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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,070 per month in Veliko Tarnovo vs $1,468 in Varna, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,686 per month in Veliko Tarnovo vs $2,264 in Varna, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,302 per month in Veliko Tarnovo vs $3,059 in Varna, rent included.

Veliko Tarnovo is about 27% cheaper than Varna, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Veliko Tarnovo sits 22% below the global median, while Varna is 7% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.80 BGN 19.62

$14.11 BGN 23.47

-16.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.39 BGN 80.5

$61.8 BGN 103

-21.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.21 BGN 16.99

$10.71 BGN 17.81

-4.67%

Cappuccino

$2.06 BGN 3.43

$2.95 BGN 4.90

-30.17%

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

$1.33 BGN 2.22

$1.93 BGN 3.21

-31.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.08 BGN 1.80

$1.73 BGN 2.87

-37.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.82 BGN 3.03

$2.92 BGN 4.86

-37.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 BGN 5.06

$3.80 BGN 6.32

-20.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.98 BGN 3.30

$1.98 BGN 3.29

White Bread (500g)

$1.04 BGN 1.74

$1.32 BGN 2.19

-21.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.74 BGN 4.56

$2.66 BGN 4.42

3.01%

Eggs

$3.43 BGN 5.71

$3.59 BGN 5.97

-4.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.86 BGN 18.07

$11.99 BGN 19.94

-9.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.45 BGN 14.05

$9.68 BGN 16.11

-12.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.24 BGN 22.03

$14.79 BGN 24.61

-10.48%

Apples (1kg)

$1.68 BGN 2.79

$1.98 BGN 3.30

-15.15%

Banana (1kg)

$2.02 BGN 3.36

$2.27 BGN 3.77

-11.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.04 BGN 3.40

$2.27 BGN 3.78

-10.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.74 BGN 4.56

$3.10 BGN 5.15

-11.61%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 BGN 1.88

$1.37 BGN 2.28

-17.52%

Onion (1kg)

$1.24 BGN 2.07

$1.12 BGN 1.86

10.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 BGN 1.75

$1.06 BGN 1.76

-0.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 BGN 1.33

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.11 BGN 6.83

$4.23 BGN 7.03

-2.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.72 BGN 11.18

$9.09 BGN 15.12

-26.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 BGN 2.00

$1.19 BGN 1.98

0.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 BGN 2.85

$1.87 BGN 3.11

-8.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 BGN 1.52

$1.14 BGN 1.90

-20.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.67 BGN 39.37

$29.17 BGN 48.53

-18.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 BGN 2.01

$1.52 BGN 2.53

-20.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.72 BGN 1.20

$0.91 BGN 1.52

-20.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.05 BGN 20.04

$12.55 BGN 20.87

-3.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.52 BGN 2.52

$1.73 BGN 2.89

-12.14%

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

$31.7K BGN 52.7K

$30.7K BGN 51.1K

3.00%

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

$31.8K BGN 53.0K

$26.3K BGN 43.8K

20.93%

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

$107 BGN 179

$182 BGN 302

-40.93%

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

$19.33 BGN 32.16

$21.15 BGN 35.19

-8.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.59 BGN 24.27

$17.25 BGN 28.70

-15.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.04 BGN 51.6

$54.4 BGN 90.4

-42.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.21 BGN 35.28

$20.77 BGN 34.55

2.12%

Cinema Ticket

$7.34 BGN 12.21

$9.03 BGN 15.02

-18.72%

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

$520 BGN 865

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,550 BGN 10.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.30 BGN 82.0

$67.8 BGN 113

-27.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.21 BGN 53.6

$35.02 BGN 58.3

-8.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 BGN 213

$104 BGN 173

22.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.4 BGN 165

$106 BGN 176

-6.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$365 BGN 608

$644 BGN 1,071

-43.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$272 BGN 452

$480 BGN 799

-43.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$593 BGN 987

$1,307 BGN 2,174

-54.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$438 BGN 729

$932 BGN 1,550

-53.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,510 BGN 4,176

$3,351 BGN 5,575

-25.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,386 BGN 2,305

$2,215 BGN 3,684

-37.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$953 BGN 1,586

$1,240 BGN 2,062

-23.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.18

2.93

8.53%

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

Last update for Veliko Tarnovo: August 29, 2026

Last update for Varna: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $365 in Veliko Tarnovo versus $644 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 30% 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 $48.00 in Veliko Tarnovo versus $62.0 in Varna. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $254 vs $283 – 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 Varna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,070 in Veliko Tarnovo, $1,468 in Varna – roughly 37% apart. Varna costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,605 per month in Veliko Tarnovo and $2,203 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 23% less in Veliko Tarnovo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 11% 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 $1,070, than in Varna at $1,468. 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 $1,070 in Veliko Tarnovo to $1,468 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.