Cost of Living Comparison Between Varna and Karlovo Cost of Living Comparison Between Varna and Karlovo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,189 per month in Varna vs $791 in Karlovo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,839 per month in Varna vs $1,255 in Karlovo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,489 per month in Varna vs $1,718 in Karlovo, rent included.

Varna costs about 50% more than Karlovo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Varna and Karlovo are more affordable than the global median – Varna 11% lower, Karlovo 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.58 BGN 19.26

$7.49 BGN 12.46

54.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.66 BGN 77.6

$35.49 BGN 59.0

31.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.68 BGN 14.43

$8.94 BGN 14.87

-2.91%

Cappuccino

$2.58 BGN 4.30

$1.50 BGN 2.49

72.00%

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

$1.82 BGN 3.03

$1.08 BGN 1.80

68.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.28 BGN 2.13

$0.70 BGN 1.16

82.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.88 BGN 4.79

$2.09 BGN 3.48

37.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 BGN 5.03

$1.80 BGN 2.99

67.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 BGN 3.14

$1.15 BGN 1.91

63.48%

White Bread (500g)

$1.08 BGN 1.79

$0.86 BGN 1.43

25.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.44 BGN 4.06

$1.91 BGN 3.18

27.75%

Eggs

$3.30 BGN 5.48

$3.36 BGN 5.59

-1.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.00 BGN 18.30

$9.28 BGN 15.43

18.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.46 BGN 14.08

$7.76 BGN 12.92

9.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.26 BGN 20.40

$5.94 BGN 9.88

106.40%

Apples (1kg)

$1.66 BGN 2.77

$1.28 BGN 2.14

29.69%

Banana (1kg)

$2.13 BGN 3.54

$2.14 BGN 3.56

-0.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.85 BGN 3.08

$2.08 BGN 3.46

-11.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.79 BGN 4.64

$2.21 BGN 3.68

26.24%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 BGN 1.98

$0.45 BGN 0.75

164.44%

Onion (1kg)

$1.14 BGN 1.90

$0.87 BGN 1.44

31.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 BGN 1.71

$1.06 BGN 1.76

-2.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 BGN 1.16

$0.78 BGN 1.30

-10.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.76 BGN 6.26

$3.41 BGN 5.67

10.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.12 BGN 15.16

$6.65 BGN 11.07

37.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 BGN 1.92

$1.01 BGN 1.67

14.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 BGN 3.19

$1.81 BGN 3.01

6.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.20 BGN 2.00

$1.17 BGN 1.94

2.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.96 BGN 49.84

$27.08 BGN 45.04

10.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.39 BGN 2.31

$1.21 BGN 2.02

14.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.71 BGN 1.17

$0.70 BGN 1.17

1.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.51 BGN 20.80

$13.19 BGN 21.94

-5.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.51 BGN 2.51

$1.45 BGN 2.41

4.14%

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

$31.7K BGN 52.7K

$32.0K BGN 53.2K

-1.03%

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

$28.7K BGN 47.7K

$25.2K BGN 41.8K

14.06%

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

$125 BGN 208

$95.7 BGN 159

30.34%

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

$19.16 BGN 31.87

$16.31 BGN 27.13

17.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.85 BGN 26.37

$12.75 BGN 21.20

24.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.38 BGN 67.2

$29.31 BGN 48.75

37.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.52 BGN 24.15

$14.82 BGN 24.66

-2.02%

Cinema Ticket

$9.11 BGN 15.16

$5.74 BGN 9.54

58.71%

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

$400 BGN 666

$234 BGN 389

70.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,515 BGN 9,174

$4,076 BGN 6,781

35.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.2 BGN 100

$29.19 BGN 48.57

106.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.44 BGN 55.6

$12.03 BGN 20.01

177.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.6 BGN 154

$59.6 BGN 99.1

55.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$100 BGN 167

$47.03 BGN 78.2

113.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$515 BGN 857

$289 BGN 481

78.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$391 BGN 650

$197 BGN 328

98.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$907 BGN 1,508

$473 BGN 787

91.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$646 BGN 1,075

$355 BGN 590

82.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,420 BGN 5,690

$1,367 BGN 2,275

150.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,147 BGN 3,572

$1,110 BGN 1,847

93.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,196 BGN 1,989

$485 BGN 807

146.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.71

4.57

3.06%

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

Last update for Varna: June 1, 2026

Last update for Karlovo: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $515 in Varna versus $289 in Karlovo. 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 146% 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 $47.00 in Varna versus $35.00 in Karlovo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $253 vs $203 – making Karlovo 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 Karlovo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Varna is pricier by about 50%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,783 per month in Varna and $1,187 in Karlovo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Karlovo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 11% less in Karlovo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $400 per month in Varna and $234 in Karlovo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Karlovo, where all-in costs run around $791, than in Varna at $1,189. In Karlovo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Varna it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Karlovo – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Karlovo. 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.