Cost of Living Comparison Between Varna and Kardzhali Cost of Living Comparison Between Varna and Kardzhali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,197 per month in Varna vs $717 in Kardzhali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,871 per month in Varna vs $1,175 in Kardzhali, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,545 per month in Varna vs $1,633 in Kardzhali, rent included.

Varna costs about 67% more than Kardzhali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Varna and Kardzhali are more affordable than the global median – Varna 11% lower, Kardzhali 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.83 BGN 19.76

$9.09 BGN 15.19

30.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.05 BGN 80.2

$26.92 BGN 44.96

78.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.08 BGN 15.17

$9.02 BGN 15.06

0.67%

Cappuccino

$2.52 BGN 4.21

$1.16 BGN 1.93

117.24%

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

$1.75 BGN 2.92

$0.86 BGN 1.44

103.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.34 BGN 2.23

$1.47 BGN 2.45

-8.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.02 BGN 5.04

$1.66 BGN 2.78

81.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 BGN 4.81

$1.32 BGN 2.21

118.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 BGN 3.12

$1.81 BGN 3.02

3.31%

White Bread (500g)

$1.08 BGN 1.80

$0.83 BGN 1.39

30.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.54 BGN 4.24

$1.81 BGN 3.02

40.33%

Eggs

$3.32 BGN 5.54

$3.15 BGN 5.25

5.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.96 BGN 18.31

$12.44 BGN 20.78

-11.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.13 BGN 13.57

$8.74 BGN 14.60

-6.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.21 BGN 20.40

$13.27 BGN 22.16

-7.99%

Apples (1kg)

$1.67 BGN 2.79

$1.83 BGN 3.05

-8.74%

Banana (1kg)

$2.04 BGN 3.40

$1.89 BGN 3.15

7.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.80 BGN 3.00

$1.94 BGN 3.23

-7.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.68 BGN 4.48

$2.15 BGN 3.60

24.65%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 BGN 1.92

$0.88 BGN 1.47

30.68%

Onion (1kg)

$1.14 BGN 1.91

$1.06 BGN 1.76

7.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 BGN 1.73

$0.85 BGN 1.41

22.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 BGN 1.24

$0.71 BGN 1.19

4.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.85 BGN 6.42

$3.73 BGN 6.23

3.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.64 BGN 12.75

$4.63 BGN 7.73

65.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 BGN 1.85

$1.10 BGN 1.84

0.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 BGN 3.07

$1.77 BGN 2.95

3.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.15 BGN 1.91

$0.30 BGN 0.51

283.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.53 BGN 49.32

$9.02 BGN 15.07

227.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 BGN 2.25

$1.05 BGN 1.75

28.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.67 BGN 1.11

$0.72 BGN 1.20

-6.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.27 BGN 20.49

$13.96 BGN 23.32

-12.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 BGN 2.57

$1.49 BGN 2.48

3.36%

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

$32.9K BGN 54.9K

$32.3K BGN 54.0K

1.68%

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

$28.8K BGN 48.2K

$29.3K BGN 49.0K

-1.64%

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

$124 BGN 207

$62.0 BGN 104

99.42%

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

$18.70 BGN 31.23

$18.05 BGN 30.15

3.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.83 BGN 26.43

$5.99 BGN 10.01

164.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.64 BGN 67.9

$29.68 BGN 49.56

36.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.50 BGN 24.21

$15.01 BGN 25.06

-3.40%

Cinema Ticket

$8.61 BGN 14.37

$9.24 BGN 15.43

-6.82%

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

$412 BGN 688

$635 BGN 1,060

-35.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,541 BGN 9,254

$9,240 BGN 15.4K

-40.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.0 BGN 104

$29.92 BGN 49.96

107.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.87 BGN 56.6

$17.56 BGN 29.33

92.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.6 BGN 153

$46.39 BGN 77.5

97.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 BGN 170

$90.0 BGN 150

12.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$506 BGN 846

$118 BGN 197

328.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 BGN 652

$116 BGN 194

236.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$895 BGN 1,495

$237 BGN 396

277.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$639 BGN 1,067

$205 BGN 343

211.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,152 BGN 5,264

$1,207 BGN 2,015

161.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,018 BGN 3,371

$875 BGN 1,461

130.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,222 BGN 2,040

$1,341 BGN 2,240

-8.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.71

3.1

51.94%

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

Last update for Varna: April 26, 2026

Last update for Kardzhali: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $506 in Varna versus $118 in Kardzhali. 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 10% higher in Kardzhali, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Varna versus $27.00 in Kardzhali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $248 vs $241 – making Kardzhali 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

Varna vs Kardzhali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Varna costs about 67% more than Kardzhali, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,795 per month in Varna and $1,075 in Kardzhali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Kardzhali, 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 $1,197 in Varna and $717 in Kardzhali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 227% less in Kardzhali. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kardzhali, where all-in costs run around $717, than in Varna at $1,197. In Kardzhali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Varna it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kardzhali costs $717 versus $1,197 in Varna. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Kardzhali. 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.