Cost of Living Comparison Between Varna and Veliko Tarnovo Cost of Living Comparison Between Varna and Veliko Tarnovo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,194 per month in Varna vs $971 in Veliko Tarnovo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,839 per month in Varna vs $1,528 in Veliko Tarnovo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,485 per month in Varna vs $2,085 in Veliko Tarnovo, rent included.

Varna costs about 23% more than Veliko Tarnovo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Varna and Veliko Tarnovo are more affordable than the global median – Varna 11% lower, Veliko Tarnovo 27% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.85 BGN 19.71

$10.37 BGN 17.25

14.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.45 BGN 77.3

$40.59 BGN 67.5

14.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.96 BGN 14.90

$9.09 BGN 15.11

-1.43%

Cappuccino

$2.59 BGN 4.30

$1.87 BGN 3.10

38.50%

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

$1.76 BGN 2.93

$1.38 BGN 2.29

27.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.27 BGN 2.12

$0.66 BGN 1.10

92.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.01 BGN 5.00

$1.93 BGN 3.22

55.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 BGN 4.79

$2.99 BGN 4.97

-3.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.86 BGN 3.10

$1.68 BGN 2.80

10.71%

White Bread (500g)

$1.08 BGN 1.79

$0.91 BGN 1.51

18.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.52 BGN 4.20

$1.97 BGN 3.28

27.92%

Eggs

$3.37 BGN 5.61

$3.28 BGN 5.46

2.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.62 BGN 17.67

$9.50 BGN 15.80

11.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.43 BGN 14.03

$7.88 BGN 13.10

6.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.25 BGN 20.37

$11.50 BGN 19.14

6.52%

Apples (1kg)

$1.63 BGN 2.72

$1.65 BGN 2.75

-1.21%

Banana (1kg)

$2.15 BGN 3.57

$2.06 BGN 3.42

4.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.84 BGN 3.07

$2.01 BGN 3.35

-8.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.76 BGN 4.60

$2.49 BGN 4.14

10.84%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 BGN 1.93

$1.20 BGN 2.00

-3.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 BGN 1.81

$1.35 BGN 2.25

-19.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 BGN 1.71

$1.01 BGN 1.67

1.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 BGN 1.24

$0.80 BGN 1.32

-7.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.74 BGN 6.23

$3.58 BGN 5.95

4.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.62 BGN 14.33

$6.64 BGN 11.04

29.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.10 BGN 1.83

$0.95 BGN 1.58

15.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 BGN 3.15

$1.61 BGN 2.68

17.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.21 BGN 2.02

$0.86 BGN 1.43

40.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.77 BGN 49.52

$34.46 BGN 57.3

-13.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.39 BGN 2.32

$1.21 BGN 2.01

14.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.66 BGN 1.10

$0.62 BGN 1.02

6.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.56 BGN 20.89

$11.97 BGN 19.91

4.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.51 BGN 2.51

$1.56 BGN 2.60

-3.21%

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

$31.8K BGN 52.9K

$32.0K BGN 53.3K

-0.71%

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

$29.3K BGN 48.7K

$26.1K BGN 43.4K

12.16%

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

$126 BGN 209

$93.9 BGN 156

33.89%

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

$18.91 BGN 31.46

$16.63 BGN 27.67

13.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.54 BGN 25.85

$13.38 BGN 22.26

16.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.40 BGN 67.2

$35.95 BGN 59.8

12.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.59 BGN 24.26

$21.78 BGN 36.24

-33.01%

Cinema Ticket

$8.97 BGN 14.91

$7.00 BGN 11.65

28.14%

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

$413 BGN 688

$233 BGN 388

77.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,520 BGN 9,183

$4,168 BGN 6,934

32.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.8 BGN 99.6

$43.83 BGN 72.9

36.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.55 BGN 55.8

$29.93 BGN 49.78

12.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.7 BGN 156

$82.4 BGN 137

13.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.4 BGN 164

$71.5 BGN 119

37.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$520 BGN 865

$364 BGN 606

42.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$388 BGN 646

$254 BGN 422

53.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 BGN 1,488

$577 BGN 960

54.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$633 BGN 1,054

$435 BGN 724

45.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,359 BGN 5,589

$2,514 BGN 4,182

33.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,134 BGN 3,550

$1,388 BGN 2,309

53.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,212 BGN 2,017

$923 BGN 1,536

31.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.71

4.57

3.06%

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

Last update for Varna: July 12, 2026

Last update for Veliko Tarnovo: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $520 in Varna versus $364 in Veliko Tarnovo. 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 31% 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 $46.00 in Varna versus $41.00 in Veliko Tarnovo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $251 vs $232 – making Veliko Tarnovo 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 Veliko Tarnovo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,194 in Varna, $971 in Veliko Tarnovo – roughly 23% apart. Varna costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,791 per month in Varna and $1,457 in Veliko Tarnovo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 8% 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 $46.00 in Varna and $41.00 in Veliko Tarnovo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Veliko Tarnovo, where all-in costs run around $971, than in Varna at $1,194. In Veliko Tarnovo 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 $971 in Veliko Tarnovo to $1,194 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 Veliko Tarnovo. 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.