Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Boras and Sofia

For one person, living is cheaper in Sofia: $1,594 a month against $1,862 in Boras, rent and utilities included – about $3,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Boras
🇸🇪 Sweden
$1,862
/mo nomad
Sofia
🇧🇬 Bulgaria
$1,594
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Boras 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 Boras and in Sofia actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,862 in Boras versus $1,594 in Sofia.

  • Boras $1,862
  • Sofia $1,594

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,190 in Boras versus $2,478 in Sofia.

  • Boras $2,190
  • Sofia $2,478

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,519 in Boras versus $3,361 in Sofia.

  • Boras $2,519
  • Sofia $3,361

Living in Boras is roughly 17% more expensive than in Sofia, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Boras 38% above, Sofia 18% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Boras
Sofia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.85 SEK 127
$16.87 BGN 29.35
-23.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$90.2 SEK 894
$65.8 BGN 115
37.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.85 SEK 97.6
$11.32 BGN 19.69
-12.99%
Cappuccino
$4.33 SEK 42.89
$3.43 BGN 5.98
26.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 SEK 21.02
$2.41 BGN 4.19
-12.03%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 SEK 19.33
$1.85 BGN 3.22
5.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.85 SEK 67.9
$3.70 BGN 6.44
85.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.94 SEK 68.8
$4.58 BGN 7.97
51.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Boras
Sofia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.62 SEK 16.06
$2.02 BGN 3.51
-19.80%
White Bread (500g)
$2.56 SEK 25.34
$1.56 BGN 2.72
64.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.94 SEK 29.17
$2.33 BGN 4.05
26.18%
Eggs
$4.53 SEK 44.88
$4.36 BGN 7.59
3.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.43 SEK 123
$11.76 BGN 20.47
5.70%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.63 SEK 115
$8.83 BGN 15.37
31.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.46 SEK 153
$17.46 BGN 30.38
-11.45%
Apples (1kg)
$3.10 SEK 30.72
$2.15 BGN 3.74
44.19%
Banana (1kg)
$2.61 SEK 25.83
$1.98 BGN 3.44
31.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.75 SEK 27.27
$1.93 BGN 3.37
42.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.47 SEK 34.42
$4.24 BGN 7.37
-18.16%
Potato (1kg)
$1.46 SEK 14.43
$1.04 BGN 1.80
40.38%
Onion (1kg)
$1.35 SEK 13.41
$0.85 BGN 1.48
58.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.21 SEK 21.85
$1.15 BGN 2.00
92.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.35 SEK 13.39
$0.89 BGN 1.56
51.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.49 SEK 64.3
$4.21 BGN 7.33
54.16%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.23 SEK 81.6
$7.46 BGN 12.98
10.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 SEK 17.65
$1.15 BGN 2.01
54.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62 SEK 16.08
$1.85 BGN 3.23
-12.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Boras
Sofia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.66 SEK 36.29
$0.87 BGN 1.51
320.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$75.5 SEK 748
$28.53 BGN 49.65
164.49%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.03 SEK 49.83
$1.68 BGN 2.93
199.40%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.07 SEK 10.64
$0.94 BGN 1.63
13.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$40.70 SEK 403
$15.35 BGN 26.70
165.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.77 SEK 17.55
$1.69 BGN 2.94
4.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.3K SEK 250.5K
$29.8K BGN 51.9K
-15.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.2K SEK 150.9K
$26.1K BGN 45.5K
-41.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Boras
Sofia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$58.6 SEK 580
$156 BGN 272
-62.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.96 SEK 287
$21.56 BGN 37.52
34.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.63 SEK 393
$15.24 BGN 26.51
160.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Boras
Sofia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.24 SEK 339
$46.08 BGN 80.2
-25.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.72 SEK 245
$27.92 BGN 48.58
-11.46%
Cinema Ticket
$14.86 SEK 147
$10.18 BGN 17.72
45.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Boras
Sofia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$156 SEK 1,542
$774 BGN 1,347
-79.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$12.8K BGN 22.3K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Boras
Sofia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.27 SEK 488
$89.9 BGN 157
-45.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.7 SEK 502
$41.29 BGN 71.8
22.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.5 SEK 778
$105 BGN 183
-25.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101 SEK 998
$107 BGN 186
-5.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Boras
Sofia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$783 BGN 1,362
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$862 SEK 8,540
$597 BGN 1,038
44.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,516 BGN 2,638
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,030 BGN 1,792
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$4,350 BGN 7,568
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$3,177 BGN 5,528
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Boras
Sofia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,412 SEK 23.9K
$1,735 BGN 3,019
39.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.8
2.89
66.09%

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

Last update for Boras: October 10, 2026

Last update for Sofia: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Boras
$862
Sofia
$597 30.8% $265
Groceries & Markets
Boras
$334
Sofia
$290 13% $43
Eating Out
Boras
$249
Sofia
$255 2.4% $6.1
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Boras
$127
Sofia
$193 51.7% $66
Clothing & Footwear
Boras
$126
Sofia
$154 22.9% $29
Getting Around
Boras
$101
Sofia
$38 61.8% $62
Sport & Entertainment
Boras
$64
Sofia
$66 3.9% $2.5

Cost Breakdown

Boras pays 39% 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: $90.0 in Boras vs $66.0 in Sofia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $334 vs $290 per month, with Sofia cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇸🇪 Boras
🇧🇬 Sofia
🕒 Local time
10:15 10:15 AM
11:15 11:15 AM
1 h ahead of Boras
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
66,273
1,286,383 Capital
💱 Currency
Bulgarian Lev BGN лв.
Exchange rates and currency converter

BGN, USD, EUR to SEK – Swedish Krona Converter

Swedish Krona exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 9.91 SEK (1 SEK = 0.101 USD). 1 EUR = 11.14 SEK (100 SEK = 8.98 EUR).

Bulgarian Lev exchange rates as of October 18, 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
  • Boras Sofia 1,820 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Boras
  • 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
Boras vs Sofia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sofia cheaper than Boras?
Sofia is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, transport, and utilities. The 17% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Boras or Sofia?
Average pay runs 39% higher in Boras, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What are total monthly expenses in Boras and in Sofia?
All in, you'll spend $1,862 per month in Boras versus $1,594 in Sofia – a 17% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Sofia runs roughly 164% less than in Boras. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Boras or in Sofia?
At $1,594 in Sofia versus $1,862 in Boras, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Sofia but tight or insufficient in Boras. The gap between the two cities makes Sofia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Boras or Sofia more family-friendly?
For families, Sofia is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Boras, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Boras or Sofia?
Safety-wise, Boras 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Sofia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Boras. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Boras vs other spots: cost of living compared

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