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Plovdiv vs Varna cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money ยท Updated October 2026
๐ง๐ฌ Plovdiv
๐ง๐ฌ Varna
At a glance
- Where Plovdiv is clearly cheaper: Transit (50%โ), Half-day tour (29%โ), Street food (25%โ)
By category
Salary equivalence
Travel difficulty
Both cities are about equally easy to travel. Closer to 1 is easier. Difficulty ranking โบ
Item by item
| Item | Plovdiv | Varna | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | โฌ 9$10.5 | โฌ 10$11.6 | Plovdiv โ10% |
| Street food1 item | โฌ 3$3.49 | โฌ 4$4.65 | Plovdiv โ25% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | โฌ 17$19.8 | โฌ 18$20.9 | Plovdiv โ6% |
| Coffeeone cup | โฌ 2$2.33 | โฌ 2.3$2.67 | Plovdiv โ13% |
| Beerone bottle | โฌ 2.2$2.56 | โฌ 2.5$2.91 | Plovdiv โ12% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | โฌ 5.5$6.4 | โฌ 7$8.14 | Plovdiv โ21% |
| Bottled water | โฌ 0.6$0.7 | โฌ 0.6$0.7 | similar |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | โฌ 1.2$1.4 | โฌ 1.3$1.51 | Plovdiv โ8% |
| Taxi5 km in town | โฌ 6$6.98 | โฌ 5.5$6.4 | Varna โ8% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | โฌ 4$4.65 | โฌ 3.5$4.07 | Varna โ12% |
| Transitone ride | โฌ 0.5$0.58 | โฌ 1$1.16 | Plovdiv โ50% |
| Scooter rentalper day | โฌ 12$14 | โฌ 15$17.4 | Plovdiv โ20% |
| Hotel night3-star | โฌ 70$81.4 | โฌ 75$87.2 | Plovdiv โ7% |
| Studio rent (month) | โฌ 330$384 | โฌ 380$442 | Plovdiv โ13% |
| Laundry | โฌ 7$8.14 | โฌ 7$8.14 | similar |
| SIM card1 week data | โฌ 10$11.6 | โฌ 10$11.6 | similar |
| Haircutcut | โฌ 6$6.98 | โฌ 7$8.14 | Plovdiv โ14% |
| Massage1 hour | โฌ 30$34.9 | โฌ 30$34.9 | similar |
| Half-day tourper person | โฌ 25$29.1 | โฌ 35$40.7 | Plovdiv โ29% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | โฌ 5$5.81 | โฌ 6$6.98 | Plovdiv โ17% |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Plovdiv or Varna?
Plovdiv is 8% cheaper than Varna. Daily budget $157 vs $167; a month $2,200 vs $2,438.
Which is easier to travel, Plovdiv or Varna?
About the same: Plovdiv 2.2/5, Varna 2.2/5 (average of rip-offs, language, transport, payments and safety).
How do monthly costs compare between Plovdiv and Varna?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Plovdiv is about $2,200 and Varna about $2,438 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.