😐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: Varna11% lower, Sunny Beach18% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Varna
Sunny Beach
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.58BGN 19.26
$8.07BGN 13.42
43.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.66BGN 77.6
$40.91BGN 68.1
14.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.68BGN 14.43
$9.97BGN 16.58
-12.94%
Cappuccino
$2.58BGN 4.30
$1.97BGN 3.27
30.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82BGN 3.03
$1.30BGN 2.17
40.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28BGN 2.13
$1.05BGN 1.74
21.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.88BGN 4.79
$1.80BGN 2.99
60.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02BGN 5.03
$1.73BGN 2.88
74.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Varna
Sunny Beach
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.88BGN 3.14
$1.96BGN 3.26
-4.08%
White Bread(500g)
$1.08BGN 1.79
$0.57BGN 0.95
89.47%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.44BGN 4.06
$2.78BGN 4.63
-12.23%
Eggs
$3.30BGN 5.48
$3.89BGN 6.47
-15.17%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.00BGN 18.30
$13.17BGN 21.91
-16.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.46BGN 14.08
$8.20BGN 13.63
3.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.26BGN 20.40
$12.74BGN 21.19
-3.77%
Apples(1kg)
$1.66BGN 2.77
$1.66BGN 2.77
-
Banana(1kg)
$2.13BGN 3.54
$2.18BGN 3.62
-2.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85BGN 3.08
$1.74BGN 2.89
6.32%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.79BGN 4.64
$2.88BGN 4.79
-3.12%
Potato(1kg)
$1.19BGN 1.98
$1.17BGN 1.94
1.71%
Onion(1kg)
$1.14BGN 1.90
$1.44BGN 2.39
-20.83%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03BGN 1.71
$1.22BGN 2.03
-15.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70BGN 1.16
$0.72BGN 1.20
-2.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.76BGN 6.26
$3.73BGN 6.20
0.80%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.12BGN 15.16
$5.94BGN 9.88
53.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.16BGN 1.92
$1.15BGN 1.91
0.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92BGN 3.19
$1.69BGN 2.81
13.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Varna
Sunny Beach
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.20BGN 2.00
$1.15BGN 1.92
4.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.96BGN 49.84
$26.89BGN 44.73
11.42%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.39BGN 2.31
$1.17BGN 1.94
18.80%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.71BGN 1.17
$0.65BGN 1.08
9.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$12.51BGN 20.80
$11.61BGN 19.31
7.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.51BGN 2.51
$1.54BGN 2.55
-1.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.7KBGN 52.7K
$37.3KBGN 62.0K
-15.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.7KBGN 47.7K
$34.9KBGN 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)
$125BGN 208
$121BGN 201
3.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.16BGN 31.87
$17.44BGN 29.01
9.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.85BGN 26.37
$13.50BGN 22.46
17.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Varna
Sunny Beach
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.38BGN 67.2
$29.54BGN 49.15
36.70%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.52BGN 24.15
$14.91BGN 24.80
-2.62%
Cinema Ticket
$9.11BGN 15.16
$7.20BGN 11.98
26.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Varna
Sunny Beach
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$400BGN 666
$327BGN 545
22.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,515BGN 9,174
$5,399BGN 8,982
2.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Varna
Sunny Beach
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.2BGN 100
$35.17BGN 58.5
71.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.44BGN 55.6
$28.93BGN 48.12
15.59%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.6BGN 154
$126BGN 209
-26.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$100BGN 167
$78.2BGN 130
28.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Varna
Sunny Beach
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$515BGN 857
$595BGN 989
-13.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$391BGN 650
$350BGN 582
11.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$907BGN 1,508
$719BGN 1,196
26.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$646BGN 1,075
$539BGN 897
19.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,420BGN 5,690
$1,394BGN 2,320
145.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,147BGN 3,572
$1,168BGN 1,944
83.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Varna
Sunny Beach
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,196BGN 1,989
$954BGN 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.