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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,189 per month in Varna vs $1,373 in Sofia, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,839 per month in Varna vs $2,132 in Sofia, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,489 per month in Varna vs $2,892 in Sofia, rent included.

Varna is about 13% 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

$11.58 BGN 19.26

$11.89 BGN 19.78

-2.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.66 BGN 77.6

$50.6 BGN 84.2

-7.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.68 BGN 14.43

$8.76 BGN 14.57

-0.91%

Cappuccino

$2.58 BGN 4.30

$2.60 BGN 4.32

-0.77%

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

$1.82 BGN 3.03

$1.74 BGN 2.89

4.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.28 BGN 2.13

$1.43 BGN 2.38

-10.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.88 BGN 4.79

$2.93 BGN 4.88

-1.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 BGN 5.03

$3.23 BGN 5.37

-6.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 BGN 3.14

$1.94 BGN 3.23

-3.09%

White Bread (500g)

$1.08 BGN 1.79

$1.20 BGN 2.00

-10.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.44 BGN 4.06

$1.99 BGN 3.31

22.61%

Eggs

$3.30 BGN 5.48

$3.82 BGN 6.35

-13.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.00 BGN 18.30

$12.54 BGN 20.86

-12.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.46 BGN 14.08

$8.74 BGN 14.55

-3.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.26 BGN 20.40

$13.29 BGN 22.11

-7.75%

Apples (1kg)

$1.66 BGN 2.77

$1.90 BGN 3.16

-12.63%

Banana (1kg)

$2.13 BGN 3.54

$1.90 BGN 3.16

12.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.85 BGN 3.08

$2.00 BGN 3.33

-7.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.79 BGN 4.64

$2.84 BGN 4.73

-1.76%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 BGN 1.98

$1.10 BGN 1.83

8.18%

Onion (1kg)

$1.14 BGN 1.90

$1.02 BGN 1.69

11.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 BGN 1.71

$1.18 BGN 1.96

-12.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 BGN 1.16

$0.66 BGN 1.10

6.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.76 BGN 6.26

$3.81 BGN 6.33

-1.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.12 BGN 15.16

$7.65 BGN 12.73

19.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 BGN 1.92

$1.09 BGN 1.82

6.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 BGN 3.19

$1.79 BGN 2.98

7.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.20 BGN 2.00

$0.92 BGN 1.53

30.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.96 BGN 49.84

$29.72 BGN 49.45

0.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.39 BGN 2.31

$1.49 BGN 2.48

-6.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.71 BGN 1.17

$0.76 BGN 1.27

-6.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.51 BGN 20.80

$14.34 BGN 23.86

-12.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.51 BGN 2.51

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

$31.7K BGN 52.7K

$32.5K BGN 54.0K

-2.49%

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

$28.7K BGN 47.7K

$28.4K BGN 47.3K

0.98%

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

$125 BGN 208

$154 BGN 256

-19.00%

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

$19.16 BGN 31.87

$18.05 BGN 30.04

6.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.85 BGN 26.37

$14.97 BGN 24.90

5.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.38 BGN 67.2

$44.03 BGN 73.3

-8.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.52 BGN 24.15

$21.88 BGN 36.40

-33.64%

Cinema Ticket

$9.11 BGN 15.16

$9.24 BGN 15.37

-1.41%

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

$400 BGN 666

$624 BGN 1,037

-35.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,515 BGN 9,174

$9,327 BGN 15.5K

-40.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.2 BGN 100

$71.3 BGN 119

-15.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.44 BGN 55.6

$35.76 BGN 59.5

-6.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.6 BGN 154

$105 BGN 175

-12.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$100 BGN 167

$119 BGN 198

-15.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$515 BGN 857

$696 BGN 1,157

-25.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$391 BGN 650

$501 BGN 834

-21.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$907 BGN 1,508

$1,296 BGN 2,157

-30.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$646 BGN 1,075

$910 BGN 1,513

-28.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,420 BGN 5,690

$4,510 BGN 7,502

-24.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,147 BGN 3,572

$3,161 BGN 5,258

-32.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,196 BGN 1,989

$1,674 BGN 2,786

-28.59%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Sofia: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $515 in Varna versus $696 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 40% 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 $47.00 in Varna versus $51.0 in Sofia. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $253 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: $1,189 in Varna, $1,373 in Sofia – roughly 16% apart. Sofia costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,783 per month in Varna and $2,060 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 $1,189 in Varna and $1,373 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 $1,189, than in Sofia at $1,373. 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 $1,189 in Varna to $1,373 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.