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 $903 per month in Stara Zagora vs $1,468 in Varna, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,422 per month in Stara Zagora vs $2,264 in Varna, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,940 per month in Stara Zagora vs $3,059 in Varna, rent included.

Stara Zagora is about 38% cheaper than Varna, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Stara Zagora sits 34% below the global median, while Varna is 7% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.68 BGN 17.77

$14.11 BGN 23.47

-24.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.4 BGN 87.3

$61.8 BGN 103

-15.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.47 BGN 15.75

$10.71 BGN 17.81

-11.58%

Cappuccino

$2.34 BGN 3.89

$2.95 BGN 4.90

-20.68%

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

$1.56 BGN 2.59

$1.93 BGN 3.21

-19.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.84 BGN 1.40

$1.73 BGN 2.87

-51.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.25 BGN 3.75

$2.92 BGN 4.86

-22.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 BGN 3.43

$3.80 BGN 6.32

-45.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 BGN 3.00

$1.98 BGN 3.29

-9.09%

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 BGN 1.39

$1.32 BGN 2.19

-36.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.52 BGN 2.53

$2.66 BGN 4.42

-42.86%

Eggs

$2.42 BGN 4.03

$3.59 BGN 5.97

-32.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.38 BGN 15.60

$11.99 BGN 19.94

-21.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.75 BGN 11.23

$9.68 BGN 16.11

-30.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.71 BGN 14.50

$14.79 BGN 24.61

-41.11%

Apples (1kg)

$1.30 BGN 2.17

$1.98 BGN 3.30

-34.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.75 BGN 2.91

$2.27 BGN 3.77

-22.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.76 BGN 2.93

$2.27 BGN 3.78

-22.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.97 BGN 3.27

$3.10 BGN 5.15

-36.45%

Potato (1kg)

$1.04 BGN 1.73

$1.37 BGN 2.28

-24.09%

Onion (1kg)

$0.74 BGN 1.23

$1.12 BGN 1.86

-33.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.58 BGN 0.96

$1.06 BGN 1.76

-45.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 BGN 1.09

$0.80 BGN 1.33

-17.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.84 BGN 6.39

$4.23 BGN 7.03

-9.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.29 BGN 8.80

$9.09 BGN 15.12

-41.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 BGN 1.88

$1.19 BGN 1.98

-5.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.83 BGN 3.04

$1.87 BGN 3.11

-2.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.92 BGN 1.54

$1.14 BGN 1.90

-19.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.78 BGN 31.23

$29.17 BGN 48.53

-35.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.39 BGN 2.32

$1.52 BGN 2.53

-8.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.63 BGN 1.05

$0.91 BGN 1.52

-30.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.67 BGN 19.42

$12.55 BGN 20.87

-7.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.66 BGN 2.77

$1.73 BGN 2.89

-4.05%

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

$31.4K BGN 52.2K

$30.7K BGN 51.1K

1.98%

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

$21.8K BGN 36.3K

$26.3K BGN 43.8K

-17.14%

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

$96.0 BGN 160

$182 BGN 302

-47.18%

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

$15.63 BGN 26.00

$21.15 BGN 35.19

-26.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.41 BGN 20.65

$17.25 BGN 28.70

-28.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.08 BGN 46.72

$54.4 BGN 90.4

-48.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.42 BGN 37.31

$20.77 BGN 34.55

7.94%

Cinema Ticket

$9.15 BGN 15.22

$9.03 BGN 15.02

1.33%

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

$235 BGN 392

$520 BGN 865

-54.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,345 BGN 3,902

$6,550 BGN 10.9K

-64.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.63 BGN 52.6

$67.8 BGN 113

-53.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.06 BGN 33.37

$35.02 BGN 58.3

-42.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.1 BGN 110

$104 BGN 173

-36.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.8 BGN 89.5

$106 BGN 176

-49.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$306 BGN 509

$644 BGN 1,071

-52.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$264 BGN 439

$480 BGN 799

-45.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$514 BGN 855

$1,307 BGN 2,174

-60.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$405 BGN 674

$932 BGN 1,550

-56.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,495 BGN 2,488

$3,351 BGN 5,575

-55.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,107 BGN 1,841

$2,215 BGN 3,684

-50.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,094 BGN 1,819

$1,240 BGN 2,062

-11.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.99

2.93

2.05%

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

Last update for Stara Zagora: August 31, 2026

Last update for Varna: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $306 in Stara Zagora 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 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 $52.0 in Stara Zagora versus $62.0 in Varna. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $199 vs $283 – 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: $903 in Stara Zagora, $1,468 in Varna – roughly 63% apart. Varna costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,355 per month in Stara Zagora 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 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 42% 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 $52.0 in Stara Zagora and $62.0 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 $903, than in Varna at $1,468. 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 $903 in Stara Zagora to $1,468 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.