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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,213 per month in Varna vs $783 in Karlovo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,871 per month in Varna vs $1,241 in Karlovo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,529 per month in Varna vs $1,700 in Karlovo, rent included.

Varna costs about 55% more than Karlovo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Varna and Karlovo are more affordable than the global median – Varna 9% lower, Karlovo 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.97 BGN 19.91

$7.18 BGN 11.95

66.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.96 BGN 79.8

$34.93 BGN 58.1

37.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.70 BGN 14.48

$9.03 BGN 15.02

-3.65%

Cappuccino

$2.58 BGN 4.28

$1.50 BGN 2.50

72.00%

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

$1.74 BGN 2.90

$1.11 BGN 1.84

56.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 BGN 2.22

$0.66 BGN 1.10

101.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.93 BGN 4.88

$2.04 BGN 3.39

43.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 BGN 5.05

$1.74 BGN 2.90

74.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.83 BGN 3.04

$1.21 BGN 2.02

51.24%

White Bread (500g)

$1.07 BGN 1.79

$0.84 BGN 1.39

27.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.46 BGN 4.09

$1.93 BGN 3.21

27.46%

Eggs

$3.48 BGN 5.78

$3.25 BGN 5.40

7.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.93 BGN 18.18

$9.50 BGN 15.80

15.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.26 BGN 13.73

$8.16 BGN 13.58

1.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.26 BGN 20.40

$5.93 BGN 9.87

106.75%

Apples (1kg)

$1.66 BGN 2.76

$1.33 BGN 2.21

24.81%

Banana (1kg)

$2.12 BGN 3.53

$2.11 BGN 3.51

0.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 BGN 3.11

$2.07 BGN 3.45

-9.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.69 BGN 4.48

$2.22 BGN 3.69

21.17%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 BGN 1.92

$0.45 BGN 0.75

157.78%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 BGN 1.82

$0.85 BGN 1.42

29.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 BGN 1.72

$1.00 BGN 1.67

3.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 BGN 1.17

$0.75 BGN 1.25

-6.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.76 BGN 6.26

$3.38 BGN 5.63

11.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.96 BGN 14.91

$7.12 BGN 11.84

25.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 BGN 1.84

$0.96 BGN 1.60

15.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 BGN 3.14

$1.73 BGN 2.87

9.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.14 BGN 1.90

$1.15 BGN 1.92

-0.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.99 BGN 49.89

$26.51 BGN 44.10

13.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 BGN 2.29

$1.21 BGN 2.01

14.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.67 BGN 1.11

$0.67 BGN 1.12

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.60 BGN 20.96

$13.34 BGN 22.19

-5.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.56 BGN 2.60

$1.43 BGN 2.38

9.09%

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

$32.1K BGN 53.4K

$32.2K BGN 53.6K

-0.47%

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

$29.1K BGN 48.4K

$25.2K BGN 41.9K

15.56%

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

$124 BGN 207

$95.6 BGN 159

29.96%

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

$19.06 BGN 31.71

$16.66 BGN 27.72

14.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.99 BGN 26.60

$12.94 BGN 21.52

23.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.14 BGN 66.8

$29.35 BGN 48.82

36.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.84 BGN 24.69

$14.58 BGN 24.26

1.78%

Cinema Ticket

$8.68 BGN 14.44

$5.77 BGN 9.59

50.43%

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

$403 BGN 671

$236 BGN 392

71.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,480 BGN 9,117

$4,132 BGN 6,873

32.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.4 BGN 102

$29.14 BGN 48.47

110.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.27 BGN 55.3

$11.75 BGN 19.54

183.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.7 BGN 156

$59.7 BGN 99.3

57.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 BGN 169

$47.33 BGN 78.7

114.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$514 BGN 854

$284 BGN 473

80.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$392 BGN 653

$194 BGN 323

102.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$916 BGN 1,524

$473 BGN 787

93.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$643 BGN 1,069

$352 BGN 585

82.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,293 BGN 5,478

$1,198 BGN 1,993

174.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,208 BGN 3,673

$975 BGN 1,622

126.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,193 BGN 1,985

$468 BGN 778

155.17%

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: July 19, 2026

Last update for Karlovo: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $514 in Varna versus $284 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 155% 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 $48.00 in Varna versus $35.00 in Karlovo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $251 vs $206 – 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 55%, 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 $1,819 per month in Varna and $1,174 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 13% less in Karlovo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $403 per month in Varna and $236 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 $783, than in Varna at $1,213. 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.