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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,373 per month in Sofia vs $1,189 in Varna, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,132 per month in Sofia vs $1,839 in Varna, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,892 per month in Sofia vs $2,489 in Varna, rent included.

Sofia costs about 16% more than Varna, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Sofia sits 2% above the global median, while Varna is 11% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.89 BGN 19.78

$11.58 BGN 19.26

2.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.6 BGN 84.2

$46.66 BGN 77.6

8.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.76 BGN 14.57

$8.68 BGN 14.43

0.92%

Cappuccino

$2.60 BGN 4.32

$2.58 BGN 4.30

0.78%

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

$1.74 BGN 2.89

$1.82 BGN 3.03

-4.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 BGN 2.38

$1.28 BGN 2.13

11.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.93 BGN 4.88

$2.88 BGN 4.79

1.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 BGN 5.37

$3.02 BGN 5.03

6.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 BGN 3.23

$1.88 BGN 3.14

3.19%

White Bread (500g)

$1.20 BGN 2.00

$1.08 BGN 1.79

11.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.99 BGN 3.31

$2.44 BGN 4.06

-18.44%

Eggs

$3.82 BGN 6.35

$3.30 BGN 5.48

15.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.54 BGN 20.86

$11.00 BGN 18.30

14.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.74 BGN 14.55

$8.46 BGN 14.08

3.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.29 BGN 22.11

$12.26 BGN 20.40

8.40%

Apples (1kg)

$1.90 BGN 3.16

$1.66 BGN 2.77

14.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.90 BGN 3.16

$2.13 BGN 3.54

-10.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.00 BGN 3.33

$1.85 BGN 3.08

8.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.84 BGN 4.73

$2.79 BGN 4.64

1.79%

Potato (1kg)

$1.10 BGN 1.83

$1.19 BGN 1.98

-7.56%

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 BGN 1.69

$1.14 BGN 1.90

-10.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 BGN 1.96

$1.03 BGN 1.71

14.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 BGN 1.10

$0.70 BGN 1.16

-5.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.81 BGN 6.33

$3.76 BGN 6.26

1.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.65 BGN 12.73

$9.12 BGN 15.16

-16.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 BGN 1.82

$1.16 BGN 1.92

-6.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 BGN 2.98

$1.92 BGN 3.19

-6.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.92 BGN 1.53

$1.20 BGN 2.00

-23.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.72 BGN 49.45

$29.96 BGN 49.84

-0.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 BGN 2.48

$1.39 BGN 2.31

7.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 BGN 1.27

$0.71 BGN 1.17

7.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.34 BGN 23.86

$12.51 BGN 20.80

14.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.51 BGN 2.51

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

$32.5K BGN 54.0K

$31.7K BGN 52.7K

2.55%

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

$28.4K BGN 47.3K

$28.7K BGN 47.7K

-0.97%

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

$154 BGN 256

$125 BGN 208

23.46%

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

$18.05 BGN 30.04

$19.16 BGN 31.87

-5.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.97 BGN 24.90

$15.85 BGN 26.37

-5.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.03 BGN 73.3

$40.38 BGN 67.2

9.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.88 BGN 36.40

$14.52 BGN 24.15

50.69%

Cinema Ticket

$9.24 BGN 15.37

$9.11 BGN 15.16

1.43%

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

$624 BGN 1,037

$400 BGN 666

55.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,327 BGN 15.5K

$5,515 BGN 9,174

69.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$71.3 BGN 119

$60.2 BGN 100

18.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.76 BGN 59.5

$33.44 BGN 55.6

6.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 BGN 175

$92.6 BGN 154

13.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 BGN 198

$100 BGN 167

18.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$696 BGN 1,157

$515 BGN 857

35.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$501 BGN 834

$391 BGN 650

28.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,296 BGN 2,157

$907 BGN 1,508

42.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$910 BGN 1,513

$646 BGN 1,075

40.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,510 BGN 7,502

$3,420 BGN 5,690

31.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,161 BGN 5,258

$2,147 BGN 3,572

47.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,674 BGN 2,786

$1,196 BGN 1,989

40.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.09

4.71

-34.39%

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

Last update for Sofia: May 30, 2026

Last update for Varna: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $696 in Sofia versus $515 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 40% 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 $51.0 in Sofia versus $47.00 in Varna. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $261 vs $253 – 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: $1,373 in Sofia, $1,189 in Varna – roughly 16% apart. Sofia costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,060 per month in Sofia and $1,783 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 $1,373 in Sofia and $1,189 in Varna. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 1% 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 $1,189, than in Sofia at $1,373. 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 $1,189 in Varna to $1,373 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.