Cost of Living Comparison Between Stara Zagora and Varna Cost of Living Comparison Between Stara Zagora and Varna

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $864 per month in Stara Zagora vs $1,189 in Varna, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,330 per month in Stara Zagora vs $1,839 in Varna, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,796 per month in Stara Zagora vs $2,489 in Varna, rent included.

Stara Zagora is about 27% cheaper than Varna, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Stara Zagora and Varna are more affordable than the global median – Stara Zagora 36% lower, Varna 11% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.82 BGN 14.68

$11.58 BGN 19.26

-23.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.74 BGN 57.8

$46.66 BGN 77.6

-25.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.99 BGN 14.95

$8.68 BGN 14.43

3.57%

Cappuccino

$1.87 BGN 3.11

$2.58 BGN 4.30

-27.52%

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

$1.27 BGN 2.11

$1.82 BGN 3.03

-30.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 BGN 1.22

$1.28 BGN 2.13

-42.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.17 BGN 1.94

$2.88 BGN 4.79

-59.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 BGN 3.35

$3.02 BGN 5.03

-33.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.86 BGN 3.09

$1.88 BGN 3.14

-1.06%

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 BGN 1.29

$1.08 BGN 1.79

-27.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 BGN 2.56

$2.44 BGN 4.06

-36.89%

Eggs

$2.25 BGN 3.74

$3.30 BGN 5.48

-31.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.15 BGN 15.21

$11.00 BGN 18.30

-16.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.52 BGN 12.51

$8.46 BGN 14.08

-11.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.65 BGN 14.39

$12.26 BGN 20.40

-29.45%

Apples (1kg)

$1.37 BGN 2.27

$1.66 BGN 2.77

-17.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 BGN 2.76

$2.13 BGN 3.54

-22.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.88 BGN 3.13

$1.85 BGN 3.08

1.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.14 BGN 3.55

$2.79 BGN 4.64

-23.30%

Potato (1kg)

$1.01 BGN 1.67

$1.19 BGN 1.98

-15.13%

Onion (1kg)

$0.85 BGN 1.42

$1.14 BGN 1.90

-25.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.57 BGN 0.95

$1.03 BGN 1.71

-44.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 BGN 1.24

$0.70 BGN 1.16

7.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.84 BGN 6.39

$3.76 BGN 6.26

2.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.34 BGN 8.88

$9.12 BGN 15.16

-41.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.22 BGN 2.03

$1.16 BGN 1.92

5.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 BGN 3.62

$1.92 BGN 3.19

13.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.92 BGN 1.54

$1.20 BGN 2.00

-23.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.95 BGN 31.52

$29.96 BGN 49.84

-36.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 BGN 2.29

$1.39 BGN 2.31

-0.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 BGN 1.17

$0.71 BGN 1.17

-1.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.66 BGN 19.39

$12.51 BGN 20.80

-6.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 BGN 2.55

$1.51 BGN 2.51

1.99%

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

$24.7K BGN 41.0K

$31.7K BGN 52.7K

-22.18%

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

$17.9K BGN 29.8K

$28.7K BGN 47.7K

-37.47%

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

$104 BGN 173

$125 BGN 208

-16.80%

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

$15.07 BGN 25.06

$19.16 BGN 31.87

-21.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.04 BGN 18.36

$15.85 BGN 26.37

-30.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.66 BGN 32.70

$40.38 BGN 67.2

-51.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.48 BGN 29.08

$14.52 BGN 24.15

20.39%

Cinema Ticket

$7.78 BGN 12.94

$9.11 BGN 15.16

-14.60%

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

$232 BGN 386

$400 BGN 666

-41.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,361 BGN 3,927

$5,515 BGN 9,174

-57.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.22 BGN 63.6

$60.2 BGN 100

-36.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.85 BGN 31.36

$33.44 BGN 55.6

-43.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.1 BGN 127

$92.6 BGN 154

-17.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.7 BGN 126

$100 BGN 167

-24.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$244 BGN 406

$515 BGN 857

-52.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$232 BGN 386

$391 BGN 650

-40.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$399 BGN 663

$907 BGN 1,508

-56.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 BGN 612

$646 BGN 1,075

-43.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,508 BGN 2,508

$3,420 BGN 5,690

-55.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,120 BGN 1,863

$2,147 BGN 3,572

-47.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,062 BGN 1,767

$1,196 BGN 1,989

-11.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.4

4.71

-27.81%

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

Last update for Stara Zagora: May 31, 2026

Last update for Varna: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $244 in Stara Zagora 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 13% 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 $35.00 in Stara Zagora versus $47.00 in Varna. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $204 vs $253 – making Stara Zagora 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

Stara Zagora vs Varna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $864 in Stara Zagora, $1,189 in Varna – roughly 38% apart. Varna costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,296 per month in Stara Zagora 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 Stara Zagora, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 24% more in Varna, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Stara Zagora and $47.00 in Varna. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Stara Zagora, where all-in costs run around $864, than in Varna at $1,189. In Stara Zagora 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 $864 in Stara Zagora to $1,189 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 Stara Zagora. 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.