Cost of Living Comparison Between Burgas and Sofia Cost of Living Comparison Between Burgas and Sofia

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,260 per month in Burgas vs $1,650 in Sofia, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,889 per month in Burgas vs $2,556 in Sofia, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,517 per month in Burgas vs $3,462 in Sofia, rent included.

Burgas is about 24% cheaper than Sofia, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Burgas sits 8% below the global median, while Sofia is 20% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.36 BGN 23.88

$17.41 BGN 28.96

-17.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.65 BGN 80.9

$65.4 BGN 109

-25.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.72 BGN 17.84

$12.17 BGN 20.25

-11.91%

Cappuccino

$3.51 BGN 5.83

$3.63 BGN 6.05

-3.31%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.11 BGN 1.85

$2.36 BGN 3.92

-52.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 BGN 1.28

$1.95 BGN 3.24

-60.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.07 BGN 3.44

$3.54 BGN 5.89

-41.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 BGN 5.10

$4.56 BGN 7.59

-32.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 BGN 2.92

$2.01 BGN 3.35

-12.94%

White Bread (500g)

$0.95 BGN 1.58

$1.62 BGN 2.69

-41.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.18 BGN 3.62

$2.42 BGN 4.02

-9.92%

Eggs

$3.57 BGN 5.94

$4.41 BGN 7.33

-19.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.22 BGN 15.34

$11.80 BGN 19.64

-21.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.13 BGN 13.52

$9.25 BGN 15.39

-12.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.43 BGN 19.01

$17.23 BGN 28.66

-33.66%

Apples (1kg)

$2.26 BGN 3.76

$2.17 BGN 3.61

4.15%

Banana (1kg)

$2.11 BGN 3.52

$2.05 BGN 3.41

2.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.07 BGN 3.45

$1.93 BGN 3.21

7.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.80 BGN 4.66

$4.22 BGN 7.03

-33.65%

Potato (1kg)

$1.41 BGN 2.35

$1.15 BGN 1.91

22.61%

Onion (1kg)

$1.45 BGN 2.42

$1.00 BGN 1.66

45.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 BGN 1.64

$1.18 BGN 1.97

-16.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 BGN 1.30

$0.90 BGN 1.50

-13.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.81 BGN 6.34

$4.33 BGN 7.21

-12.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.33 BGN 12.19

$7.69 BGN 12.80

-4.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 BGN 1.77

$1.21 BGN 2.00

-12.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 BGN 3.21

$1.85 BGN 3.08

4.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 BGN 1.54

$0.92 BGN 1.52

1.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.41 BGN 58.9

$30.12 BGN 50.1

17.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.77 BGN 2.95

$1.88 BGN 3.12

-5.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.77 BGN 1.28

$0.91 BGN 1.52

-15.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.40 BGN 20.63

$16.21 BGN 26.96

-23.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.74 BGN 2.89

$1.76 BGN 2.94

-1.14%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$31.5K BGN 52.3K

$31.4K BGN 52.2K

0.25%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.3K BGN 38.7K

$27.4K BGN 45.6K

-15.06%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$111 BGN 184

$170 BGN 283

-35.02%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$15.26 BGN 25.39

$22.02 BGN 36.64

-30.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.28 BGN 20.42

$15.43 BGN 25.67

-20.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.50 BGN 65.7

$47.50 BGN 79.0

-16.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.85 BGN 24.71

$29.53 BGN 49.13

-49.71%

Cinema Ticket

$8.81 BGN 14.65

$10.33 BGN 17.18

-14.71%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$236 BGN 393

$799 BGN 1,330

-70.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K BGN 26.1K

$13.4K BGN 22.2K

17.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 BGN 99.8

$88.5 BGN 147

-32.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.07 BGN 51.7

$42.54 BGN 70.8

-26.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.5 BGN 121

$108 BGN 179

-32.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.3 BGN 127

$112 BGN 187

-32.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$534 BGN 888

$784 BGN 1,305

-31.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$431 BGN 716

$622 BGN 1,034

-30.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$835 BGN 1,389

$1,576 BGN 2,622

-47.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$648 BGN 1,079

$1,073 BGN 1,785

-39.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,676 BGN 4,452

$4,637 BGN 7,714

-42.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,933 BGN 3,216

$3,355 BGN 5,581

-42.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,016 BGN 1,690

$1,742 BGN 2,898

-41.69%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.25

2.9

12.07%

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

Last update for Burgas: August 30, 2026

Last update for Sofia: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $534 in Burgas 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 72% 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 $49.00 in Burgas versus $65.0 in Sofia. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $295 – making Burgas the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Burgas vs Sofia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,260 in Burgas, $1,650 in Sofia – roughly 31% apart. Sofia costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,890 per month in Burgas and $2,475 in Sofia. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Burgas, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 18% less in Burgas. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $236 per month in Burgas and $799 in Sofia. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Burgas, where all-in costs run around $1,260, than in Sofia at $1,650. In Burgas it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sofia it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Burgas has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,260 in Burgas to $1,650 in Sofia. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Burgas. 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.