Cost of Living Comparison Between Varna and Samokov Cost of Living Comparison Between Varna and Samokov

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,189 per month in Varna vs $996 in Samokov, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,839 per month in Varna vs $1,544 in Samokov, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,489 per month in Varna vs $2,092 in Samokov, rent included.

Varna costs about 19% more than Samokov, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Varna and Samokov are more affordable than the global median – Varna 11% lower, Samokov 26% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.58 BGN 19.26

$10.14 BGN 16.87

14.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.66 BGN 77.6

$40.59 BGN 67.5

14.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.68 BGN 14.43

$10.21 BGN 16.98

-14.99%

Cappuccino

$2.58 BGN 4.30

$1.91 BGN 3.18

35.08%

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

$1.82 BGN 3.03

$1.36 BGN 2.27

33.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.28 BGN 2.13

$1.01 BGN 1.68

26.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.88 BGN 4.79

$1.97 BGN 3.27

46.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 BGN 5.03

$3.03 BGN 5.05

-0.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 BGN 3.14

$1.99 BGN 3.31

-5.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.08 BGN 1.79

$1.02 BGN 1.69

5.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.44 BGN 4.06

$2.78 BGN 4.62

-12.23%

Eggs

$3.30 BGN 5.48

$3.74 BGN 6.23

-11.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.00 BGN 18.30

$12.90 BGN 21.47

-14.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.46 BGN 14.08

$8.53 BGN 14.20

-0.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.26 BGN 20.40

$13.01 BGN 21.64

-5.76%

Apples (1kg)

$1.66 BGN 2.77

$1.63 BGN 2.71

1.84%

Banana (1kg)

$2.13 BGN 3.54

$2.23 BGN 3.71

-4.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.85 BGN 3.08

$2.01 BGN 3.35

-7.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.79 BGN 4.64

$2.85 BGN 4.74

-2.11%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 BGN 1.98

$1.17 BGN 1.94

1.71%

Onion (1kg)

$1.14 BGN 1.90

$1.44 BGN 2.40

-20.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 BGN 1.71

$1.28 BGN 2.14

-19.53%

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

$3.69 BGN 6.13

1.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.12 BGN 15.16

$5.86 BGN 9.74

55.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 BGN 1.92

$1.20 BGN 2.00

-3.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 BGN 3.19

$1.62 BGN 2.70

18.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.20 BGN 2.00

$0.90 BGN 1.50

33.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.96 BGN 49.84

$26.70 BGN 44.43

12.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.39 BGN 2.31

$1.19 BGN 1.98

16.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.71 BGN 1.17

$0.61 BGN 1.02

16.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.51 BGN 20.80

$11.58 BGN 19.27

8.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.51 BGN 2.51

$1.55 BGN 2.59

-2.58%

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

$31.7K BGN 52.7K

$36.8K BGN 61.2K

-13.84%

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

$28.7K BGN 47.7K

$34.2K BGN 56.9K

-16.14%

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

$125 BGN 208

$121 BGN 202

2.89%

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

$19.16 BGN 31.87

$17.06 BGN 28.38

12.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.85 BGN 26.37

$13.10 BGN 21.79

20.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.38 BGN 67.2

$29.63 BGN 49.30

36.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.52 BGN 24.15

$15.01 BGN 24.98

-3.26%

Cinema Ticket

$9.11 BGN 15.16

$6.96 BGN 11.58

30.89%

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

$400 BGN 666

$329 BGN 547

21.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,515 BGN 9,174

$5,432 BGN 9,037

1.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.2 BGN 100

$44.78 BGN 74.5

34.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.44 BGN 55.6

$30.04 BGN 49.97

11.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.6 BGN 154

$130 BGN 216

-28.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$100 BGN 167

$77.4 BGN 129

29.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$515 BGN 857

$286 BGN 476

79.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$391 BGN 650

$230 BGN 382

70.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$907 BGN 1,508

$477 BGN 794

89.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$646 BGN 1,075

$352 BGN 585

83.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,420 BGN 5,690

$1,257 BGN 2,091

172.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,147 BGN 3,572

$1,228 BGN 2,043

74.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,196 BGN 1,989

$735 BGN 1,222

62.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.71

5.1

-7.65%

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

Last update for Varna: June 1, 2026

Last update for Samokov: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $515 in Varna versus $286 in Samokov. 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 63% 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 $41.00 in Samokov. Groceries tell a different story – $253 in Varna vs $262 in Samokov – so Varna wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Samokov: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Varna costs about 19% more than Samokov, 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 $1,783 per month in Varna and $1,494 in Samokov. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $400 per month in Varna and $329 in Samokov. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 4% cheaper in Varna – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Samokov, where all-in costs run around $996, than in Varna at $1,189. In Samokov it covers expenses comfortably, while in Varna it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Samokov costs $996 versus $1,189 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 Samokov. 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.