Cost of Living Comparison Between Varna and Pleven Cost of Living Comparison Between Varna and Pleven

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,223 per month in Varna vs $828 in Pleven, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,849 per month in Varna vs $1,306 in Pleven, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,476 per month in Varna vs $1,784 in Pleven, rent included.

Varna costs about 48% more than Pleven, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Varna and Pleven are more affordable than the global median – Varna 8% lower, Pleven 38% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.69 BGN 19.45

$9.07 BGN 15.09

28.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.30 BGN 78.7

$30.75 BGN 51.2

53.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.07 BGN 15.09

$6.63 BGN 11.03

36.80%

Cappuccino

$2.47 BGN 4.12

$1.90 BGN 3.17

30.00%

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

$1.73 BGN 2.87

$1.31 BGN 2.18

32.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.32 BGN 2.19

$0.73 BGN 1.22

80.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.89 BGN 4.80

$1.16 BGN 1.94

149.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 BGN 4.88

$2.07 BGN 3.45

41.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 BGN 2.98

$1.50 BGN 2.49

19.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 BGN 1.71

$0.83 BGN 1.39

24.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.44 BGN 4.05

$1.55 BGN 2.58

57.42%

Eggs

$3.44 BGN 5.73

$2.27 BGN 3.77

51.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.79 BGN 17.95

$9.07 BGN 15.09

18.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.10 BGN 13.47

$7.66 BGN 12.75

5.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.26 BGN 20.40

$8.45 BGN 14.06

45.09%

Apples (1kg)

$1.69 BGN 2.80

$1.27 BGN 2.12

33.07%

Banana (1kg)

$2.04 BGN 3.40

$1.66 BGN 2.77

22.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 BGN 3.10

$1.82 BGN 3.02

2.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.73 BGN 4.54

$2.15 BGN 3.58

26.98%

Potato (1kg)

$1.20 BGN 2.00

$1.02 BGN 1.69

17.65%

Onion (1kg)

$1.14 BGN 1.89

$0.86 BGN 1.44

32.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.00 BGN 1.66

$0.58 BGN 0.96

72.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 BGN 1.23

$0.70 BGN 1.16

5.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.74 BGN 6.22

$3.73 BGN 6.20

0.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.68 BGN 14.44

$6.44 BGN 10.71

34.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 BGN 1.85

$0.78 BGN 1.30

42.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.91 BGN 3.18

$1.17 BGN 1.95

63.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.16 BGN 1.93

$0.85 BGN 1.42

36.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.23 BGN 48.62

$41.21 BGN 68.6

-29.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 BGN 2.25

$1.38 BGN 2.30

-2.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.72 BGN 1.19

$0.72 BGN 1.20

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.42 BGN 20.67

$11.96 BGN 19.89

3.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.50 BGN 2.50

$1.47 BGN 2.44

2.04%

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

$32.3K BGN 53.8K

$25.4K BGN 42.2K

27.45%

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

$29.5K BGN 49.1K

$17.6K BGN 29.3K

67.70%

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

$124 BGN 207

$100.0 BGN 166

24.50%

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

$18.60 BGN 30.94

$14.80 BGN 24.63

25.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.89 BGN 26.43

$11.31 BGN 18.81

40.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.68 BGN 69.3

$26.80 BGN 44.59

55.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.85 BGN 24.70

$14.84 BGN 24.68

0.07%

Cinema Ticket

$8.94 BGN 14.87

$8.05 BGN 13.39

11.06%

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

$413 BGN 687

$234 BGN 390

76.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,503 BGN 9,156

$2,404 BGN 3,999

128.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.4 BGN 100

$38.08 BGN 63.4

58.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.21 BGN 55.3

$19.42 BGN 32.30

71.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.6 BGN 154

$78.1 BGN 130

18.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 BGN 170

$73.8 BGN 123

38.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$510 BGN 848

$347 BGN 576

47.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$389 BGN 647

$179 BGN 298

117.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$893 BGN 1,485

$594 BGN 988

50.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$650 BGN 1,082

$341 BGN 568

90.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,269 BGN 5,438

$1,448 BGN 2,409

125.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,167 BGN 3,606

$1,128 BGN 1,876

92.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,207 BGN 2,008

$930 BGN 1,547

29.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.71

3.4

38.53%

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

Last update for Varna: July 28, 2026

Last update for Pleven: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $510 in Varna versus $347 in Pleven. 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 30% 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 $31.00 in Pleven. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $198 – making Pleven 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 Pleven: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,223 in Varna, $828 in Pleven – roughly 48% apart. Varna costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,834 per month in Varna and $1,242 in Pleven. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 25% 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 $47.00 in Varna and $31.00 in Pleven. 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 Pleven, where all-in costs run around $828, than in Varna at $1,223. In Pleven 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 $828 in Pleven to $1,223 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 Pleven. 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.