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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,486 per month in Varna vs $813 in Karlovo, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,323 per month in Varna vs $1,321 in Karlovo, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,161 per month in Varna vs $1,830 in Karlovo, rent included.

Varna costs about 83% more than Karlovo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Varna sits 8% above the global median, while Karlovo is 41% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.23 BGN 23.67

$7.45 BGN 12.40

91.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.9 BGN 99.6

$35.69 BGN 59.4

67.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.72 BGN 17.83

$9.08 BGN 15.11

18.06%

Cappuccino

$2.97 BGN 4.94

$1.53 BGN 2.55

94.12%

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

$1.96 BGN 3.27

$1.12 BGN 1.86

75.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 BGN 2.79

$0.73 BGN 1.22

128.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.89 BGN 4.80

$2.05 BGN 3.41

40.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 BGN 6.16

$1.76 BGN 2.93

110.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.01 BGN 3.34

$1.21 BGN 2.01

66.12%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 BGN 2.14

$0.86 BGN 1.43

48.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.70 BGN 4.49

$1.95 BGN 3.24

38.46%

Eggs

$3.72 BGN 6.18

$3.41 BGN 5.67

9.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.67 BGN 19.42

$9.49 BGN 15.79

22.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.35 BGN 15.56

$8.38 BGN 13.94

11.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.86 BGN 24.72

$5.78 BGN 9.61

157.09%

Apples (1kg)

$2.07 BGN 3.45

$1.29 BGN 2.15

60.47%

Banana (1kg)

$2.27 BGN 3.78

$2.01 BGN 3.34

12.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 BGN 3.68

$1.99 BGN 3.31

11.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.19 BGN 5.31

$2.28 BGN 3.79

39.91%

Potato (1kg)

$1.30 BGN 2.16

$0.50 BGN 0.83

160.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.08 BGN 1.80

$0.90 BGN 1.50

20.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 BGN 1.75

$0.99 BGN 1.64

6.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 BGN 1.43

$0.76 BGN 1.26

13.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.24 BGN 7.06

$3.53 BGN 5.87

20.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.94 BGN 14.87

$7.20 BGN 11.99

24.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 BGN 2.12

$1.01 BGN 1.68

26.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 BGN 3.24

$1.94 BGN 3.22

0.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.04 BGN 1.72

$1.16 BGN 1.92

-10.34%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.45 BGN 48.99

$24.86 BGN 41.36

18.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.58 BGN 2.62

$1.16 BGN 1.93

36.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.93 BGN 1.54

$0.75 BGN 1.24

24.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.45 BGN 20.71

$12.63 BGN 21.01

-1.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.75 BGN 2.90

$1.51 BGN 2.52

15.89%

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

$31.6K BGN 52.6K

$31.5K BGN 52.4K

0.43%

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

$26.2K BGN 43.7K

$23.5K BGN 39.0K

11.89%

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

$179 BGN 297

$112 BGN 186

59.58%

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

$21.82 BGN 36.30

$15.03 BGN 25.00

45.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.25 BGN 28.70

$12.36 BGN 20.56

39.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.8 BGN 89.5

$31.68 BGN 52.7

69.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.59 BGN 34.25

$17.77 BGN 29.56

15.87%

Cinema Ticket

$9.10 BGN 15.14

$5.92 BGN 9.85

53.72%

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

$536 BGN 892

$241 BGN 401

122.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,573 BGN 10.9K

$6,019 BGN 10.0K

9.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.2 BGN 112

$29.79 BGN 49.56

125.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.37 BGN 57.2

$12.02 BGN 19.99

185.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 BGN 173

$58.2 BGN 96.9

79.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 BGN 176

$47.96 BGN 79.8

121.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$636 BGN 1,059

$344 BGN 572

85.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$489 BGN 813

$198 BGN 329

147.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,359 BGN 2,261

$559 BGN 930

143.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$927 BGN 1,542

$409 BGN 680

126.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,327 BGN 5,534

$1,390 BGN 2,312

139.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,199 BGN 3,659

$1,110 BGN 1,847

98.10%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,297 BGN 2,158

$476 BGN 792

172.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.9

3.25

-10.77%

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

Last update for Varna: September 6, 2026

Last update for Karlovo: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $636 in Varna versus $344 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 172% 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 $60.0 in Varna versus $36.00 in Karlovo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $283 vs $207 – 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 83%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,229 per month in Varna and $1,219 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 18% less in Karlovo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $536 per month in Varna and $241 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 $813, than in Varna at $1,486. 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.