1,650 in Sofia and $1,468 in Varna. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 3% less in Varna. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Varna, where all-in costs run around $1,468, than in Sofia at $1,650. In Varna it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sofia 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 $1,468 in Varna to $1,650 in Sofia. 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 Varna. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sofia makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.