Cost of Living Comparison Between Varna and Stara Zagora Cost of Living Comparison Between Varna and Stara Zagora

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,189 per month in Varna vs $864 in Stara Zagora, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,839 per month in Varna vs $1,330 in Stara Zagora, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,489 per month in Varna vs $1,796 in Stara Zagora, rent included.

Varna costs about 38% more than Stara Zagora, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Varna and Stara Zagora are more affordable than the global median – Varna 11% lower, Stara Zagora 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.58 BGN 19.26

$8.82 BGN 14.68

31.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.66 BGN 77.6

$34.74 BGN 57.8

34.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.68 BGN 14.43

$8.99 BGN 14.95

-3.45%

Cappuccino

$2.58 BGN 4.30

$1.87 BGN 3.11

37.97%

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

$1.82 BGN 3.03

$1.27 BGN 2.11

43.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.28 BGN 2.13

$0.73 BGN 1.22

75.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.88 BGN 4.79

$1.17 BGN 1.94

146.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 BGN 5.03

$2.02 BGN 3.35

49.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 BGN 3.14

$1.86 BGN 3.09

1.08%

White Bread (500g)

$1.08 BGN 1.79

$0.78 BGN 1.29

38.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.44 BGN 4.06

$1.54 BGN 2.56

58.44%

Eggs

$3.30 BGN 5.48

$2.25 BGN 3.74

46.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.00 BGN 18.30

$9.15 BGN 15.21

20.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.46 BGN 14.08

$7.52 BGN 12.51

12.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.26 BGN 20.40

$8.65 BGN 14.39

41.73%

Apples (1kg)

$1.66 BGN 2.77

$1.37 BGN 2.27

21.17%

Banana (1kg)

$2.13 BGN 3.54

$1.66 BGN 2.76

28.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.85 BGN 3.08

$1.88 BGN 3.13

-1.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.79 BGN 4.64

$2.14 BGN 3.55

30.37%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 BGN 1.98

$1.01 BGN 1.67

17.82%

Onion (1kg)

$1.14 BGN 1.90

$0.85 BGN 1.42

34.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 BGN 1.71

$0.57 BGN 0.95

80.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 BGN 1.16

$0.75 BGN 1.24

-6.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.76 BGN 6.26

$3.84 BGN 6.39

-2.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.12 BGN 15.16

$5.34 BGN 8.88

70.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 BGN 1.92

$1.22 BGN 2.03

-4.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 BGN 3.19

$2.17 BGN 3.62

-11.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.20 BGN 2.00

$0.92 BGN 1.54

30.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.96 BGN 49.84

$18.95 BGN 31.52

58.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.39 BGN 2.31

$1.38 BGN 2.29

0.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.71 BGN 1.17

$0.70 BGN 1.17

1.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.51 BGN 20.80

$11.66 BGN 19.39

7.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.51 BGN 2.51

$1.54 BGN 2.55

-1.95%

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

$31.7K BGN 52.7K

$24.7K BGN 41.0K

28.50%

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

$28.7K BGN 47.7K

$17.9K BGN 29.8K

59.91%

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

$125 BGN 208

$104 BGN 173

20.19%

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

$19.16 BGN 31.87

$15.07 BGN 25.06

27.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.85 BGN 26.37

$11.04 BGN 18.36

43.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.38 BGN 67.2

$19.66 BGN 32.70

105.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.52 BGN 24.15

$17.48 BGN 29.08

-16.93%

Cinema Ticket

$9.11 BGN 15.16

$7.78 BGN 12.94

17.10%

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

$400 BGN 666

$232 BGN 386

72.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,515 BGN 9,174

$2,361 BGN 3,927

133.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.2 BGN 100

$38.22 BGN 63.6

57.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.44 BGN 55.6

$18.85 BGN 31.36

77.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.6 BGN 154

$76.1 BGN 127

21.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$100 BGN 167

$75.7 BGN 126

32.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$515 BGN 857

$244 BGN 406

110.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$391 BGN 650

$232 BGN 386

68.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$907 BGN 1,508

$399 BGN 663

127.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$646 BGN 1,075

$368 BGN 612

75.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,420 BGN 5,690

$1,508 BGN 2,508

126.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,147 BGN 3,572

$1,120 BGN 1,863

91.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,196 BGN 1,989

$1,062 BGN 1,767

12.59%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.71

3.4

38.53%

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

Last update for Varna: June 1, 2026

Last update for Stara Zagora: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $515 in Varna versus $244 in Stara Zagora. 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 13% higher in Varna, 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 $35.00 in Stara Zagora. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $253 vs $204 – making Stara Zagora 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 Stara Zagora: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,189 in Varna, $864 in Stara Zagora – roughly 38% apart. Varna costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,783 per month in Varna and $1,296 in Stara Zagora. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Stara Zagora, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 24% more in Varna, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Varna and $35.00 in Stara Zagora. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Stara Zagora, where all-in costs run around $864, than in Varna at $1,189. In Stara Zagora it covers expenses comfortably, while in Varna 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 $864 in Stara Zagora to $1,189 in Varna. 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 Stara Zagora. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Varna makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.