Cost of Living Comparison Between Varna and Silistra Cost of Living Comparison Between Varna and Silistra

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,189 in Varna versus $922 in Silistra.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,839 in Varna versus $1,357 in Silistra.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,489 in Varna versus $1,792 in Silistra.

Living in Varna is roughly 29% more expensive than Silistra, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Varna 11% lower, Silistra 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Varna
Silistra
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.58 BGN 19.26
$10.74 BGN 17.86
7.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.66 BGN 77.6
$24.98 BGN 41.56
86.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.68 BGN 14.43
$8.98 BGN 14.94
-3.34%
Cappuccino
$2.58 BGN 4.30
$1.81 BGN 3.02
42.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82 BGN 3.03
$1.20 BGN 2.00
51.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 BGN 2.13
$0.67 BGN 1.11
91.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.88 BGN 4.79
$1.87 BGN 3.12
54.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02 BGN 5.03
$2.57 BGN 4.28
17.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Varna
Silistra
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.88 BGN 3.14
$1.69 BGN 2.80
11.24%
White Bread (500g)
$1.08 BGN 1.79
$0.90 BGN 1.51
20.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.44 BGN 4.06
$1.95 BGN 3.24
25.13%
Eggs
$3.30 BGN 5.48
$3.29 BGN 5.47
0.30%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.00 BGN 18.30
$9.20 BGN 15.31
19.57%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.46 BGN 14.08
$7.75 BGN 12.89
9.16%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.26 BGN 20.40
$11.70 BGN 19.46
4.79%
Apples (1kg)
$1.66 BGN 2.77
$1.93 BGN 3.20
-13.99%
Banana (1kg)
$2.13 BGN 3.54
$2.03 BGN 3.39
4.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.85 BGN 3.08
$2.08 BGN 3.46
-11.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.79 BGN 4.64
$2.48 BGN 4.13
12.50%
Potato (1kg)
$1.19 BGN 1.98
$1.43 BGN 2.38
-16.78%
Onion (1kg)
$1.14 BGN 1.90
$1.36 BGN 2.26
-16.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 BGN 1.71
$1.05 BGN 1.75
-1.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 BGN 1.16
$0.76 BGN 1.27
-7.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.76 BGN 6.26
$3.70 BGN 6.15
1.62%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.12 BGN 15.16
$5.39 BGN 8.96
69.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 BGN 1.92
$0.96 BGN 1.60
20.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92 BGN 3.19
$1.75 BGN 2.92
9.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Varna
Silistra
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.20 BGN 2.00
$0.57 BGN 0.95
110.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.96 BGN 49.84
$26.46 BGN 44.02
13.23%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.39 BGN 2.31
$1.20 BGN 1.99
15.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.71 BGN 1.17
$0.68 BGN 1.13
4.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$12.51 BGN 20.80
$5.86 BGN 9.74
113.48%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.51 BGN 2.51
$1.53 BGN 2.55
-1.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.7K BGN 52.7K
$31.9K BGN 53.1K
-0.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.7K BGN 47.7K
$25.8K BGN 43.0K
11.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Varna
Silistra
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$125 BGN 208
$93.7 BGN 156
33.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.16 BGN 31.87
$16.47 BGN 27.41
16.33%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.85 BGN 26.37
$13.85 BGN 23.04
14.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Varna
Silistra
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.38 BGN 67.2
$31.88 BGN 53.0
26.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.52 BGN 24.15
$14.76 BGN 24.56
-1.63%
Cinema Ticket
$9.11 BGN 15.16
$7.25 BGN 12.06
25.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Varna
Silistra
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$400 BGN 666
$234 BGN 390
70.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,515 BGN 9,174
$4,177 BGN 6,949
32.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Varna
Silistra
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.2 BGN 100
$58.6 BGN 97.5
2.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.44 BGN 55.6
$29.77 BGN 49.53
12.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.6 BGN 154
$70.9 BGN 118
30.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$100 BGN 167
$70.4 BGN 117
42.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Varna
Silistra
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$515 BGN 857
$233 BGN 388
120.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$391 BGN 650
$206 BGN 342
90.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$907 BGN 1,508
$340 BGN 566
166.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$646 BGN 1,075
$253 BGN 420
155.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,420 BGN 5,690
$1,340 BGN 2,229
155.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,147 BGN 3,572
$1,078 BGN 1,793
99.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Varna
Silistra
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,196 BGN 1,989
$752 BGN 1,252
58.94%
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 1, 2026

Last update for Silistra: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $515 in Varna and $233 in Silistra. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Varna pays 59% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $47.00 in Varna vs $25.00 in Silistra for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $253 vs $230 per month, with Silistra cheaper across the board.

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 Silistra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Varna and Silistra?
Varna and Silistra differ by about 29% in total monthly costs ($1,189 vs $922 including rent). Silistra is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Varna or Silistra?
Varna pays 59% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Varna and Silistra?
Rent for a central apartment: $515 in Varna versus $233 in Silistra. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 10% higher in Varna. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Silistra – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $47.00 in Varna. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $922 in Silistra versus $1,189 in Varna, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Silistra but tight or insufficient in Varna. The gap between the two cities makes Silistra the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Varna and Silistra?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Varna or Silistra safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Varna and Silistra are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Varna or Silistra?
Expats usually find Silistra gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in Varna. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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