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 $1,027 per month in Veliko Tarnovo vs $1,214 in Plovdiv, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,597 per month in Veliko Tarnovo vs $1,882 in Plovdiv, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Veliko Tarnovo vs $2,551 in Plovdiv, rent included.

Veliko Tarnovo is about 15% cheaper than Plovdiv, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Veliko Tarnovo and Plovdiv are more affordable than the global median – Veliko Tarnovo 25% lower, Plovdiv 11% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.72 BGN 19.49

$9.17 BGN 15.25

27.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.28 BGN 68.7

$46.82 BGN 77.9

-11.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.86 BGN 16.40

$10.19 BGN 16.95

-3.24%

Cappuccino

$1.83 BGN 3.04

$2.97 BGN 4.94

-38.38%

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

$1.31 BGN 2.18

$1.68 BGN 2.80

-22.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.90 BGN 1.50

$1.57 BGN 2.61

-42.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.12 BGN 3.52

$2.69 BGN 4.47

-21.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 BGN 4.79

$4.08 BGN 6.78

-29.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 BGN 3.15

$1.83 BGN 3.04

3.28%

White Bread (500g)

$1.09 BGN 1.82

$1.25 BGN 2.07

-12.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.49 BGN 4.14

$2.34 BGN 3.89

6.41%

Eggs

$3.69 BGN 6.14

$3.77 BGN 6.27

-2.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.65 BGN 17.72

$12.15 BGN 20.22

-12.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.33 BGN 13.85

$8.64 BGN 14.37

-3.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.11 BGN 21.82

$14.71 BGN 24.48

-10.88%

Apples (1kg)

$1.60 BGN 2.67

$1.68 BGN 2.80

-4.76%

Banana (1kg)

$2.11 BGN 3.51

$1.87 BGN 3.12

12.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.01 BGN 3.34

$2.05 BGN 3.40

-1.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.75 BGN 4.58

$2.74 BGN 4.56

0.36%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 BGN 1.88

$1.08 BGN 1.79

4.63%

Onion (1kg)

$1.23 BGN 2.05

$1.12 BGN 1.86

9.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 BGN 1.68

$1.20 BGN 2.00

-15.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 BGN 1.31

$0.74 BGN 1.24

6.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 BGN 6.96

$4.06 BGN 6.76

3.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.95 BGN 11.56

$6.60 BGN 10.98

5.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 BGN 2.01

$1.18 BGN 1.96

2.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 BGN 2.76

$2.12 BGN 3.52

-21.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 BGN 1.52

$0.61 BGN 1.01

49.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.07 BGN 40.04

$30.00 BGN 49.90

-19.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 BGN 1.93

$1.28 BGN 2.14

-9.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.73 BGN 1.21

$0.62 BGN 1.03

17.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.60 BGN 19.29

$10.79 BGN 17.95

7.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.57 BGN 2.62

$1.63 BGN 2.71

-3.68%

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

$31.1K BGN 51.7K

$31.2K BGN 51.9K

-0.40%

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

$32.1K BGN 53.4K

$25.2K BGN 41.9K

27.39%

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

$99.3 BGN 165

$117 BGN 194

-15.04%

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

$19.44 BGN 32.34

$19.07 BGN 31.73

1.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.05 BGN 26.70

$16.19 BGN 26.93

-0.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.73 BGN 52.8

$41.94 BGN 69.8

-24.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.72 BGN 34.47

$20.99 BGN 34.91

-1.29%

Cinema Ticket

$6.94 BGN 11.55

$9.23 BGN 15.35

-24.81%

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

$531 BGN 883

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,699 BGN 9,480

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.89 BGN 81.3

$70.7 BGN 118

-30.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 BGN 52.9

$43.62 BGN 72.6

-27.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$127 BGN 212

$99.7 BGN 166

27.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.6 BGN 159

$108 BGN 180

-11.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$362 BGN 602

$547 BGN 911

-33.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$269 BGN 447

$399 BGN 663

-32.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$581 BGN 967

$902 BGN 1,501

-35.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$425 BGN 706

$685 BGN 1,139

-37.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,531 BGN 4,210

$2,348 BGN 3,907

7.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,379 BGN 2,295

$1,591 BGN 2,647

-13.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$997 BGN 1,659

$1,203 BGN 2,001

-17.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.74

3.1

-11.61%

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

Last update for Veliko Tarnovo: September 15, 2026

Last update for Plovdiv: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $362 in Veliko Tarnovo versus $547 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: $253 vs $263 – 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: $1,027 in Veliko Tarnovo, $1,214 in Plovdiv – roughly 18% apart. Plovdiv costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,541 per month in Veliko Tarnovo and $1,821 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 25% less in Veliko Tarnovo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 4% more in Plovdiv, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Veliko Tarnovo, where all-in costs run around $1,027, than in Plovdiv at $1,214. 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 $1,027 in Veliko Tarnovo to $1,214 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.