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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,486 per month in Varna vs $1,659 in Sofia, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,323 per month in Varna vs $2,553 in Sofia, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,161 per month in Varna vs $3,447 in Sofia, rent included.

Varna is about 10% cheaper than Sofia, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Varna and Sofia sit above the global median – Varna by 8%, Sofia by 20%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.23 BGN 23.67

$17.14 BGN 28.51

-16.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.9 BGN 99.6

$64.0 BGN 106

-6.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.72 BGN 17.83

$12.13 BGN 20.18

-11.62%

Cappuccino

$2.97 BGN 4.94

$3.55 BGN 5.91

-16.34%

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

$1.96 BGN 3.27

$2.45 BGN 4.08

-20.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 BGN 2.79

$1.94 BGN 3.22

-13.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.89 BGN 4.80

$3.54 BGN 5.89

-18.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 BGN 6.16

$4.60 BGN 7.65

-19.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.01 BGN 3.34

$2.08 BGN 3.46

-3.37%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 BGN 2.14

$1.52 BGN 2.53

-15.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.70 BGN 4.49

$2.31 BGN 3.84

16.88%

Eggs

$3.72 BGN 6.18

$4.55 BGN 7.57

-18.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.67 BGN 19.42

$11.88 BGN 19.76

-1.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.35 BGN 15.56

$8.94 BGN 14.88

4.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.86 BGN 24.72

$17.42 BGN 28.99

-14.70%

Apples (1kg)

$2.07 BGN 3.45

$2.17 BGN 3.61

-4.61%

Banana (1kg)

$2.27 BGN 3.78

$2.06 BGN 3.43

10.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 BGN 3.68

$1.90 BGN 3.17

16.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.19 BGN 5.31

$4.12 BGN 6.85

-22.57%

Potato (1kg)

$1.30 BGN 2.16

$1.11 BGN 1.85

17.12%

Onion (1kg)

$1.08 BGN 1.80

$0.95 BGN 1.58

13.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 BGN 1.75

$1.25 BGN 2.08

-16.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 BGN 1.43

$0.85 BGN 1.41

1.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.24 BGN 7.06

$4.49 BGN 7.46

-5.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.94 BGN 14.87

$7.42 BGN 12.34

20.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 BGN 2.12

$1.20 BGN 1.99

6.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 BGN 3.24

$1.92 BGN 3.20

1.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.04 BGN 1.72

$0.95 BGN 1.57

9.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.45 BGN 48.99

$30.10 BGN 50.1

-2.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.58 BGN 2.62

$1.82 BGN 3.03

-13.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.93 BGN 1.54

$0.93 BGN 1.55

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.45 BGN 20.71

$15.98 BGN 26.58

-22.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.75 BGN 2.90

$1.78 BGN 2.96

-1.69%

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

$31.6K BGN 52.6K

$31.5K BGN 52.3K

0.48%

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

$26.2K BGN 43.7K

$27.9K BGN 46.5K

-6.03%

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

$179 BGN 297

$165 BGN 274

8.61%

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

$21.82 BGN 36.30

$21.72 BGN 36.13

0.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.25 BGN 28.70

$14.99 BGN 24.94

15.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.8 BGN 89.5

$48.62 BGN 80.9

10.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.59 BGN 34.25

$29.09 BGN 48.40

-29.22%

Cinema Ticket

$9.10 BGN 15.14

$10.52 BGN 17.50

-13.50%

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

$536 BGN 892

$781 BGN 1,298

-31.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,573 BGN 10.9K

$13.2K BGN 22.0K

-50.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.2 BGN 112

$91.6 BGN 152

-26.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.37 BGN 57.2

$43.54 BGN 72.4

-21.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 BGN 173

$106 BGN 176

-1.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 BGN 176

$109 BGN 182

-2.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$636 BGN 1,059

$809 BGN 1,345

-21.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$489 BGN 813

$619 BGN 1,030

-21.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,359 BGN 2,261

$1,586 BGN 2,638

-14.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$927 BGN 1,542

$1,097 BGN 1,825

-15.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,327 BGN 5,534

$4,590 BGN 7,635

-27.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,199 BGN 3,659

$3,336 BGN 5,550

-34.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,297 BGN 2,158

$1,796 BGN 2,988

-27.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.9

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

Last update for Varna: September 6, 2026

Last update for Sofia: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $636 in Varna versus $809 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 $60.0 in Varna versus $64.0 in Sofia. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $283 vs $293 – 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: $1,486 in Varna, $1,659 in Sofia – roughly 12% apart. Sofia costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,229 per month in Varna and $2,489 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 $1,486 in Varna and $1,659 in Sofia. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 2% 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 $1,486, than in Sofia at $1,659. 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 $1,486 in Varna to $1,659 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.