Which place is cheaper, Edinburgh or Varna?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Varna or Edinburgh?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Varna and Edinburgh can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Varna or Edinburgh?
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.
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the moderately sized capital of Scotland. It is a medieval city that has managed to perfect the combination of Georgian architecture and medieval relics with a cosmopolitan population and avant-garde atmosphere. The city's population is quite young, in large part because of the University of Edinburgh. This youthful vibe gives this city a lot of vitality. There's a thriving nightlife, many restaurants, theatres, galleries and museums.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Bulgaria, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Bulgaria, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Edinburgh, and The Best 10-Day Tours from London.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayVarna $65Edinburgh $177
The average daily cost (per person) in Varna is $65, while the average daily cost in Edinburgh is $177. 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 destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Varna and Edinburgh in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVarna $35Edinburgh $92
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVarna $70Edinburgh $184
Compare Hotels in Varna and Edinburgh
Looking for a hotel in Varna or Edinburgh? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Varna Hotel Prices and Edinburgh Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Varna $9.33Edinburgh $21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Varna
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Varna:
- Varna to Bucharest - Private Transfer: $644
- Varna Airport - Ravda | Airport Transfer,Taxi, Bus, Van Service | Book Now: $136
- Varna Airport - Nessebar | Airport Transfer,Taxi, Bus, Van Service | Book Now: $131
- Private Transfer from Varna to Burgas (BOJ) Airport: $128
- Private Transfer from Varna Airport (VAR) to Burgas Cruise Port: $65
- Private Transfer from Varna (VAR) Airport to Varna City: $22
- Private Transfer from Varna (VAR) Airport to Sveti Vlas: $109
- Private Transfer from Varna (VAR) Airport to Sunny Beach: $219
- Private Transfer from Varna (VAR) Airport to Sozopol: $155
- Private Transfer from Varna (VAR) Airport to Saints Constantine and Helena: $25
- Private Transfer from Varna (VAR) Airport to Pomorie: $118
- Private Transfer from Varna (VAR) Airport to Obzor: $71
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Edinburgh
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Edinburgh:
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Local Bus$4.48
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Edinburgh
Also for Edinburgh, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfer to/from Edinburgh City, St'Andrews etc.: $112
- Airport Transfer: Airport EDI to Edinburgh by Business Car: $129
- Airport Transfer: Airport EDI to Edinburgh by Luxury Van: $153
- Airport Transfer: Edinburgh to Airport EDI by Business Car: $129
- Airport Transfer: Edinburgh to Airport EDI by Luxury Car: $163
- Airport Transfer: Edinburgh to Airport EDI by Luxury Van: $153
- Arrival Transfer Edinburgh Airport EDI to Edinburgh by Minivan: $95
- Central Edinburgh Hotels to Edinburgh Airport Transfers 1-3: $255
- Departure Transfer: Edinburgh to Airport EDI by Business Car: $129
- Edinburgh Accommodation to Edinburgh Airport Departure Transfer: $59
- Edinburgh Airport (EDI) to Edinburgh Luxury Taxi Transfer: $152
- Edinburgh Airport (EDI) to Glasgow - Arrival Private Transfer: $60
Is it cheaper to fly into Varna or Edinburgh?
Prices for flights to both Edinburgh and Varna 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.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayVarna $23Edinburgh $49
Typical Food Prices in Edinburgh
For Edinburgh, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Breakfast$11
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Dinner at Filling Station$12
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Lunch for Two$19
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Sandwich$2.30
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Cheese & bread$9.01
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Thai Restaurant Dinner (for 2)$31
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2 Coffees and Scones$7.23
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Turkish Delight$1.74
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Soup at the Pub$7.35
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Edinburgh
For Edinburgh, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hard Rock Cafe with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $31
- Scottish Dinner and Folk Music Experience: $87
- Edinburgh Holiday Donut Adventure & Walking Food Tour: $90
- 'Scotland meets Sardinia' - 8-course Dinner in Leith, Edinburgh: $110
- 3-Hour Guided Secret Food Tour: $116
- Edinburgh Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $120
- Edinburgh Food Tour with a Local Foodie Custom & Private: $167
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Varna $8.55Edinburgh $25
Tours and Activities in Varna
Here are a few actual costs in Varna for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Action Aqua Park Entrance Ticket: $25
- Audio Guide for All Varna Sights, Attractions or Experiences: $15
- Bulgaria Day Bike & E-bike Tours - country & sea: $63
- E-Motorcycle Tour in Old Rock Monastery and Old Roman Fortress : $114
- From Hiking and Climbing Day Tour: $74
- From Rock Sanctuaries Hiking Tour: $74
- Full-Day Private Sightseeing Tour to the North of Varna: $206
- Full-Day Private Sightseeing Tour to the South of Varna: $206
- Full-Day Small-Group Tour of Bulgaria by Minivan with Lunch: $87
- GPS & Video guided Tour to The North Coast Of The Black Sea: $183
- Guided Nessebar Sightseeing Tour with Pick Up: $108
- Half Day Private Bicycle Tour in Varna: $29
Typical Entertainment Prices in Edinburgh
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Edinburgh's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Show Tickets$40
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Movie Tickets for Two$15
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Donation for Storytellers$7.47
Tours and Activities in Edinburgh
For Edinburgh, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- Escape Game and Tour: $3.74
- Old Town's Highlights Walking Tour: $4.36
- Audio Tour Royal Mile: del Castillo hasta "The Tron Kirk": $5.34
- Edinbourgh, Royal mile: walking tour with audio guide: $5.35
- Edinburgh Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & City Tour: $5.56
- City Exploration Game and Tour on your Phone: $6.41
