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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,441 per month in Varna vs $943 in Shumen, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,310 per month in Varna vs $1,474 in Shumen, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,179 per month in Varna vs $2,005 in Shumen, rent included.

Varna costs about 53% more than Shumen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Varna sits 5% above the global median, while Shumen is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.06 BGN 23.39

$9.72 BGN 16.18

44.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.4 BGN 101

$35.07 BGN 58.3

72.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.73 BGN 17.85

$9.12 BGN 15.17

17.65%

Cappuccino

$2.93 BGN 4.88

$1.81 BGN 3.00

61.88%

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

$1.88 BGN 3.12

$1.47 BGN 2.44

27.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 BGN 2.75

$1.05 BGN 1.74

57.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.01 BGN 5.00

$2.91 BGN 4.83

3.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.77 BGN 6.27

$2.90 BGN 4.82

30.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 BGN 3.24

$1.91 BGN 3.17

2.09%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 BGN 2.07

$1.12 BGN 1.86

11.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.76 BGN 4.59

$2.60 BGN 4.33

6.15%

Eggs

$3.61 BGN 6.00

$2.98 BGN 4.96

21.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.70 BGN 19.47

$9.57 BGN 15.91

22.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.25 BGN 15.38

$5.06 BGN 8.42

82.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.84 BGN 24.69

$9.18 BGN 15.27

61.66%

Apples (1kg)

$1.97 BGN 3.27

$1.56 BGN 2.60

26.28%

Banana (1kg)

$2.16 BGN 3.60

$2.12 BGN 3.53

1.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.29 BGN 3.81

$2.19 BGN 3.64

4.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.17 BGN 5.27

$2.27 BGN 3.78

39.65%

Potato (1kg)

$1.35 BGN 2.24

$2.09 BGN 3.47

-35.41%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 BGN 1.87

$1.32 BGN 2.20

-14.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 BGN 1.75

$0.83 BGN 1.38

26.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 BGN 1.30

$0.78 BGN 1.31

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.11 BGN 6.83

$3.74 BGN 6.22

9.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.85 BGN 14.72

$7.18 BGN 11.95

23.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 BGN 2.01

$0.99 BGN 1.65

22.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.83 BGN 3.05

$1.46 BGN 2.44

25.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.06 BGN 1.77

$0.92 BGN 1.53

15.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.00 BGN 49.90

$26.37 BGN 43.86

13.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.65 BGN 2.75

$1.79 BGN 2.98

-7.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.88 BGN 1.46

$0.52 BGN 0.86

69.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.56 BGN 20.90

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.74 BGN 2.89

$1.58 BGN 2.62

10.13%

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

$30.8K BGN 51.3K

$31.9K BGN 53.0K

-3.22%

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

$26.3K BGN 43.8K

$23.1K BGN 38.5K

13.73%

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

$179 BGN 298

$136 BGN 226

31.72%

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

$21.16 BGN 35.21

$18.06 BGN 30.05

17.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.42 BGN 28.98

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.5 BGN 89.1

$40.40 BGN 67.2

32.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.73 BGN 34.49

$11.74 BGN 19.53

76.58%

Cinema Ticket

$8.98 BGN 14.95

$6.99 BGN 11.62

28.47%

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

$517 BGN 859

$588 BGN 979

-12.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,405 BGN 10.7K

$10.6K BGN 17.6K

-39.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.2 BGN 110

$49.68 BGN 82.6

33.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.07 BGN 58.3

$51.8 BGN 86.2

-32.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 BGN 174

$94.2 BGN 157

11.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 BGN 175

$63.7 BGN 106

65.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$649 BGN 1,080

$276 BGN 459

135.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$487 BGN 809

$186 BGN 310

161.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,360 BGN 2,263

$439 BGN 730

209.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$933 BGN 1,552

$341 BGN 567

173.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,250 BGN 5,407

$1,261 BGN 2,098

157.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,145 BGN 3,569

$1,030 BGN 1,714

108.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,272 BGN 2,116

$1,035 BGN 1,722

22.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.9

3.25

-10.77%

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

Last update for Varna: September 14, 2026

Last update for Shumen: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $649 in Varna versus $276 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 23% 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 $60.0 in Varna versus $35.00 in Shumen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $278 vs $219 – 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: $1,441 in Varna, $943 in Shumen – roughly 53% apart. Varna costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,162 per month in Varna and $1,414 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 $1,441 in Varna and $943 in Shumen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 14% 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 $943, than in Varna at $1,441. 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 $943 in Shumen to $1,441 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.