Cost of Living Comparison Between Varna and Shumen Cost of Living Comparison Between Varna and Shumen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,197 per month in Varna vs $878 in Shumen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,871 per month in Varna vs $1,375 in Shumen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,545 per month in Varna vs $1,872 in Shumen, rent included.

Varna costs about 36% more than Shumen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Varna and Shumen are more affordable than the global median – Varna 11% lower, Shumen 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.83 BGN 19.76

$9.76 BGN 16.30

21.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.05 BGN 80.2

$30.01 BGN 50.1

60.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.08 BGN 15.17

$8.66 BGN 14.47

4.85%

Cappuccino

$2.52 BGN 4.21

$1.66 BGN 2.77

51.81%

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

$1.75 BGN 2.92

$1.38 BGN 2.30

26.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.34 BGN 2.23

$0.70 BGN 1.16

91.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.02 BGN 5.04

$1.98 BGN 3.31

52.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 BGN 4.81

$2.37 BGN 3.95

21.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 BGN 3.12

$1.68 BGN 2.81

11.31%

White Bread (500g)

$1.08 BGN 1.80

$0.96 BGN 1.60

12.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.54 BGN 4.24

$1.87 BGN 3.13

35.83%

Eggs

$3.32 BGN 5.54

$3.02 BGN 5.04

9.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.96 BGN 18.31

$9.69 BGN 16.19

13.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.13 BGN 13.57

$5.90 BGN 9.85

37.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.21 BGN 20.40

$11.53 BGN 19.26

5.90%

Apples (1kg)

$1.67 BGN 2.79

$1.75 BGN 2.93

-4.57%

Banana (1kg)

$2.04 BGN 3.40

$2.07 BGN 3.46

-1.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.80 BGN 3.00

$2.05 BGN 3.42

-12.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.68 BGN 4.48

$2.28 BGN 3.81

17.54%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 BGN 1.92

$1.50 BGN 2.50

-23.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.14 BGN 1.91

$1.38 BGN 2.30

-17.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 BGN 1.73

$0.97 BGN 1.62

7.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 BGN 1.24

$0.79 BGN 1.31

-6.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.85 BGN 6.42

$3.63 BGN 6.07

6.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.64 BGN 12.75

$7.27 BGN 12.15

5.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 BGN 1.85

$1.00 BGN 1.67

11.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 BGN 3.07

$1.62 BGN 2.70

13.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.15 BGN 1.91

$0.89 BGN 1.48

29.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.53 BGN 49.32

$26.38 BGN 44.06

11.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 BGN 2.25

$1.26 BGN 2.10

7.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.67 BGN 1.11

$0.31 BGN 0.51

116.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.27 BGN 20.49

$13.29 BGN 22.20

-7.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 BGN 2.57

$1.49 BGN 2.49

3.36%

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

$32.9K BGN 54.9K

$32.6K BGN 54.5K

0.78%

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

$28.8K BGN 48.2K

$25.6K BGN 42.8K

12.46%

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

$124 BGN 207

$95.1 BGN 159

30.00%

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

$18.70 BGN 31.23

$16.85 BGN 28.14

10.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.83 BGN 26.43

$14.05 BGN 23.46

12.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.64 BGN 67.9

$39.44 BGN 65.9

3.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.50 BGN 24.21

$11.87 BGN 19.82

22.16%

Cinema Ticket

$8.61 BGN 14.37

$7.17 BGN 11.98

20.08%

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

$412 BGN 688

$235 BGN 392

75.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,541 BGN 9,254

$10.6K BGN 17.7K

-47.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.0 BGN 104

$54.6 BGN 91.2

13.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.87 BGN 56.6

$41.70 BGN 69.6

-18.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.6 BGN 153

$83.4 BGN 139

9.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 BGN 170

$72.4 BGN 121

40.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$506 BGN 846

$278 BGN 464

82.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 BGN 652

$189 BGN 315

106.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$895 BGN 1,495

$494 BGN 826

81.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$639 BGN 1,067

$324 BGN 541

97.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,152 BGN 5,264

$1,299 BGN 2,169

142.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,018 BGN 3,371

$1,039 BGN 1,735

94.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,222 BGN 2,040

$1,053 BGN 1,759

16.00%

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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Shumen: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $506 in Varna versus $278 in Shumen. 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 16% 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 $30.00 in Shumen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $248 vs $223 – making Shumen 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 Shumen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,197 in Varna, $878 in Shumen – roughly 36% apart. Varna costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,795 per month in Varna and $1,317 in Shumen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Shumen, 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 $1,197 in Varna and $878 in Shumen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

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

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Shumen, where all-in costs run around $878, than in Varna at $1,197. In Shumen 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 $878 in Shumen to $1,197 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 Shumen. 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.