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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $969 per month in Veliko Tarnovo vs $1,074 in Plovdiv, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,522 per month in Veliko Tarnovo vs $1,715 in Plovdiv, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,076 per month in Veliko Tarnovo vs $2,356 in Plovdiv, rent included.

Veliko Tarnovo is about 10% cheaper than Plovdiv, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Veliko Tarnovo and Plovdiv are more affordable than the global median – Veliko Tarnovo 28% lower, Plovdiv 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.20 BGN 17.04

$8.61 BGN 14.38

18.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.71 BGN 68.0

$47.26 BGN 78.9

-13.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.68 BGN 14.50

$8.39 BGN 14.02

3.46%

Cappuccino

$1.87 BGN 3.12

$2.39 BGN 3.99

-21.76%

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

$1.38 BGN 2.30

$1.45 BGN 2.43

-4.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 BGN 1.19

$0.87 BGN 1.46

-18.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.89 BGN 3.15

$2.98 BGN 4.98

-36.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 BGN 4.86

$2.94 BGN 4.91

-1.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 BGN 2.86

$1.73 BGN 2.89

-1.16%

White Bread (500g)

$0.90 BGN 1.50

$1.07 BGN 1.78

-15.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.96 BGN 3.28

$2.21 BGN 3.69

-11.31%

Eggs

$3.31 BGN 5.52

$3.41 BGN 5.70

-2.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.50 BGN 15.87

$11.65 BGN 19.46

-18.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.80 BGN 13.02

$7.55 BGN 12.61

3.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.65 BGN 19.45

$12.37 BGN 20.66

-5.82%

Apples (1kg)

$1.60 BGN 2.67

$1.50 BGN 2.51

6.67%

Banana (1kg)

$2.15 BGN 3.59

$1.68 BGN 2.80

27.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.97 BGN 3.29

$1.61 BGN 2.69

22.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.47 BGN 4.12

$2.57 BGN 4.29

-3.89%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 BGN 1.94

$1.03 BGN 1.72

12.62%

Onion (1kg)

$1.37 BGN 2.29

$1.10 BGN 1.84

24.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 BGN 1.75

$1.05 BGN 1.76

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 BGN 1.23

$0.76 BGN 1.28

-2.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.62 BGN 6.05

$3.64 BGN 6.07

-0.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.79 BGN 11.34

$7.10 BGN 11.86

-4.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 BGN 1.65

$1.03 BGN 1.72

-3.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 BGN 2.78

$1.73 BGN 2.89

-4.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 BGN 1.51

$0.62 BGN 1.03

45.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$33.44 BGN 55.8

$28.20 BGN 47.10

18.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.19 BGN 1.99

$1.21 BGN 2.02

-1.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.67 BGN 1.12

$0.61 BGN 1.02

9.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.91 BGN 19.89

$10.47 BGN 17.49

13.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 BGN 2.57

$1.57 BGN 2.62

-1.91%

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

$31.6K BGN 52.8K

$31.7K BGN 53.0K

-0.21%

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

$25.8K BGN 43.0K

$28.1K BGN 46.9K

-8.37%

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

$93.8 BGN 157

$94.6 BGN 158

-0.90%

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

$16.72 BGN 27.92

$17.76 BGN 29.67

-5.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.48 BGN 22.51

$15.25 BGN 25.46

-11.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.50 BGN 59.3

$37.68 BGN 62.9

-5.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.38 BGN 37.37

$15.03 BGN 25.10

48.90%

Cinema Ticket

$7.00 BGN 11.68

$9.04 BGN 15.09

-22.57%

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

$236 BGN 394

$427 BGN 713

-44.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,201 BGN 7,016

$7,075 BGN 11.8K

-40.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.48 BGN 74.3

$61.0 BGN 102

-27.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.96 BGN 48.36

$36.05 BGN 60.2

-19.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.7 BGN 140

$102 BGN 170

-17.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.4 BGN 121

$106 BGN 177

-31.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$359 BGN 599

$482 BGN 805

-25.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$261 BGN 436

$343 BGN 572

-23.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$577 BGN 964

$821 BGN 1,371

-29.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$434 BGN 725

$602 BGN 1,005

-27.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,531 BGN 4,227

$2,400 BGN 4,009

5.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,424 BGN 2,379

$1,560 BGN 2,605

-8.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$947 BGN 1,581

$1,142 BGN 1,908

-17.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.57

4.49

1.78%

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

Last update for Veliko Tarnovo: April 27, 2026

Last update for Plovdiv: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $359 in Veliko Tarnovo versus $482 in Plovdiv. 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 21% higher in Plovdiv, 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 $41.00 in Veliko Tarnovo versus $47.00 in Plovdiv. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $232 vs $239 – 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

Veliko Tarnovo vs Plovdiv: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $969 in Veliko Tarnovo, $1,074 in Plovdiv – roughly 11% apart. Plovdiv costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,454 per month in Veliko Tarnovo and $1,611 in Plovdiv. 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.

Public transport costs about 19% less in Veliko Tarnovo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $236 per month in Veliko Tarnovo and $427 in Plovdiv. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Veliko Tarnovo, where all-in costs run around $969, than in Plovdiv at $1,074. In Veliko Tarnovo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Plovdiv it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Plovdiv has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $969 in Veliko Tarnovo to $1,074 in Plovdiv. 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, Plovdiv makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.