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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,194 per month in Varna vs $1,365 in Sofia, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,839 per month in Varna vs $2,143 in Sofia, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,485 per month in Varna vs $2,922 in Sofia, rent included.

Varna is about 12% cheaper than Sofia, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Varna sits 11% below the global median, while Sofia is 2% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.85 BGN 19.71

$11.72 BGN 19.51

1.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.45 BGN 77.3

$49.80 BGN 82.8

-6.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.96 BGN 14.90

$8.77 BGN 14.59

2.17%

Cappuccino

$2.59 BGN 4.30

$2.63 BGN 4.38

-1.52%

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

$1.76 BGN 2.93

$1.78 BGN 2.96

-1.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.27 BGN 2.12

$1.42 BGN 2.36

-10.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.01 BGN 5.00

$2.96 BGN 4.92

1.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 BGN 4.79

$3.27 BGN 5.43

-11.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.86 BGN 3.10

$1.86 BGN 3.09

White Bread (500g)

$1.08 BGN 1.79

$1.20 BGN 2.00

-10.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.52 BGN 4.20

$1.99 BGN 3.31

26.63%

Eggs

$3.37 BGN 5.61

$3.96 BGN 6.58

-14.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.62 BGN 17.67

$12.18 BGN 20.26

-12.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.43 BGN 14.03

$8.72 BGN 14.51

-3.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.25 BGN 20.37

$12.98 BGN 21.60

-5.62%

Apples (1kg)

$1.63 BGN 2.72

$1.91 BGN 3.18

-14.66%

Banana (1kg)

$2.15 BGN 3.57

$1.96 BGN 3.27

9.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.84 BGN 3.07

$1.99 BGN 3.31

-7.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.76 BGN 4.60

$2.75 BGN 4.57

0.36%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 BGN 1.93

$1.12 BGN 1.86

3.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 BGN 1.81

$1.05 BGN 1.75

3.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 BGN 1.71

$1.19 BGN 1.98

-13.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 BGN 1.24

$0.66 BGN 1.10

12.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.74 BGN 6.23

$3.87 BGN 6.43

-3.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.62 BGN 14.33

$7.39 BGN 12.29

16.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.10 BGN 1.83

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 BGN 3.15

$1.83 BGN 3.04

3.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.21 BGN 2.02

$0.98 BGN 1.63

23.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.77 BGN 49.52

$29.45 BGN 48.99

1.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.39 BGN 2.32

$1.45 BGN 2.40

-4.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.66 BGN 1.10

$0.78 BGN 1.30

-15.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.56 BGN 20.89

$14.34 BGN 23.86

-12.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.51 BGN 2.51

$1.57 BGN 2.62

-3.82%

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

$31.8K BGN 52.9K

$32.1K BGN 53.3K

-0.84%

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

$29.3K BGN 48.7K

$29.0K BGN 48.3K

0.78%

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

$126 BGN 209

$150 BGN 249

-16.03%

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

$18.91 BGN 31.46

$17.78 BGN 29.57

6.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.54 BGN 25.85

$15.40 BGN 25.62

0.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.40 BGN 67.2

$43.98 BGN 73.2

-8.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.59 BGN 24.26

$21.48 BGN 35.73

-32.08%

Cinema Ticket

$8.97 BGN 14.91

$9.61 BGN 15.98

-6.66%

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

$413 BGN 688

$642 BGN 1,068

-35.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,520 BGN 9,183

$9,298 BGN 15.5K

-40.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.8 BGN 99.6

$71.9 BGN 120

-16.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.55 BGN 55.8

$35.78 BGN 59.5

-6.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.7 BGN 156

$107 BGN 178

-12.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.4 BGN 164

$119 BGN 198

-17.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$520 BGN 865

$695 BGN 1,156

-25.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$388 BGN 646

$504 BGN 838

-22.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 BGN 1,488

$1,257 BGN 2,091

-28.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$633 BGN 1,054

$893 BGN 1,485

-29.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,359 BGN 5,589

$4,422 BGN 7,356

-24.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,134 BGN 3,550

$3,336 BGN 5,550

-36.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,212 BGN 2,017

$1,674 BGN 2,785

-27.59%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Sofia: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $520 in Varna versus $695 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 $46.00 in Varna versus $50.0 in Sofia. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $251 vs $259 – 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: $1,194 in Varna, $1,365 in Sofia – roughly 14% apart. Sofia costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,791 per month in Varna and $2,047 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 $1,194 in Varna and $1,365 in Sofia. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 1% 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 $1,194, than in Sofia at $1,365. 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 $1,194 in Varna to $1,365 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.