Cost of Living Comparison Between Varna and Sandanski Cost of Living Comparison Between Varna and Sandanski

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,194 per month in Varna vs $979 in Sandanski, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,839 per month in Varna vs $1,528 in Sandanski, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,485 per month in Varna vs $2,078 in Sandanski, rent included.

Varna costs about 22% more than Sandanski, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Varna and Sandanski are more affordable than the global median – Varna 11% lower, Sandanski 27% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.85 BGN 19.71

$9.06 BGN 15.06

30.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.45 BGN 77.3

$47.59 BGN 79.2

-2.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.96 BGN 14.90

$8.38 BGN 13.94

6.92%

Cappuccino

$2.59 BGN 4.30

$2.43 BGN 4.04

6.58%

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

$1.76 BGN 2.93

$1.44 BGN 2.40

22.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.27 BGN 2.12

$0.86 BGN 1.43

47.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.01 BGN 5.00

$3.03 BGN 5.05

-0.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 BGN 4.79

$2.90 BGN 4.82

-0.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.86 BGN 3.10

$1.79 BGN 2.97

3.91%

White Bread (500g)

$1.08 BGN 1.79

$1.05 BGN 1.75

2.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.52 BGN 4.20

$2.17 BGN 3.62

16.13%

Eggs

$3.37 BGN 5.61

$3.18 BGN 5.29

5.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.62 BGN 17.67

$11.88 BGN 19.76

-10.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.43 BGN 14.03

$7.84 BGN 13.03

7.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.25 BGN 20.37

$12.09 BGN 20.11

1.32%

Apples (1kg)

$1.63 BGN 2.72

$1.56 BGN 2.59

4.49%

Banana (1kg)

$2.15 BGN 3.57

$1.74 BGN 2.90

23.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.84 BGN 3.07

$1.60 BGN 2.66

15.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.76 BGN 4.60

$1.80 BGN 3.00

53.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 BGN 1.93

$1.00 BGN 1.66

16.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 BGN 1.81

$1.15 BGN 1.92

-5.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 BGN 1.71

$1.09 BGN 1.82

-5.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 BGN 1.24

$0.83 BGN 1.38

-10.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.74 BGN 6.23

$3.44 BGN 5.73

8.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.62 BGN 14.33

$5.73 BGN 9.54

50.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.10 BGN 1.83

$0.97 BGN 1.61

13.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 BGN 3.15

$1.39 BGN 2.31

35.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.21 BGN 2.02

$0.91 BGN 1.51

32.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.77 BGN 49.52

$26.66 BGN 44.35

11.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.39 BGN 2.32

$1.20 BGN 1.99

15.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.66 BGN 1.10

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.56 BGN 20.89

$10.73 BGN 17.85

17.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.51 BGN 2.51

$1.52 BGN 2.52

-0.66%

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

$31.8K BGN 52.9K

$32.0K BGN 53.3K

-0.76%

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

$29.3K BGN 48.7K

$28.4K BGN 47.3K

2.99%

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

$126 BGN 209

$96.1 BGN 160

30.82%

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

$18.91 BGN 31.46

$18.08 BGN 30.08

4.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.54 BGN 25.85

$15.45 BGN 25.69

0.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.40 BGN 67.2

$29.12 BGN 48.45

38.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.59 BGN 24.26

$14.85 BGN 24.70

-1.75%

Cinema Ticket

$8.97 BGN 14.91

$9.32 BGN 15.51

-3.76%

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

$413 BGN 688

$431 BGN 716

-4.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,520 BGN 9,183

$5,541 BGN 9,219

-0.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.8 BGN 99.6

$61.1 BGN 102

-2.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.55 BGN 55.8

$35.25 BGN 58.7

-4.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.7 BGN 156

$101 BGN 168

-6.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.4 BGN 164

$106 BGN 176

-6.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$520 BGN 865

$288 BGN 479

80.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$388 BGN 646

$234 BGN 390

65.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 BGN 1,488

$479 BGN 797

86.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$633 BGN 1,054

$360 BGN 599

75.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,359 BGN 5,589

$1,357 BGN 2,258

147.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,134 BGN 3,550

$1,088 BGN 1,810

96.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,212 BGN 2,017

$582 BGN 969

108.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.71

4.49

4.90%

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

Last update for Varna: July 12, 2026

Last update for Sandanski: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $520 in Varna versus $288 in Sandanski. 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 108% 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 $46.00 in Varna versus $48.00 in Sandanski. Groceries tell a different story – $251 in Varna vs $233 in Sandanski – so Sandanski 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 Sandanski: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,194 in Varna, $979 in Sandanski – roughly 22% apart. Varna costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,791 per month in Varna and $1,469 in Sandanski. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,194 in Varna and $979 in Sandanski. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 12% less in Sandanski. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sandanski, where all-in costs run around $979, than in Varna at $1,194. In Sandanski 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 $979 in Sandanski to $1,194 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 Sandanski. 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.