Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bergen op Zoom and Sofia

For one person, living is cheaper in Sofia: $1,594 a month against $2,413 in Bergen op Zoom, rent and utilities included – about $9,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Bergen op Zoom
🇳🇱 Netherlands
$2,413
/mo nomad
Sofia
🇧🇬 Bulgaria
$1,594
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bergen op Zoom and in Sofia

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Bergen op Zoom and in Sofia actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,413 in Bergen op Zoom versus $1,594 in Sofia.

  • Bergen op Zoom $2,413
  • Sofia $1,594

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,420 in Bergen op Zoom versus $2,478 in Sofia.

  • Bergen op Zoom $3,420
  • Sofia $2,478

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,426 in Bergen op Zoom versus $3,361 in Sofia.

  • Bergen op Zoom $4,426
  • Sofia $3,361

Living in Bergen op Zoom is roughly 51% more expensive than in Sofia, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Bergen op Zoom 79% above, Sofia 18% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bergen op Zoom
Sofia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.57 €20.07
$16.87 BGN 29.35
33.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$94.9 €84.4
$65.8 BGN 115
44.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.36 €11.88
$11.32 BGN 19.69
18.02%
Cappuccino
$4.04 €3.59
$3.43 BGN 5.98
17.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.86 €3.44
$2.41 BGN 4.19
60.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02 €2.69
$1.85 BGN 3.22
63.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.10 €5.42
$3.70 BGN 6.44
64.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.55 €4.94
$4.58 BGN 7.97
21.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bergen op Zoom
Sofia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.39 €1.23
$2.02 BGN 3.51
-31.19%
White Bread (500g)
$2.10 €1.87
$1.56 BGN 2.72
34.62%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.19 €1.95
$2.33 BGN 4.05
-6.01%
Eggs
$3.04 €2.70
$4.36 BGN 7.59
-30.28%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.09 €14.31
$11.76 BGN 20.47
36.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.35 €10.99
$8.83 BGN 15.37
39.86%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.69 €15.74
$17.46 BGN 30.38
1.32%
Apples (1kg)
$2.75 €2.44
$2.15 BGN 3.74
27.91%
Banana (1kg)
$2.36 €2.10
$1.98 BGN 3.44
19.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.93 €1.71
$1.93 BGN 3.37
-
Tomato (1kg)
$3.32 €2.96
$4.24 BGN 7.37
-21.70%
Potato (1kg)
$2.03 €1.81
$1.04 BGN 1.80
95.19%
Onion (1kg)
$2.28 €2.03
$0.85 BGN 1.48
168.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.28 €1.14
$1.15 BGN 2.00
11.30%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74 €0.65
$0.89 BGN 1.56
-16.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.18 €12.61
$4.21 BGN 7.33
236.82%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.84 €6.08
$7.46 BGN 12.98
-8.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.49 €1.32
$1.15 BGN 2.01
29.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.62 €2.33
$1.85 BGN 3.23
41.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Bergen op Zoom
Sofia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.38 €3.01
$0.87 BGN 1.51
288.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$87.7 €78.0
$28.53 BGN 49.65
207.33%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.99 €3.55
$1.68 BGN 2.93
137.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.00 €2.67
$0.94 BGN 1.63
219.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.91 €25.72
$15.35 BGN 26.70
88.34%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.06 €1.83
$1.69 BGN 2.94
21.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.5K €36.0K
$29.8K BGN 51.9K
36.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.8K €33.6K
$26.1K BGN 45.5K
44.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bergen op Zoom
Sofia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$174 €155
$156 BGN 272
11.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.49 €9.33
$21.56 BGN 37.52
-51.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.30 €36.74
$15.24 BGN 26.51
171.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bergen op Zoom
Sofia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.41 €25.27
$46.08 BGN 80.2
-38.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.10 €21.43
$27.92 BGN 48.58
-13.68%
Cinema Ticket
$12.92 €11.49
$10.18 BGN 17.72
26.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bergen op Zoom
Sofia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,574 €1,400
$774 BGN 1,347
103.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,575 €5,848
$12.8K BGN 22.3K
-48.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bergen op Zoom
Sofia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.3 €75.9
$89.9 BGN 157
-5.15%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.61 €44.13
$41.29 BGN 71.8
20.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.1 €82.0
$105 BGN 183
-12.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$148 €132
$107 BGN 186
38.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bergen op Zoom
Sofia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,296 €1,152
$783 BGN 1,362
65.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,184 €1,053
$597 BGN 1,038
98.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,811 €1,611
$1,516 BGN 2,638
19.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,515 €1,348
$1,030 BGN 1,792
47.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,373 €4,779
$4,350 BGN 7,568
23.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,317 €3,840
$3,177 BGN 5,528
35.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bergen op Zoom
Sofia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,263 €2,903
$1,735 BGN 3,019
88.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.89
2.89
34.60%

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

Last update for Bergen op Zoom: October 12, 2026

Last update for Sofia: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Bergen op Zoom
$1.2K
Sofia
$597 49.6% $587
Eating Out
Bergen op Zoom
$338
Sofia
$255 24.7% $83
Groceries & Markets
Bergen op Zoom
$322
Sofia
$290 9.8% $32
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bergen op Zoom
$226
Sofia
$193 14.7% $33
Clothing & Footwear
Bergen op Zoom
$169
Sofia
$154 8.6% $14
Getting Around
Bergen op Zoom
$120
Sofia
$38 68.1% $82
Sport & Entertainment
Bergen op Zoom
$54
Sofia
$66 22.5% $12

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,296 in Bergen op Zoom and $783 in Sofia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bergen op Zoom pays 88% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $95.0 in Bergen op Zoom vs $66.0 in Sofia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $322 vs $290 per month, with Sofia cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇳🇱 Bergen op Zoom
🇧🇬 Sofia
🕒 Local time
08:21 8:21 AM
09:21 9:21 AM
1 h ahead of Bergen op Zoom
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
51,834
1,286,383 Capital
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Bulgarian Lev BGN лв.
Exchange rates and currency converter

BGN, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Bulgarian Lev exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 1.74 BGN (1 BGN = 0.575 USD). 1 EUR = 1.96 BGN (1 BGN = 0.511 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Bergen op Zoom Sofia 1,730 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Bergen op Zoom
  • Sofia

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Bergen op Zoom vs Sofia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bergen op Zoom or Sofia?
Sofia wins on cost – living expenses run 51% lower than in Bergen op Zoom. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Sofia the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Bergen op Zoom or in Sofia?
Average pay runs 88% higher in Bergen op Zoom, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Bergen op Zoom compared to Sofia?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,296 in Bergen op Zoom versus $783 in Sofia. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Bergen op Zoom compared to Sofia?
All in, you'll spend $2,413 per month in Bergen op Zoom versus $1,594 in Sofia – a 51% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Bergen op Zoom compared to Sofia?
A monthly transit pass in Sofia runs roughly 207% less than in Bergen op Zoom. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Bergen op Zoom or in Sofia?
At $1,594 in Sofia versus $2,413 in Bergen op Zoom, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Sofia but tight or insufficient in Bergen op Zoom. The gap between the two cities makes Sofia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Bergen op Zoom or Sofia?
Both work as nomad bases, but Sofia delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,594 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Sofia hard to pass up.
How safe is Bergen op Zoom compared to Sofia?
Safety-wise, Bergen op Zoom and Sofia are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Sofia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 51% less than in Bergen op Zoom. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Bergen op Zoom vs other spots: cost of living compared

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