😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,468 in Varna versus $1,081 in Sunny Beach.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,264 in Varna versus $1,619 in Sunny Beach.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,059 in Varna versus $2,157 in Sunny Beach.
🌍Living in Varna is roughly 36% more expensive than in Sunny Beach, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Varna is 7% above, Sunny Beach is 21% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Varna
Sunny Beach
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.11BGN 23.47
$8.41BGN 13.99
67.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.8BGN 103
$47.69BGN 79.3
29.48%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.71BGN 17.81
$10.04BGN 16.71
6.67%
Cappuccino
$2.95BGN 4.90
$2.90BGN 4.82
1.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93BGN 3.21
$1.76BGN 2.93
9.66%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73BGN 2.87
$1.59BGN 2.64
8.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.92BGN 4.86
$2.39BGN 3.98
22.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80BGN 6.32
$1.76BGN 2.92
115.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Varna
Sunny Beach
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.98BGN 3.29
$1.80BGN 2.99
10.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.32BGN 2.19
$0.83BGN 1.38
59.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.66BGN 4.42
$2.29BGN 3.80
16.16%
Eggs
$3.59BGN 5.97
$3.88BGN 6.45
-7.47%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.99BGN 19.94
$8.84BGN 14.70
35.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.68BGN 16.11
$8.77BGN 14.58
10.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.79BGN 24.61
$14.56BGN 24.21
1.58%
Apples(1kg)
$1.98BGN 3.30
$1.78BGN 2.97
11.24%
Banana(1kg)
$2.27BGN 3.77
$1.87BGN 3.12
21.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.27BGN 3.78
$2.07BGN 3.45
9.66%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.10BGN 5.15
$2.63BGN 4.37
17.87%
Potato(1kg)
$1.37BGN 2.28
$1.13BGN 1.88
21.24%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12BGN 1.86
$1.12BGN 1.87
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06BGN 1.76
$1.18BGN 1.96
-10.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80BGN 1.33
$0.75BGN 1.25
6.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.23BGN 7.03
$4.05BGN 6.74
4.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.09BGN 15.12
$6.31BGN 10.49
44.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19BGN 1.98
$1.22BGN 2.03
-2.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87BGN 3.11
$2.05BGN 3.40
-8.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Varna
Sunny Beach
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.14BGN 1.90
$1.16BGN 1.94
-1.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.17BGN 48.53
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.52BGN 2.53
$1.33BGN 2.21
14.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.91BGN 1.52
$0.63BGN 1.06
44.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$12.55BGN 20.87
$10.88BGN 18.11
15.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.73BGN 2.89
$1.59BGN 2.64
8.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.7KBGN 51.1K
$31.1KBGN 51.8K
-1.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3KBGN 43.8K
$25.2KBGN 42.0K
4.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Varna
Sunny Beach
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$182BGN 302
$117BGN 195
54.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.15BGN 35.19
$19.67BGN 32.73
7.52%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.25BGN 28.70
$15.78BGN 26.26
9.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Varna
Sunny Beach
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.4BGN 90.4
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.77BGN 34.55
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.03BGN 15.02
$9.42BGN 15.67
-4.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Varna
Sunny Beach
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$520BGN 865
$541BGN 899
-3.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,550BGN 10.9K
$5,768BGN 9,595
13.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Varna
Sunny Beach
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.8BGN 113
$34.75BGN 57.8
94.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.02BGN 58.3
$43.51BGN 72.4
-19.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104BGN 173
$98.4BGN 164
5.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106BGN 176
$108BGN 179
-1.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Varna
Sunny Beach
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$644BGN 1,071
$600BGN 999
7.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$480BGN 799
$362BGN 602
32.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,307BGN 2,174
$708BGN 1,177
84.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$932BGN 1,550
$543BGN 903
71.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,351BGN 5,575
$1,397BGN 2,325
139.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,215BGN 3,684
$1,168BGN 1,943
89.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Varna
Sunny Beach
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,240BGN 2,062
$962BGN 1,600
28.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.93
3.1
-5.48%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Varna: August 30, 2026
Last update for Sunny Beach: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $644 in Varna and $600 in Sunny Beach. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Varna pays 29% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $62.0 in Varna vs $48.00 in Sunny Beach for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $283 vs $249 per month, with Sunny Beach cheaper across the board.
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 Sunny Beach: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Varna or Sunny Beach?
Sunny Beach wins on cost – living expenses run 36% lower than in Varna. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Sunny Beach the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Varna or in Sunny Beach?
Average pay runs 29% higher in Varna, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Varna compared to Sunny Beach?
Rent for a central apartment: $644 in Varna versus $600 in Sunny Beach. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Varna or in Sunny Beach?
Supermarket bills run roughly 14% higher in Varna. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Varna compared to Sunny Beach?
All in, you'll spend $1,468 per month in Varna versus $1,081 in Sunny Beach – a 36% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Varna or in Sunny Beach?
At $1,081 in Sunny Beach versus $1,468 in Varna, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Sunny Beach but tight or insufficient in Varna. The gap between the two cities makes Sunny Beach the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Varna or Sunny Beach?
Both work as nomad bases, but Sunny Beach delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,081 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Sunny Beach hard to pass up.
How safe is Varna compared to Sunny Beach?
Safety-wise, Varna and Sunny Beach are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Sunny Beach gentler on the wallet – expenses run 36% less than in Varna. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.