Cost of Living Comparison Between Amman and Sofia Cost of Living Comparison Between Amman and Sofia

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,193 per month in Amman vs $1,650 in Sofia, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,886 per month in Amman vs $2,556 in Sofia, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,580 per month in Amman vs $3,462 in Sofia, rent included.

Amman is about 28% cheaper than Sofia, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Amman sits 13% below the global median, while Sofia is 20% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Amman
Sofia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.12 JOD 5.04
$17.41 BGN 28.96
-59.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.7 JOD 47.91
$65.4 BGN 109
3.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.10 JOD 5.03
$12.17 BGN 20.25
-41.66%
Cappuccino
$4.55 JOD 3.22
$3.63 BGN 6.05
25.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62 JOD 0.44
$2.36 BGN 3.92
-73.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60 JOD 0.43
$1.95 BGN 3.24
-69.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.67 JOD 6.14
$3.54 BGN 5.89
144.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.99 JOD 7.78
$4.56 BGN 7.59
141.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Amman
Sofia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.50 JOD 1.06
$2.01 BGN 3.35
-25.37%
White Bread (500g)
$0.72 JOD 0.51
$1.62 BGN 2.69
-55.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.52 JOD 1.07
$2.42 BGN 4.02
-37.19%
Eggs
$2.42 JOD 1.71
$4.41 BGN 7.33
-45.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.42 JOD 6.67
$11.80 BGN 19.64
-20.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.50 JOD 4.60
$9.25 BGN 15.39
-29.73%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.61 JOD 8.92
$17.23 BGN 28.66
-26.81%
Apples (1kg)
$2.42 JOD 1.71
$2.17 BGN 3.61
11.52%
Banana (1kg)
$1.96 JOD 1.39
$2.05 BGN 3.41
-4.39%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.91 JOD 1.35
$1.93 BGN 3.21
-1.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.79 JOD 0.56
$4.22 BGN 7.03
-81.28%
Potato (1kg)
$0.97 JOD 0.69
$1.15 BGN 1.91
-15.65%
Onion (1kg)
$0.89 JOD 0.63
$1.00 BGN 1.66
-11.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.66 JOD 0.47
$1.18 BGN 1.97
-44.07%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 JOD 0.46
$0.90 BGN 1.50
-26.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97 JOD 2.81
$4.33 BGN 7.21
-8.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.08 JOD 14.92
$7.69 BGN 12.80
174.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$5.18 JOD 3.67
$1.21 BGN 2.00
328.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.06 JOD 3.58
$1.85 BGN 3.08
173.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Amman
Sofia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.81 JOD 0.57
$0.92 BGN 1.52
-11.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.47 JOD 29.35
$30.12 BGN 50.1
37.68%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.61 JOD 0.43
$1.88 BGN 3.12
-67.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 JOD 1.01
$0.91 BGN 1.52
56.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.22 JOD 5.11
$16.21 BGN 26.96
-55.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.60 JOD 1.13
$1.76 BGN 2.94
-9.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K JOD 24.9K
$31.4K BGN 52.2K
12.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9K JOD 24.0K
$27.4K BGN 45.6K
23.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Amman
Sofia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$130 JOD 91.9
$170 BGN 283
-23.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.70 JOD 11.11
$22.02 BGN 36.64
-28.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.67 JOD 22.41
$15.43 BGN 25.67
105.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Amman
Sofia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.4 JOD 37.04
$47.50 BGN 79.0
10.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.01 JOD 24.07
$29.53 BGN 49.13
15.17%
Cinema Ticket
$11.21 JOD 7.93
$10.33 BGN 17.18
8.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Amman
Sofia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$485 JOD 343
$799 BGN 1,330
-39.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,536 JOD 6,748
$13.4K BGN 22.2K
-28.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Amman
Sofia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.7 JOD 45.76
$88.5 BGN 147
-26.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$80.8 JOD 57.2
$42.54 BGN 70.8
89.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$125 JOD 88.5
$108 BGN 179
16.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.3 JOD 61.1
$112 BGN 187
-23.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Amman
Sofia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$470 JOD 332
$784 BGN 1,305
-40.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$243 JOD 172
$622 BGN 1,034
-60.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$750 JOD 531
$1,576 BGN 2,622
-52.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$420 JOD 297
$1,073 BGN 1,785
-60.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,597 JOD 1,131
$4,637 BGN 7,714
-65.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,034 JOD 732
$3,355 BGN 5,581
-69.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Amman
Sofia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$782 JOD 554
$1,742 BGN 2,898
-55.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.81
2.9
134.83%

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

Last update for Amman: September 1, 2026

Last update for Sofia: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $470 in Amman versus $784 in Sofia. 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 123% higher in Sofia, 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 $68.0 in Amman versus $65.0 in Sofia. Groceries tell a different story – $265 in Amman vs $295 in Sofia – so Amman wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Amman vs Sofia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Amman or Sofia?
Sofia costs about 38% more than Amman, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Amman and in Sofia?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,790 per month in Amman and $2,475 in Sofia. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Amman or Sofia?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Amman, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How expensive is transport in Amman compared to Sofia?
Public transport costs about 38% less in Amman. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Amman and in Sofia?
Kindergarten costs $485 per month in Amman and $799 in Sofia. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Amman or in Sofia?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Amman, where all-in costs run around $1,193, than in Sofia at $1,650. In Amman it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sofia it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Amman or Sofia?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Amman costs $1,193 versus $1,650 in Sofia. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Amman compared to Sofia?
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.
Should I move to Amman or to Sofia?
If budget matters most, go with Amman. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sofia makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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