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 $1,468 per month in Varna vs $903 in Stara Zagora, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,264 per month in Varna vs $1,422 in Stara Zagora, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,059 per month in Varna vs $1,940 in Stara Zagora, rent included.

Varna costs about 63% more than Stara Zagora, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Varna sits 7% above the global median, while Stara Zagora is 34% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.11 BGN 23.47

$10.68 BGN 17.77

32.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$61.8 BGN 103

$52.4 BGN 87.3

17.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.71 BGN 17.81

$9.47 BGN 15.75

13.09%

Cappuccino

$2.95 BGN 4.90

$2.34 BGN 3.89

26.07%

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

$1.93 BGN 3.21

$1.56 BGN 2.59

23.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 BGN 2.87

$0.84 BGN 1.40

105.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 BGN 4.86

$2.25 BGN 3.75

29.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 BGN 6.32

$2.06 BGN 3.43

84.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.98 BGN 3.29

$1.80 BGN 3.00

10.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.32 BGN 2.19

$0.84 BGN 1.39

57.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.66 BGN 4.42

$1.52 BGN 2.53

75.00%

Eggs

$3.59 BGN 5.97

$2.42 BGN 4.03

48.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.99 BGN 19.94

$9.38 BGN 15.60

27.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.68 BGN 16.11

$6.75 BGN 11.23

43.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.79 BGN 24.61

$8.71 BGN 14.50

69.80%

Apples (1kg)

$1.98 BGN 3.30

$1.30 BGN 2.17

52.31%

Banana (1kg)

$2.27 BGN 3.77

$1.75 BGN 2.91

29.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.27 BGN 3.78

$1.76 BGN 2.93

28.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.10 BGN 5.15

$1.97 BGN 3.27

57.36%

Potato (1kg)

$1.37 BGN 2.28

$1.04 BGN 1.73

31.73%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 BGN 1.86

$0.74 BGN 1.23

51.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 BGN 1.76

$0.58 BGN 0.96

82.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 BGN 1.33

$0.66 BGN 1.09

21.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 BGN 7.03

$3.84 BGN 6.39

10.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.09 BGN 15.12

$5.29 BGN 8.80

71.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 BGN 1.98

$1.13 BGN 1.88

5.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.87 BGN 3.11

$1.83 BGN 3.04

2.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.14 BGN 1.90

$0.92 BGN 1.54

23.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.17 BGN 48.53

$18.78 BGN 31.23

55.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.52 BGN 2.53

$1.39 BGN 2.32

9.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.91 BGN 1.52

$0.63 BGN 1.05

44.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.55 BGN 20.87

$11.67 BGN 19.42

7.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.73 BGN 2.89

$1.66 BGN 2.77

4.22%

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

$30.7K BGN 51.1K

$31.4K BGN 52.2K

-1.94%

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

$26.3K BGN 43.8K

$21.8K BGN 36.3K

20.69%

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

$182 BGN 302

$96.0 BGN 160

89.33%

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

$21.15 BGN 35.19

$15.63 BGN 26.00

35.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.25 BGN 28.70

$12.41 BGN 20.65

39.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.4 BGN 90.4

$28.08 BGN 46.72

93.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.77 BGN 34.55

$22.42 BGN 37.31

-7.36%

Cinema Ticket

$9.03 BGN 15.02

$9.15 BGN 15.22

-1.31%

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

$520 BGN 865

$235 BGN 392

120.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,550 BGN 10.9K

$2,345 BGN 3,902

179.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.8 BGN 113

$31.63 BGN 52.6

114.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.02 BGN 58.3

$20.06 BGN 33.37

74.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 BGN 173

$66.1 BGN 110

57.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 BGN 176

$53.8 BGN 89.5

96.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$644 BGN 1,071

$306 BGN 509

110.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$480 BGN 799

$264 BGN 439

81.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,307 BGN 2,174

$514 BGN 855

154.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$932 BGN 1,550

$405 BGN 674

130.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,351 BGN 5,575

$1,495 BGN 2,488

124.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,215 BGN 3,684

$1,107 BGN 1,841

100.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,240 BGN 2,062

$1,094 BGN 1,819

13.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.93

2.99

-2.01%

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

Last update for Varna: August 30, 2026

Last update for Stara Zagora: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $644 in Varna versus $306 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 $62.0 in Varna versus $52.0 in Stara Zagora. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $283 vs $199 – 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: $1,468 in Varna, $903 in Stara Zagora – roughly 63% apart. Varna costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,203 per month in Varna and $1,355 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 42% 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 $62.0 in Varna and $52.0 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 $903, than in Varna at $1,468. 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 $903 in Stara Zagora to $1,468 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.