Cost of Living Comparison Between Varna and Sofia Cost of Living Comparison Between Varna and Sofia

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,212 per month in Varna vs $1,366 in Sofia, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,874 per month in Varna vs $2,141 in Sofia, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,536 per month in Varna vs $2,916 in Sofia, rent included.

Varna is about 11% cheaper than Sofia, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Varna sits 10% below the global median, while Sofia is 1% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.90 BGN 19.76

$12.01 BGN 19.94

-0.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.33 BGN 76.9

$49.82 BGN 82.7

-7.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.94 BGN 14.85

$8.76 BGN 14.54

2.05%

Cappuccino

$2.60 BGN 4.31

$2.67 BGN 4.43

-2.62%

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

$1.81 BGN 3.01

$1.74 BGN 2.89

4.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.28 BGN 2.13

$1.41 BGN 2.34

-9.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.03 BGN 5.03

$3.00 BGN 4.98

1.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 BGN 4.97

$3.19 BGN 5.30

-6.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 BGN 3.11

$1.95 BGN 3.24

-3.59%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 BGN 1.70

$1.18 BGN 1.96

-12.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.47 BGN 4.10

$1.99 BGN 3.30

24.12%

Eggs

$3.41 BGN 5.67

$3.88 BGN 6.44

-12.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.84 BGN 18.00

$12.58 BGN 20.89

-13.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.49 BGN 14.09

$8.69 BGN 14.43

-2.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.21 BGN 20.27

$13.28 BGN 22.04

-8.06%

Apples (1kg)

$1.62 BGN 2.69

$1.91 BGN 3.18

-15.18%

Banana (1kg)

$2.08 BGN 3.45

$1.88 BGN 3.12

10.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.85 BGN 3.07

$2.01 BGN 3.33

-7.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.74 BGN 4.54

$2.76 BGN 4.57

-0.72%

Potato (1kg)

$1.21 BGN 2.01

$1.11 BGN 1.84

9.01%

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 BGN 1.90

$1.05 BGN 1.75

9.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 BGN 1.65

$1.21 BGN 2.01

-18.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 BGN 1.24

$0.68 BGN 1.13

10.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.73 BGN 6.19

$3.91 BGN 6.50

-4.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.94 BGN 13.18

$7.49 BGN 12.43

6.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 BGN 1.84

$1.04 BGN 1.73

6.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.83 BGN 3.03

$1.80 BGN 2.99

1.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.15 BGN 1.91

$0.92 BGN 1.52

25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.11 BGN 48.32

$29.01 BGN 48.16

0.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.40 BGN 2.32

$1.43 BGN 2.37

-2.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.66 BGN 1.09

$0.73 BGN 1.21

-9.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.60 BGN 20.92

$14.05 BGN 23.32

-10.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 BGN 2.57

$1.55 BGN 2.58

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

$32.7K BGN 54.2K

$31.9K BGN 52.9K

2.55%

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

$28.7K BGN 47.7K

$29.2K BGN 48.4K

-1.53%

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

$125 BGN 208

$153 BGN 253

-17.91%

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

$19.20 BGN 31.87

$17.79 BGN 29.53

7.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.54 BGN 25.79

$15.49 BGN 25.72

0.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.25 BGN 66.8

$44.15 BGN 73.3

-8.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.71 BGN 24.42

$21.64 BGN 35.93

-32.02%

Cinema Ticket

$9.07 BGN 15.06

$9.33 BGN 15.49

-2.79%

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

$407 BGN 675

$632 BGN 1,049

-35.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,430 BGN 9,014

$9,062 BGN 15.0K

-40.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.2 BGN 102

$72.0 BGN 119

-14.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.17 BGN 56.7

$36.89 BGN 61.2

-7.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 BGN 154

$105 BGN 175

-12.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 BGN 169

$116 BGN 193

-12.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$514 BGN 854

$690 BGN 1,146

-25.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$398 BGN 661

$514 BGN 854

-22.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$900 BGN 1,495

$1,271 BGN 2,110

-29.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$652 BGN 1,082

$900 BGN 1,495

-27.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,137 BGN 5,208

$4,288 BGN 7,119

-26.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,043 BGN 3,392

$2,986 BGN 4,956

-31.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,238 BGN 2,055

$1,705 BGN 2,830

-27.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.71

3.09

52.43%

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

Last update for Varna: April 13, 2026

Last update for Sofia: April 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $514 in Varna versus $690 in Sofia. 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 38% higher in Sofia, 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 $46 in Varna versus $50 in Sofia. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $250 vs $261 – making Varna 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 Sofia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,212 in Varna, $1,366 in Sofia – roughly 13% apart. Sofia costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,818 per month in Varna and $2,049 in Sofia. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Varna, 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 $1,212 in Varna and $1,366 in Sofia. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 0% less in Varna. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Varna, where all-in costs run around $1,212, than in Sofia at $1,366. In Varna it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sofia 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 $1,212 in Varna to $1,366 in Sofia. 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 Varna. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sofia makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.