- Audio Tour through History of Crime: $7.00
- Edinburgh Royal mile: Self-guided walking tour: $7.19
- Must-See In App Audio Tour: $7.61
- Edinburgh Royal Mile (New Self Guided Tour) : $7.99
- Harry Potter’s A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayVarna $8.52Edinburgh $19
Sample the Local Flavors in Varna
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Varna:
- Private Exploration: French Influence in Varna + Walking + Wine tasting tour: $53
- Bulgarian Wine Tasting & Art Gallery Experience in Varna: $53
- Varna Exquisite Wine Tasting: $64
- Private Varna Gourmet Tour with Superb Wine Tasting: $64
- The Ultimate Private Varna Walking, Culture & Wine Tasting Tour: $75
- E-bike & Wine Tour to the Bulgarian Coast: $104
- Varna Gourmet Tour including Wine Tasting: $127
Typical Alcohol Prices in Edinburgh
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Edinburgh from other travelers:
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Beer & Wine$18
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Half Pint at Tollbooth Tavern$2.06
Sample the Local Flavors in Edinburgh
Also in Edinburgh, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl with Free Shots & Discounts: $11
- Edinburgh Bar Crawl: 5+ Venues, Free Shots, Free Club Entry: $19
- Pub Crawl in Edinburgh: $19
- Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour with "Real-Actors": $25
- East Lothian: Glenkinchie Whisky Distillery Tour & Tasting: $26
- Guided Gin Tasting at 56 North Distillery: $28
- Pickering's Gin Jolly Distillery Tasting Tour: $31
- Lind & Lime Gin Distillery Tour & Tasting: $31
- Whisky Tasting and Tales at Summerhall Distillery: $31
- Pub Crawl 7 Bars with 6 Shots: $31
- The Original Edinburgh Pub Crawl: $32
- Visit a Working South Loch Gin Distillery: $32
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Varna and Edinburgh, we can see that Edinburgh is more expensive. And not only is Varna much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Varna would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Varna and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Edinburgh would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Edinburgh than you might in Varna.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Varna Expensive? and Is Edinburgh Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Varna or Edinburgh?
Edinburgh has a larger population, and is about 39% larger than the population of Varna. When comparing the sizes of Varna and Edinburgh, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Varna or Edinburgh?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Varna or Edinburgh in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Varna as well as Edinburgh. Additionally, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Edinburgh this time of year.
In July, Varna is generally much warmer than Edinburgh. Daily temperatures in Varna average around 23°C (73°F), and Edinburgh fluctuates around 14°C (58°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Varna this time of the year. In the summer, Varna often gets more sunshine than Edinburgh. Varna gets 268 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Edinburgh receives 163 hours of full sun.
Varna usually gets less rain in July than Edinburgh. Varna gets 37 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Edinburgh receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyVarna 23°C (73°F)Edinburgh 14°C (58°F)
Should I visit Varna or Edinburgh in the Autumn?
Both Edinburgh and Varna are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, many travelers come to Edinburgh for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Varna is a little warmer than Edinburgh in the autumn. The daily temperature in Varna averages around 14°C (57°F) in October, and Edinburgh fluctuates around 10°C (49°F).
Varna usually receives more sunshine than Edinburgh during autumn. Varna gets 161 hours of sunny skies, while Edinburgh receives 90 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Varna usually receives less rain than Edinburgh. Varna gets 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Edinburgh receives 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberVarna 14°C (57°F)Edinburgh 10°C (49°F)
Should I visit Varna or Edinburgh in the Winter?
Both Edinburgh and Varna during the winter are popular places to visit. Also, many visitors come to Edinburgh in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.
Edinburgh can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Varna. In the winter, Varna is around the same temperature as Edinburgh. Typically, the winter temperatures in Varna in January average around 3°C (37°F), and Edinburgh averages at about 3°C (38°F).
In the winter, Varna often gets more sunshine than Edinburgh. Varna gets 83 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Edinburgh receives 48 hours of full sun.
Varna usually gets less rain in January than Edinburgh. Varna gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Edinburgh receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryVarna 3°C (37°F)Edinburgh 3°C (38°F)
Should I visit Varna or Edinburgh in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Varna and Edinburgh. Also, most visitors come to Edinburgh for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months.
In April, Varna is generally much warmer than Edinburgh. Daily temperatures in Varna average around 11°C (52°F), and Edinburgh fluctuates around 7°C (45°F).
Varna usually receives more sunshine than Edinburgh during spring. Varna gets 156 hours of sunny skies, while Edinburgh receives 132 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Varna usually receives more rain than Edinburgh. Varna gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Edinburgh receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilVarna 11°C (52°F)Edinburgh 7°C (45°F)
Typical Weather for Edinburgh and Varna
| Varna | Edinburgh | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (37°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Feb | 3°C (37°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (43°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Apr | 11°C (52°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| May | 16°C (61°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 10°C (49°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (70°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Aug | 23°C (73°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Sep | 19°C (66°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Oct | 14°C (57°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 10°C (49°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Nov | 9°C (48°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 5°C (42°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Dec | 5°C (41°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.