Center
Walkable, close to the Sea Garden, the beach and the main shopping streets.
city lifeno car
Sea capital
Living in Varna
Bulgaria's biggest city on the Black Sea, with city beaches, the Sea Garden and life all year round.
- 1-bed rent
- €425–570
- From Sofia
- About 5h by car, 1h by plane
- Airport
- Varna (VAR)
- Pace of life
- Relaxed, busy in summer
Overview
Is Varna right for you?
Varna is Bulgaria’s third city and its biggest on the Black Sea. Unlike the resort towns, it stays lively all year, with universities, a port, a busy cultural calendar and a growing IT scene.
The centre runs down to the Sea Garden, a long park along the shore, and to the city beaches. Golden Sands, Balchik and the northern coast are a short drive away, and Varna has an international airport.
Varna suits families and remote workers who want the sea without giving up city life. It is busy and pricier in summer, when many flats are rented to tourists, so long-term rentals are easiest to find from autumn to spring.
Winters are mild but can be grey and windy. There are fewer services in English than in Sofia, but more than in most other cities.
What expats like
- City beaches and the large Sea Garden park
- Life all year round, not just in summer
- An international airport
- A growing remote-work and IT community
- Golden Sands and the northern coast close by
What to know
- Crowded and pricier in summer
- Winters can be grey and windy
- Fewer English-speaking services than Sofia
- Rents near the sea are higher
Costs
What it costs to live here
Typical prices for one person, from current listings and Numbeo, checked in October 2026. Rents rise fast, so check imot.bg before you budget.
1-bed apartment, city centre
about €570 a month
1-bed apartment, outside the centre
about €425 a month
Utilities for a 2-bed flat (power, water, heating)
about €155 a month, more in winter
Public transport monthly card
about €26
Mobile plan with 10 GB+ data
about €19 a month
Home internet
about €14 a month
Meal at an inexpensive restaurant
about €11
Neighbourhoods
Where expats live in Varna
Chaika
By the sea and the park, with a mix of older and newer buildings.
familiesbeach loversBriz
Upmarket and near the sea, with newer flats and houses.
familiesprofessionalsLevski
Residential, close to the centre and good value.
valuewalking to townMladost
A large residential area with lower rents.
valuefamiliesAsparuhovo and Galata
South across the bay, greener and hillier, with houses and sea views. A car helps.
quietnature loversGetting around
Do you need a car?
Buses
The main way around the city, including to the beaches and resorts north of town.
Walking
The centre, the Sea Garden and the seafront are easy to explore on foot.
Taxis and apps
Cheap and easy to find. Use a licensed company or an app.
Driving
Useful for beaches along the coast and trips inland. Traffic and parking get harder in summer.
Living here
Everyday life in Varna
Healthcare
- St. Marina University HospitalState The largest hospital in northeast Bulgaria
- Military Medical Academy, VarnaState A large hospital open to all patients
- Private clinics and medical centresPrivate Several, many with English-speaking doctors
Schools
- American College Arcus IB, English only. Ages 3 to 18
- International School of Varna Cambridge (IGCSE and A level). Teaches in English
- Language high schools English, German and other streams. Bulgarian state schools, entry by exam
Work
- Jobs IT, shipping and the port, and tourism, which is busiest in summer
- Coworking About ten spaces, including Switch and Innovator
- Remote work A growing community of remote workers who want the sea
Weekends
- Balchik The Palace and botanical garden by the sea, under an hour away
- Cape Kaliakra Cliffs, a fortress and dolphins in summer, about 1 hour away
- Aladzha Monastery A rock monastery in the forest, 20 minutes away
- Pobiti Kamani The “stone forest” of natural columns, 30 minutes away
- Golden Sands and Sveti Konstantin Beaches and a nature park, 20 minutes away
Paperwork
Where to sort your paperwork
Migration office (ODMVR Varna)
Residence permits, EU registration certificates, LNCH
1 San Stefano St · Check hours on mvr.bg
Good to know: Bring originals and copies of everything. Queues are longest early in the morning
KAT (traffic police)
Driving licence exchange, car registration
Varna traffic police (ODMVR Varna) · Check the address and hours on mvr.bg before you go
Good to know: Bring a sworn translation for non-EU licences
District administration (район)
Local documents, property tax and vehicle tax
Varna has five districts · Hours vary
Good to know: Ask which district your street belongs to
National Revenue Agency (NAP)
Tax registration, social security, health insurance status
Find your office at nra.bg · Many services work online with a PIK code
Good to know: Ask for a PIK code once: it saves many visits
Find help in Varna
English-speaking professionals near you
Lawyers, accountants, doctors and agents who work with expats in Varna, checked by our team.
What’s on near Varna
Festivals, concerts, traditions and markets across Bulgaria, with what each one is about so you know what to expect.
See events in VarnaCompare
