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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,223 per month in Varna vs $889 in Shumen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,849 per month in Varna vs $1,376 in Shumen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,476 per month in Varna vs $1,862 in Shumen, rent included.

Varna costs about 37% more than Shumen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Varna and Shumen are more affordable than the global median – Varna 8% lower, Shumen 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.69 BGN 19.45

$9.49 BGN 15.80

23.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.30 BGN 78.7

$29.38 BGN 48.87

60.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.07 BGN 15.09

$8.66 BGN 14.41

4.73%

Cappuccino

$2.47 BGN 4.12

$1.70 BGN 2.83

45.29%

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

$1.73 BGN 2.87

$1.37 BGN 2.28

26.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.32 BGN 2.19

$0.71 BGN 1.19

85.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.89 BGN 4.80

$2.01 BGN 3.34

43.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 BGN 4.88

$2.33 BGN 3.87

25.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 BGN 2.98

$1.64 BGN 2.73

9.15%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 BGN 1.71

$0.95 BGN 1.59

8.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.44 BGN 4.05

$1.91 BGN 3.18

27.75%

Eggs

$3.44 BGN 5.73

$3.08 BGN 5.12

11.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.79 BGN 17.95

$9.41 BGN 15.66

14.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.10 BGN 13.47

$5.63 BGN 9.37

43.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.26 BGN 20.40

$11.73 BGN 19.51

4.52%

Apples (1kg)

$1.69 BGN 2.80

$1.76 BGN 2.93

-3.98%

Banana (1kg)

$2.04 BGN 3.40

$2.05 BGN 3.41

-0.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 BGN 3.10

$2.06 BGN 3.42

-9.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.73 BGN 4.54

$2.25 BGN 3.74

21.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.20 BGN 2.00

$1.45 BGN 2.42

-17.24%

Onion (1kg)

$1.14 BGN 1.89

$1.33 BGN 2.21

-14.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.00 BGN 1.66

$0.93 BGN 1.54

7.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 BGN 1.23

$0.79 BGN 1.31

-6.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.74 BGN 6.22

$3.57 BGN 5.94

4.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.68 BGN 14.44

$7.22 BGN 12.00

20.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 BGN 1.85

$0.93 BGN 1.55

19.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.91 BGN 3.18

$1.61 BGN 2.68

18.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.16 BGN 1.93

$0.87 BGN 1.45

33.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.23 BGN 48.62

$26.71 BGN 44.44

9.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 BGN 2.25

$1.25 BGN 2.08

8.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.72 BGN 1.19

$0.31 BGN 0.51

132.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.42 BGN 20.67

$13.36 BGN 22.22

-7.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.50 BGN 2.50

$1.49 BGN 2.47

0.67%

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

$32.3K BGN 53.8K

$32.0K BGN 53.2K

1.20%

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

$29.5K BGN 49.1K

$25.2K BGN 41.9K

17.16%

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

$124 BGN 207

$96.4 BGN 160

29.17%

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

$18.60 BGN 30.94

$16.33 BGN 27.16

13.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.89 BGN 26.43

$13.90 BGN 23.13

14.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.68 BGN 69.3

$39.73 BGN 66.1

4.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.85 BGN 24.70

$11.67 BGN 19.41

27.25%

Cinema Ticket

$8.94 BGN 14.87

$6.94 BGN 11.54

28.82%

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

$413 BGN 687

$237 BGN 394

74.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,503 BGN 9,156

$10.6K BGN 17.6K

-47.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.4 BGN 100

$54.5 BGN 90.6

10.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.21 BGN 55.3

$41.57 BGN 69.2

-20.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.6 BGN 154

$83.1 BGN 138

11.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 BGN 170

$72.2 BGN 120

41.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$510 BGN 848

$272 BGN 452

87.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$389 BGN 647

$189 BGN 314

105.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$893 BGN 1,485

$508 BGN 844

75.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$650 BGN 1,082

$326 BGN 542

99.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,269 BGN 5,438

$1,289 BGN 2,144

153.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,167 BGN 3,606

$1,017 BGN 1,691

113.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,207 BGN 2,008

$1,034 BGN 1,719

16.81%

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 28, 2026

Last update for Shumen: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $510 in Varna versus $272 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 17% 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 $29.00 in Shumen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $221 – 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: $1,223 in Varna, $889 in Shumen – roughly 37% apart. Varna costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,834 per month in Varna and $1,334 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 $1,223 in Varna and $889 in Shumen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 9% 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 $889, than in Varna at $1,223. 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 $889 in Shumen 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 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.