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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,207 per month in Varna vs $872 in Shumen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,870 per month in Varna vs $1,388 in Shumen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,533 per month in Varna vs $1,903 in Shumen, rent included.

Varna costs about 38% more than Shumen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Varna and Shumen are more affordable than the global median – Varna 9% lower, Shumen 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.71 BGN 19.48

$9.76 BGN 16.24

19.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.60 BGN 77.5

$29.12 BGN 48.45

60.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.82 BGN 14.68

$9.09 BGN 15.13

-2.97%

Cappuccino

$2.58 BGN 4.29

$1.71 BGN 2.84

50.88%

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

$1.76 BGN 2.92

$1.33 BGN 2.22

32.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.27 BGN 2.11

$0.71 BGN 1.18

78.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 BGN 4.85

$2.08 BGN 3.46

40.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 BGN 4.77

$2.27 BGN 3.78

26.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.86 BGN 3.10

$1.62 BGN 2.70

14.81%

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 BGN 1.70

$0.94 BGN 1.57

8.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.47 BGN 4.10

$1.97 BGN 3.27

25.38%

Eggs

$3.38 BGN 5.62

$3.06 BGN 5.10

10.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.77 BGN 17.91

$9.16 BGN 15.24

17.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.41 BGN 14.00

$5.67 BGN 9.43

48.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.36 BGN 20.56

$11.44 BGN 19.03

8.04%

Apples (1kg)

$1.66 BGN 2.77

$1.71 BGN 2.85

-2.92%

Banana (1kg)

$2.08 BGN 3.47

$2.10 BGN 3.50

-0.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.84 BGN 3.06

$2.09 BGN 3.47

-11.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.66 BGN 4.43

$2.33 BGN 3.88

14.16%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 BGN 1.93

$1.50 BGN 2.50

-22.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 BGN 1.81

$1.33 BGN 2.21

-18.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 BGN 1.72

$0.93 BGN 1.55

10.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 BGN 1.18

$0.80 BGN 1.33

-11.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.79 BGN 6.31

$3.58 BGN 5.95

5.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.85 BGN 14.72

$7.46 BGN 12.41

18.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 BGN 1.90

$1.00 BGN 1.67

14.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.91 BGN 3.18

$1.60 BGN 2.66

19.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.21 BGN 2.01

$0.87 BGN 1.45

39.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.44 BGN 48.98

$26.10 BGN 43.42

12.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.40 BGN 2.33

$1.25 BGN 2.08

12.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.68 BGN 1.12

$0.31 BGN 0.51

119.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.19 BGN 20.27

$12.97 BGN 21.57

-6.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.50 BGN 2.49

$1.49 BGN 2.48

0.67%

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

$32.7K BGN 54.5K

$32.6K BGN 54.3K

0.31%

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

$28.7K BGN 47.7K

$25.8K BGN 42.9K

11.33%

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

$125 BGN 209

$94.7 BGN 158

32.45%

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

$19.00 BGN 31.61

$16.37 BGN 27.23

16.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.50 BGN 25.79

$13.71 BGN 22.80

13.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.21 BGN 68.6

$39.89 BGN 66.4

3.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.84 BGN 24.69

$11.60 BGN 19.30

27.93%

Cinema Ticket

$8.73 BGN 14.53

$7.07 BGN 11.76

23.48%

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

$413 BGN 687

$236 BGN 393

74.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,422 BGN 9,019

$10.5K BGN 17.5K

-48.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.8 BGN 99.5

$55.5 BGN 92.3

7.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.26 BGN 55.3

$41.49 BGN 69.0

-19.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.6 BGN 151

$80.7 BGN 134

12.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.3 BGN 164

$70.5 BGN 117

39.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$514 BGN 855

$277 BGN 460

85.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$392 BGN 651

$194 BGN 322

102.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$893 BGN 1,486

$510 BGN 848

75.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$652 BGN 1,085

$329 BGN 547

98.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,269 BGN 5,438

$1,291 BGN 2,147

153.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,115 BGN 3,519

$1,045 BGN 1,738

102.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,200 BGN 1,996

$1,052 BGN 1,750

14.04%

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: June 15, 2026

Last update for Shumen: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $514 in Varna versus $277 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 14% 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: $251 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: $1,207 in Varna, $872 in Shumen – roughly 38% apart. Varna costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,811 per month in Varna and $1,309 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 $1,207 in Varna and $872 in Shumen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 13% 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 $872, than in Varna at $1,207. 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 $872 in Shumen to $1,207 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.