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 $1,189 per month in Varna vs $952 in Veliko Tarnovo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,839 per month in Varna vs $1,535 in Veliko Tarnovo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,489 per month in Varna vs $2,118 in Veliko Tarnovo, rent included.

Varna costs about 25% 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 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.58 BGN 19.26

$10.28 BGN 17.10

12.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.66 BGN 77.6

$41.04 BGN 68.3

13.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.68 BGN 14.43

$8.77 BGN 14.60

-1.03%

Cappuccino

$2.58 BGN 4.30

$1.89 BGN 3.14

36.51%

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

$1.82 BGN 3.03

$1.37 BGN 2.27

32.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.28 BGN 2.13

$0.67 BGN 1.11

91.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.88 BGN 4.79

$1.96 BGN 3.26

46.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 BGN 5.03

$2.87 BGN 4.78

5.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 BGN 3.14

$1.63 BGN 2.70

15.34%

White Bread (500g)

$1.08 BGN 1.79

$0.95 BGN 1.59

13.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.44 BGN 4.06

$1.87 BGN 3.12

30.48%

Eggs

$3.30 BGN 5.48

$3.39 BGN 5.64

-2.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.00 BGN 18.30

$9.61 BGN 15.99

14.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.46 BGN 14.08

$8.04 BGN 13.38

5.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.26 BGN 20.40

$11.58 BGN 19.26

5.87%

Apples (1kg)

$1.66 BGN 2.77

$1.64 BGN 2.73

1.22%

Banana (1kg)

$2.13 BGN 3.54

$2.11 BGN 3.50

0.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.85 BGN 3.08

$1.97 BGN 3.28

-6.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.79 BGN 4.64

$2.56 BGN 4.25

8.98%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 BGN 1.98

$1.14 BGN 1.90

4.39%

Onion (1kg)

$1.14 BGN 1.90

$1.30 BGN 2.16

-12.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 BGN 1.71

$1.06 BGN 1.76

-2.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 BGN 1.16

$0.77 BGN 1.29

-9.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.76 BGN 6.26

$3.56 BGN 5.92

5.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.12 BGN 15.16

$6.96 BGN 11.59

31.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 BGN 1.92

$0.96 BGN 1.59

20.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 BGN 3.19

$1.68 BGN 2.80

14.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.20 BGN 2.00

$0.89 BGN 1.49

34.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.96 BGN 49.84

$33.54 BGN 55.8

-10.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.39 BGN 2.31

$1.17 BGN 1.95

18.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.71 BGN 1.17

$0.63 BGN 1.05

12.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.51 BGN 20.80

$11.58 BGN 19.26

8.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.51 BGN 2.51

$1.49 BGN 2.47

1.34%

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

$31.7K BGN 52.7K

$32.7K BGN 54.5K

-3.26%

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

$28.7K BGN 47.7K

$25.8K BGN 42.9K

11.15%

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

$125 BGN 208

$93.7 BGN 156

33.20%

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

$19.16 BGN 31.87

$16.56 BGN 27.56

15.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.85 BGN 26.37

$13.12 BGN 21.83

20.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.38 BGN 67.2

$36.02 BGN 59.9

12.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.52 BGN 24.15

$22.08 BGN 36.73

-34.24%

Cinema Ticket

$9.11 BGN 15.16

$6.94 BGN 11.54

31.27%

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

$400 BGN 666

$232 BGN 386

72.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,515 BGN 9,174

$4,137 BGN 6,882

33.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.2 BGN 100

$45.02 BGN 74.9

33.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.44 BGN 55.6

$29.43 BGN 48.96

13.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.6 BGN 154

$83.2 BGN 138

11.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$100 BGN 167

$70.5 BGN 117

42.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$515 BGN 857

$360 BGN 600

42.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$391 BGN 650

$261 BGN 434

49.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$907 BGN 1,508

$572 BGN 952

58.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$646 BGN 1,075

$433 BGN 721

49.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,420 BGN 5,690

$2,499 BGN 4,157

36.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,147 BGN 3,572

$1,394 BGN 2,320

53.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,196 BGN 1,989

$957 BGN 1,592

24.91%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Veliko Tarnovo: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $515 in Varna versus $360 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 25% 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 $47.00 in Varna versus $41.00 in Veliko Tarnovo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $253 vs $234 – 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: $1,189 in Varna, $952 in Veliko Tarnovo – roughly 25% apart. Varna costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,783 per month in Varna and $1,428 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 $47.00 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 $952, than in Varna at $1,189. 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 $952 in Veliko Tarnovo to $1,189 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.