Cost of Living Comparison Between Varna and Sunny Beach Cost of Living Comparison Between Varna and Sunny Beach

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,189 in Varna versus $1,094 in Sunny Beach.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,839 in Varna versus $1,685 in Sunny Beach.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,489 in Varna versus $2,276 in Sunny Beach.

Living in Varna is roughly 9% more expensive than Sunny Beach, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Varna 11% lower, Sunny Beach 18% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Varna
Sunny Beach
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.58 BGN 19.26
$8.07 BGN 13.42
43.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.66 BGN 77.6
$40.91 BGN 68.1
14.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.68 BGN 14.43
$9.97 BGN 16.58
-12.94%
Cappuccino
$2.58 BGN 4.30
$1.97 BGN 3.27
30.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82 BGN 3.03
$1.30 BGN 2.17
40.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 BGN 2.13
$1.05 BGN 1.74
21.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.88 BGN 4.79
$1.80 BGN 2.99
60.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02 BGN 5.03
$1.73 BGN 2.88
74.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Varna
Sunny Beach
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.88 BGN 3.14
$1.96 BGN 3.26
-4.08%
White Bread (500g)
$1.08 BGN 1.79
$0.57 BGN 0.95
89.47%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.44 BGN 4.06
$2.78 BGN 4.63
-12.23%
Eggs
$3.30 BGN 5.48
$3.89 BGN 6.47
-15.17%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.00 BGN 18.30
$13.17 BGN 21.91
-16.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.46 BGN 14.08
$8.20 BGN 13.63
3.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.26 BGN 20.40
$12.74 BGN 21.19
-3.77%
Apples (1kg)
$1.66 BGN 2.77
$1.66 BGN 2.77
-
Banana (1kg)
$2.13 BGN 3.54
$2.18 BGN 3.62
-2.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.85 BGN 3.08
$1.74 BGN 2.89
6.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.79 BGN 4.64
$2.88 BGN 4.79
-3.12%
Potato (1kg)
$1.19 BGN 1.98
$1.17 BGN 1.94
1.71%
Onion (1kg)
$1.14 BGN 1.90
$1.44 BGN 2.39
-20.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 BGN 1.71
$1.22 BGN 2.03
-15.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 BGN 1.16
$0.72 BGN 1.20
-2.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.76 BGN 6.26
$3.73 BGN 6.20
0.80%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.12 BGN 15.16
$5.94 BGN 9.88
53.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 BGN 1.92
$1.15 BGN 1.91
0.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92 BGN 3.19
$1.69 BGN 2.81
13.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Varna
Sunny Beach
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.20 BGN 2.00
$1.15 BGN 1.92
4.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.96 BGN 49.84
$26.89 BGN 44.73
11.42%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.39 BGN 2.31
$1.17 BGN 1.94
18.80%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.71 BGN 1.17
$0.65 BGN 1.08
9.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$12.51 BGN 20.80
$11.61 BGN 19.31
7.75%
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
$37.3K BGN 62.0K
-15.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.7K BGN 47.7K
$34.9K BGN 58.0K
-17.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Varna
Sunny Beach
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$125 BGN 208
$121 BGN 201
3.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.16 BGN 31.87
$17.44 BGN 29.01
9.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.85 BGN 26.37
$13.50 BGN 22.46
17.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Varna
Sunny Beach
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.38 BGN 67.2
$29.54 BGN 49.15
36.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.52 BGN 24.15
$14.91 BGN 24.80
-2.62%
Cinema Ticket
$9.11 BGN 15.16
$7.20 BGN 11.98
26.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Varna
Sunny Beach
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$400 BGN 666
$327 BGN 545
22.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,515 BGN 9,174
$5,399 BGN 8,982
2.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Varna
Sunny Beach
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.2 BGN 100
$35.17 BGN 58.5
71.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.44 BGN 55.6
$28.93 BGN 48.12
15.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.6 BGN 154
$126 BGN 209
-26.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$100 BGN 167
$78.2 BGN 130
28.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Varna
Sunny Beach
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$515 BGN 857
$595 BGN 989
-13.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$391 BGN 650
$350 BGN 582
11.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$907 BGN 1,508
$719 BGN 1,196
26.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$646 BGN 1,075
$539 BGN 897
19.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,420 BGN 5,690
$1,394 BGN 2,320
145.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,147 BGN 3,572
$1,168 BGN 1,944
83.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Varna
Sunny Beach
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,196 BGN 1,989
$954 BGN 1,586
25.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.71
5.1
-7.65%

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

Last update for Varna: June 1, 2026

Last update for Sunny Beach: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $515 in Varna and $595 in Sunny Beach. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Varna pays 25% 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: $47.00 in Varna vs $41.00 in Sunny Beach. Groceries flip the comparison at $253 vs $254, with Varna cheaper for home cooking.

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 9% 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 Sunny Beach?
Varna pays 25% more on average, 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 vs Sunny Beach?
Rent for a central apartment: $515 in Varna versus $595 in Sunny Beach. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Varna compared to Sunny Beach?
All in, you'll spend $1,189 per month in Varna versus $1,094 in Sunny Beach – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Varna vs Sunny Beach?
A monthly transit pass in Sunny Beach runs roughly 11% less than in Varna. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Varna or Sunny Beach?
At $1,094 in Sunny Beach versus $1,189 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 $1,094 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 9% less than in Varna. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Varna vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities