Should you visit Moscow or Varna?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the prices of travel for Moscow and Varna. We’ll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget. So, let's dig into it.
Moscow
Moscow is the capital of Russia and is notable for its important role in history. It's a very sprawling city with many museums and fascinating buildings. Ten percent of Russia's population lives in this capital city and it's a financial and political center for the country. The Moskva River weaves its way through the city and you will find most of the city's sights and attractions on the northern side of the river.
Varna
Varna is a coastal city on the Black Sea. It's the third largest city in Bulgaria and many people consider it the summer capital of the country. It's a major tourist destination and it can make for a relaxing escape at the beach if you're in Bulgaria during the summer. It is the only city in Bulgaria that cruises visit, and as such, it's tourist infrastructure has grown. In addition to being a tourist destination, Varna is also a business and university center, seaport, and the headquarters of the Bulgarian Navy and merchant marine.
Which city is cheaper, Varna or Moscow?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Moscow is $66, while the average daily cost in Varna is $57. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Moscow and Varna in more detail.
Accommodation
For a normal double-occupancy room in Moscow, $84 is the average cost for a hotel room. Also in Moscow, the typical price for a place to stay for one person is $42, such as in a hostel.
The average price for accommodation for two people in Varna is $62. This is for two people sharing a typical double occupancy hotel room.
Food
On average, meal and food prices in Moscow cost around $15 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around $6.00.
Varna food costs typically run travelers around $20 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
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Food
Meals for one day
Moscow $15
Varna $20
Typical Food prices in Moscow
For Moscow, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Moscow
For Moscow, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Virtual Home Cooking with Russian Family:
$22
-
Moscow Food Tour:
$67
-
An evening at the monastery with dinner:
$80
-
Traditional Russian Cooking Class and Meal in Moscow with a Friendly Local:
$91
-
Private Market Tour and Traditional Russian Cooking Class in Moscow:
$101
-
Food Tour:
$102
-
Traditional Russian Cooking Class and Meal in a Local Home in Moscow:
$117
-
Moscow Metro and Russian Dinner Private tour:
$127
-
Moscow River Cruise with Dinner and Lively Firework with a Private Guide:
$133
-
Private food tour: Russian culinary culture:
$144
-
Moscow Yummy Food tour:
$160
-
Red Square and River Cruise with Dinner Private Tour:
$167
Local Transportation
To get around in Moscow, the average visitor spends $6.44 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around $8.16 per day to get around in Varna.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Moscow
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Moscow are as follows:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Moscow
Also for Moscow, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Arrival Private Transfer Moscow Domodedovo DME to Moscow City by Luxury Car:
$124
-
Arrival Private Transfer Moscow Domodedovo DME to Moscow by Luxury Van:
$53
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Arrival Private Transfer Moscow Train Station to Moscow City by Luxury Van:
$87
-
Arrival Private Transfer Moscow Vnukovo Airport VKO to Moscow City by Luxury Van:
$54
-
Arrival Private Transfer Moscow Vnukovo VKO Airport to Moscow by Luxury Car:
$109
-
Departure Private Transfer Moscow City to Moscow Domodedovo DME by Luxury Car:
$123
-
Departure Private Transfer Moscow City to Moscow Domodedovo DME by Luxury Van:
$59
-
Departure Private Transfer Moscow City to Moscow SVO Airport by Luxury Van:
$54
-
Departure Private Transfer Moscow City to Moscow Train Station by Business Car:
$38
-
Departure Private Transfer Moscow City to Moscow Train Station by Luxury Car:
$87
-
Departure Private Transfer Moscow City to Moscow Train Station by Luxury Van:
$87
-
Departure Private Transfer Moscow SVO Airport to Moscow City by Luxury Car:
$110
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Varna
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Varna:
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Varna Airport/City to Sofia Airport/City Transfer:
$152
-
Varna Airport - Sunny Beach | Airport Transfer,Taxi, Bus, Van Service | Book Now:
$112
-
Varna Airport - Ravda | Airport Transfer,Taxi, Bus, Van Service | Book Now:
$112
-
Varna Airport - Nessebar | Airport Transfer,Taxi, Bus, Van Service | Book Now:
$112
-
Varna Airport - Aheloy | Airport Transfer,Taxi, Bus, Van Service | Book Now:
$118
-
VARNA One-Way Private Airport Transfer:
$27
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Private Transfer to Bucharest from Varna (Bulgaria):
$261
-
Private Transfer from Varna to Sofia: Hotel-to-hotel, English-speaking driver:
$168
-
Private Transfer from Varna to Sofia (SOF) Airport:
$342
-
Private Transfer from Varna to Nessebar, Hotel-to-hotel, English-speaking driver:
$61
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Private Transfer from Varna to Golden Sands:
$45
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Private Transfer from Varna to Burgas (BOJ) Airport:
$146
Is it cheaper to fly into Moscow or Varna?
Prices for flights to both Varna and Moscow change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Entertainment
In Moscow, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $17 per person, per day.
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $7.48 per person, per day in Varna. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
Typical Entertainment prices in Moscow
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Moscow's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Theater Tickets
$16
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Kremlin Entry (2)
$14
Tours and Activities in Moscow
For Moscow, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Moscow classical tour:
$6.38
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Admission ticket to Kolomenskoye Historical and Architectural Museum and Reserve:
$7.02
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Tsaritsyno Museum entrance ticket:
$8.14
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Admission ticket to the The Museum of Cosmonautics:
$11
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The Jewish Museum and Tolerance Center Admission Ticket:
$12
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Admission ticket to the State Museum of GULAG's History, Moscow:
$13
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The Museum of Victory Admission Ticket:
$13
-
Admission ticket to the Tochka-G Museum of Erotic Art, Moscow:
$14
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Admission ticket to Gallery of the European and American XIX-XX centuries art:
$14
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Tretyakov Gallery Admission Ticket:
$16
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Admission ticket to the New Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow:
$17
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1-hour scenic Moscow River Cruise:
$18
Tours and Activities in Varna
Here are a few actual costs in Varna for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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Audio Guide for All Varna Sights, Attractions or Experiences:
$17
-
Bulgaria Day Bike Tours - countryside & seaside:
$82
-
Full-Day Private Sightseeing Tour to the North of Varna:
$223
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Full-Day Private Sightseeing Tour to the South of Varna:
$235
-
Pokémon GO Varna Private Tour:
$19
-
Private Virtual Tour in Varna with a Local Guide:
$24
-
Self-guided Retro Museum Varna Tour:
$8.96
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Self-guided tour in Varna Archaeological Museum + ticket:
$9.70
-
The Ultimate Private Communist Tour of Varna:
$61
-
Unique Boat Trip Experience from Varna:
$86
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Varna - Aladza Monastery - Balchik - Kaliakra Cape Tour:
$187
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Moscow spend on average $8.27 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Varna may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $7.45 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Sample the Local Flavors in Moscow
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Moscow:
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Pub Crawl Moscow Guided Tour in Classic Soviet Van:
$79
-
Private Wine Tour in Moscow with History, Architecture and Friendly Local Guide:
$121
Sample the Local Flavors in Varna
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Varna:
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Vineyards tour & wine tasting near Varna:
$5.31
-
Varna Exquisite Wine Tasting:
$40
-
Private Exploration: French Influence in Varna + Walking + Wine tasting tour:
$49
-
The Ultimate Private Varna Walking, Culture & Wine Tasting Tour:
$61
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Private Varna Gourmet Tour with Superb Wine Tasting:
$61
When comparing the travel costs between Moscow and Varna, we can see that Moscow is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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