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 $1,084 in Plovdiv, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,524 per month in Veliko Tarnovo vs $1,710 in Plovdiv, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,080 per month in Veliko Tarnovo vs $2,336 in Plovdiv, rent included.

Veliko Tarnovo is about 11% cheaper than Plovdiv, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Veliko Tarnovo and Plovdiv are more affordable than the global median – Veliko Tarnovo 27% lower, Plovdiv 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.46 BGN 17.41

$9.06 BGN 15.07

15.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.25 BGN 68.6

$48.11 BGN 80.0

-14.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.79 BGN 14.62

$8.35 BGN 13.90

5.27%

Cappuccino

$1.97 BGN 3.28

$2.45 BGN 4.08

-19.59%

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

$1.35 BGN 2.25

$1.48 BGN 2.47

-8.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 BGN 1.18

$0.85 BGN 1.41

-16.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.96 BGN 3.27

$2.98 BGN 4.96

-34.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 BGN 4.97

$2.97 BGN 4.95

0.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 BGN 2.72

$1.74 BGN 2.90

-5.75%

White Bread (500g)

$0.89 BGN 1.47

$1.01 BGN 1.68

-11.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.90 BGN 3.17

$2.14 BGN 3.56

-11.21%

Eggs

$3.37 BGN 5.61

$3.48 BGN 5.79

-3.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.62 BGN 16.01

$11.61 BGN 19.31

-17.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.81 BGN 13.00

$7.57 BGN 12.59

3.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.65 BGN 19.38

$11.95 BGN 19.88

-2.51%

Apples (1kg)

$1.58 BGN 2.63

$1.55 BGN 2.59

1.94%

Banana (1kg)

$2.04 BGN 3.39

$1.70 BGN 2.83

20.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.05 BGN 3.41

$1.67 BGN 2.77

22.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 BGN 4.14

$2.46 BGN 4.09

1.22%

Potato (1kg)

$1.20 BGN 2.00

$0.98 BGN 1.64

22.45%

Onion (1kg)

$1.32 BGN 2.20

$1.10 BGN 1.84

20.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 BGN 1.73

$1.10 BGN 1.83

-5.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 BGN 1.29

$0.82 BGN 1.36

-4.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.67 BGN 6.10

$3.57 BGN 5.94

2.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.77 BGN 11.26

$6.49 BGN 10.80

4.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 BGN 1.71

$1.03 BGN 1.72

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 BGN 2.81

$1.73 BGN 2.88

-2.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.92 BGN 1.53

$0.61 BGN 1.02

50.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.28 BGN 57.0

$28.41 BGN 47.26

20.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.15 BGN 1.92

$1.20 BGN 2.00

-4.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.67 BGN 1.11

$0.62 BGN 1.02

8.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.73 BGN 19.52

$10.51 BGN 17.49

11.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 BGN 2.56

$1.51 BGN 2.51

1.99%

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

$32.0K BGN 53.3K

$31.9K BGN 53.2K

0.27%

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

$25.8K BGN 43.0K

$28.8K BGN 48.0K

-10.46%

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

$92.9 BGN 155

$94.5 BGN 157

-1.65%

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

$16.88 BGN 28.08

$18.15 BGN 30.19

-7.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.49 BGN 22.44

$14.95 BGN 24.88

-9.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.19 BGN 58.6

$37.16 BGN 61.8

-5.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.55 BGN 37.52

$14.77 BGN 24.58

52.67%

Cinema Ticket

$6.97 BGN 11.60

$9.10 BGN 15.14

-23.41%

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

$236 BGN 392

$427 BGN 710

-44.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,150 BGN 6,904

$7,070 BGN 11.8K

-41.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.29 BGN 73.7

$61.4 BGN 102

-27.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.34 BGN 48.80

$34.91 BGN 58.1

-15.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.1 BGN 137

$98.0 BGN 163

-16.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.2 BGN 118

$107 BGN 178

-33.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$368 BGN 611

$474 BGN 789

-22.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$256 BGN 426

$342 BGN 568

-25.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$587 BGN 977

$833 BGN 1,385

-29.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$425 BGN 706

$599 BGN 997

-29.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,471 BGN 4,110

$2,292 BGN 3,812

7.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,391 BGN 2,314

$1,558 BGN 2,591

-10.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$909 BGN 1,512

$1,151 BGN 1,914

-21.04%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Plovdiv: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $368 in Veliko Tarnovo versus $474 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 27% 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 $48.00 in Plovdiv. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $232 vs $236 – 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, $1,084 in Plovdiv – roughly 12% apart. Plovdiv costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,453 per month in Veliko Tarnovo and $1,626 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 21% 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 $1,084. 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 $1,084 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.