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 $846 per month in Stara Zagora vs $1,194 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 $1,814 per month in Stara Zagora vs $2,485 in Varna, rent included.

Stara Zagora is about 29% cheaper than Varna, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Stara Zagora and Varna are more affordable than the global median – Stara Zagora 37% lower, Varna 11% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.10 BGN 15.13

$11.85 BGN 19.71

-23.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.43 BGN 58.9

$46.45 BGN 77.3

-23.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.16 BGN 15.23

$8.96 BGN 14.90

2.23%

Cappuccino

$1.91 BGN 3.18

$2.59 BGN 4.30

-26.25%

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

$1.28 BGN 2.13

$1.76 BGN 2.93

-27.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 BGN 1.22

$1.27 BGN 2.12

-42.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.20 BGN 2.00

$3.01 BGN 5.00

-60.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 BGN 3.40

$2.88 BGN 4.79

-29.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 BGN 3.15

$1.86 BGN 3.10

2.15%

White Bread (500g)

$0.82 BGN 1.37

$1.08 BGN 1.79

-24.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 BGN 2.58

$2.52 BGN 4.20

-38.49%

Eggs

$2.27 BGN 3.78

$3.37 BGN 5.61

-32.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.13 BGN 15.19

$10.62 BGN 17.67

-14.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.36 BGN 12.25

$8.43 BGN 14.03

-12.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.49 BGN 14.12

$12.25 BGN 20.37

-30.69%

Apples (1kg)

$1.37 BGN 2.28

$1.63 BGN 2.72

-15.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 BGN 2.76

$2.15 BGN 3.57

-22.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.85 BGN 3.08

$1.84 BGN 3.07

0.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.16 BGN 3.60

$2.76 BGN 4.60

-21.74%

Potato (1kg)

$1.01 BGN 1.69

$1.16 BGN 1.93

-12.93%

Onion (1kg)

$0.81 BGN 1.35

$1.09 BGN 1.81

-25.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 BGN 0.93

$1.03 BGN 1.71

-45.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 BGN 1.19

$0.74 BGN 1.24

-4.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.92 BGN 6.52

$3.74 BGN 6.23

4.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.31 BGN 8.84

$8.62 BGN 14.33

-38.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 BGN 2.05

$1.10 BGN 1.83

11.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 BGN 3.60

$1.89 BGN 3.15

14.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 BGN 1.51

$1.21 BGN 2.02

-24.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.02 BGN 31.65

$29.77 BGN 49.52

-36.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.34 BGN 2.23

$1.39 BGN 2.32

-3.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.67 BGN 1.12

$0.66 BGN 1.10

1.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.59 BGN 19.27

$12.56 BGN 20.89

-7.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 BGN 2.47

$1.51 BGN 2.51

-1.32%

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

$24.8K BGN 41.3K

$31.8K BGN 52.9K

-21.87%

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

$17.4K BGN 29.0K

$29.3K BGN 48.7K

-40.40%

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

$101 BGN 169

$126 BGN 209

-19.31%

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

$15.19 BGN 25.26

$18.91 BGN 31.46

-19.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.35 BGN 18.88

$15.54 BGN 25.85

-26.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.34 BGN 32.17

$40.40 BGN 67.2

-52.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.37 BGN 28.90

$14.59 BGN 24.26

19.05%

Cinema Ticket

$7.88 BGN 13.11

$8.97 BGN 14.91

-12.15%

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

$232 BGN 386

$413 BGN 688

-43.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,400 BGN 3,993

$5,520 BGN 9,183

-56.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.78 BGN 64.5

$59.8 BGN 99.6

-35.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.03 BGN 31.65

$33.55 BGN 55.8

-43.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.9 BGN 130

$93.7 BGN 156

-16.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.2 BGN 125

$98.4 BGN 164

-23.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$248 BGN 413

$520 BGN 865

-52.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$226 BGN 376

$388 BGN 646

-41.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$399 BGN 664

$894 BGN 1,488

-55.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$356 BGN 592

$633 BGN 1,054

-43.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,497 BGN 2,490

$3,359 BGN 5,589

-55.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,082 BGN 1,800

$2,134 BGN 3,550

-49.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,044 BGN 1,737

$1,212 BGN 2,017

-13.88%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Varna: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $248 in Stara Zagora versus $520 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 16% 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 $46.00 in Varna. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $204 vs $251 – 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: $846 in Stara Zagora, $1,194 in Varna – roughly 41% apart. Varna costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,269 per month in Stara Zagora and $1,791 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 23% 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 $46.00 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 $846, than in Varna at $1,194. 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 $846 in Stara Zagora to $1,194 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.