Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Veliko Tarnovo and Varna

For one person, living is cheaper in Veliko Tarnovo: $1,006 a month against $1,388 in Varna, rent and utilities included – about $4,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

49

Cost of Living Index in Veliko Tarnovo
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Veliko Tarnovo Living Index
68

Cost of Living Index in Varna
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Varna Living Index

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Veliko Tarnovo

🇧🇬 Bulgaria

$1,006

/mo nomad

Varna

🇧🇬 Bulgaria

$1,388

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Veliko Tarnovo and in Varna

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Veliko Tarnovo and in Varna actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,006 per month in Veliko Tarnovo vs $1,388 in Varna, rent included.

Veliko Tarnovo $1,006
Varna $1,388

A couple spends around $1,574 per month in Veliko Tarnovo vs $2,192 in Varna, rent included.

Veliko Tarnovo $1,574
Varna $2,192

A family of three spends $2,141 per month in Veliko Tarnovo vs $2,997 in Varna, rent included.

Veliko Tarnovo $2,141
Varna $2,997

Veliko Tarnovo is about 28% cheaper than Varna, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Veliko Tarnovo sits 25% below the global median, while Varna is 3% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.12 BGN 19.35

$12.74 BGN 22.16

-12.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.76 BGN 69.2

$59.9 BGN 104

-33.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.61 BGN 16.73

$10.21 BGN 17.77

-5.88%

Cappuccino

$1.85 BGN 3.21

$2.93 BGN 5.10

-36.86%

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

$1.31 BGN 2.29

$1.88 BGN 3.27

-30.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 BGN 1.53

$1.60 BGN 2.78

-45.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.03 BGN 3.53

$2.93 BGN 5.10

-30.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.79 BGN 4.85

$3.52 BGN 6.13

-20.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.86 BGN 3.23

$1.90 BGN 3.30

-2.11%

White Bread (500g)

$1.05 BGN 1.83

$1.18 BGN 2.05

-11.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.48 BGN 4.31

$2.57 BGN 4.47

-3.50%

Eggs

$3.67 BGN 6.39

$3.45 BGN 6.01

6.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.17 BGN 17.70

$11.30 BGN 19.66

-10.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.00 BGN 13.92

$9.02 BGN 15.69

-11.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.43 BGN 21.63

$14.12 BGN 24.57

-11.97%

Apples (1kg)

$1.60 BGN 2.78

$1.91 BGN 3.32

-16.23%

Banana (1kg)

$2.05 BGN 3.57

$2.11 BGN 3.67

-2.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 BGN 3.41

$2.13 BGN 3.70

-7.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.58 BGN 4.48

$2.95 BGN 5.14

-12.54%

Potato (1kg)

$1.09 BGN 1.90

$1.25 BGN 2.18

-12.80%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 BGN 2.04

$1.03 BGN 1.79

13.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 BGN 1.70

$1.07 BGN 1.86

-8.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 BGN 1.27

$0.75 BGN 1.30

-2.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.10 BGN 7.13

$3.97 BGN 6.92

3.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.72 BGN 11.69

$8.68 BGN 15.10

-22.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 BGN 2.10

$1.16 BGN 2.01

4.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 BGN 2.79

$1.80 BGN 3.13

-10.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 BGN 1.56

$0.89 BGN 1.55

1.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.23 BGN 40.42

$28.87 BGN 50.2

-19.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 BGN 2.02

$1.61 BGN 2.80

-27.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.67 BGN 1.17

$0.91 BGN 1.58

-26.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.18 BGN 19.46

$12.08 BGN 21.02

-7.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.56 BGN 2.71

$1.75 BGN 3.04

-10.86%

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

$30.5K BGN 53.1K

$29.8K BGN 51.8K

2.56%

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

$30.6K BGN 53.3K

$25.4K BGN 44.2K

20.65%

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

$95.9 BGN 167

$173 BGN 302

-44.73%

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

$18.81 BGN 32.73

$20.88 BGN 36.32

-9.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.86 BGN 27.59

$16.07 BGN 27.96

-1.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.50 BGN 53.1

$52.4 BGN 91.2

-41.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.69 BGN 34.26

$20.08 BGN 34.94

-1.94%

Cinema Ticket

$6.91 BGN 12.02

$8.86 BGN 15.42

-22.01%

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

$497 BGN 865

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,315 BGN 11.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.95 BGN 81.7

$65.3 BGN 114

-28.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.58 BGN 53.2

$33.69 BGN 58.6

-9.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$122 BGN 213

$101 BGN 176

20.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.1 BGN 162

$102 BGN 177

-8.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$351 BGN 611

$626 BGN 1,089

-43.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$260 BGN 453

$462 BGN 805

-43.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$572 BGN 995

$1,326 BGN 2,307

-56.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$420 BGN 731

$888 BGN 1,545

-52.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,407 BGN 4,187

$2,992 BGN 5,205

-19.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,364 BGN 2,373

$2,161 BGN 3,760

-36.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$952 BGN 1,657

$1,283 BGN 2,232

-25.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.74

2.85

-3.86%

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

Last update for Veliko Tarnovo: October 11, 2026

Last update for Varna: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Veliko Tarnovo

$260 25.9%

Varna

$462 33.3% 77.6% $202

Groceries & Markets

Veliko Tarnovo

$244 24.2%

Varna

$267 19.3% 9.8% $24

Eating Out

Veliko Tarnovo

$164 16.3%

Varna

$203 14.6% 23.6% $39

Clothing & Footwear

Veliko Tarnovo

$132 13.1%

Varna

$136 9.8% 3.1% $4.1

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Veliko Tarnovo

$131 13%

Varna

$210 15.2% 61.2% $80

Sport & Entertainment

Veliko Tarnovo

$44 4.4%

Varna

$70 5.1% 58.3% $26

Getting Around

Veliko Tarnovo

$31 3.1%

Varna

$39 2.8% 23% $7.2

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $351 in Veliko Tarnovo versus $626 in Varna. 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 35% 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 $40.00 in Veliko Tarnovo versus $60.0 in Varna. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $267 – making Veliko Tarnovo the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇧🇬 Veliko Tarnovo

🇧🇬 Varna

🕒 Local time

17:07 5:07 PM

Same time as Veliko Tarnovo

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

71,150

348,058

💱 Currency

Bulgarian Lev BGN лв.

📈 Exchange rate

1 BGN = 0.575 USD

1 BGN = 0.511 EUR

1 BGN = 0.575 USD

1 BGN = 0.511 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Veliko Tarnovo Varna 190 km

From you

Veliko Tarnovo
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Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Varna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,006 in Veliko Tarnovo, $1,388 in Varna – roughly 38% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,509 per month in Veliko Tarnovo and $2,082 in Varna. 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 24% less in Veliko Tarnovo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 10% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Veliko Tarnovo, where all-in costs run around $1,006, than in Varna at $1,388. 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 $1,006 in Veliko Tarnovo to $1,388 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.