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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,134 per month in Burgas vs $1,373 in Sofia, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,714 per month in Burgas vs $2,132 in Sofia, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,294 per month in Burgas vs $2,892 in Sofia, rent included.

Burgas is about 17% cheaper than Sofia, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Burgas sits 15% below the global median, while Sofia is 2% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Burgas
Sofia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.93 BGN 19.85
$11.89 BGN 19.78
0.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.19 BGN 68.5
$50.6 BGN 84.2
-18.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.95 BGN 14.89
$8.76 BGN 14.57
2.17%
Cappuccino
$2.55 BGN 4.25
$2.60 BGN 4.32
-1.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 BGN 2.18
$1.74 BGN 2.89
-24.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65 BGN 1.08
$1.43 BGN 2.38
-54.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.00 BGN 3.32
$2.93 BGN 4.88
-31.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98 BGN 4.96
$3.23 BGN 5.37
-7.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Burgas
Sofia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 BGN 2.76
$1.94 BGN 3.23
-14.43%
White Bread (500g)
$0.93 BGN 1.55
$1.20 BGN 2.00
-22.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.95 BGN 3.24
$1.99 BGN 3.31
-2.01%
Eggs
$3.36 BGN 5.59
$3.82 BGN 6.35
-12.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.66 BGN 16.06
$12.54 BGN 20.86
-22.97%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.91 BGN 13.16
$8.74 BGN 14.55
-9.50%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.53 BGN 19.18
$13.29 BGN 22.11
-13.24%
Apples (1kg)
$1.96 BGN 3.27
$1.90 BGN 3.16
3.16%
Banana (1kg)
$2.07 BGN 3.44
$1.90 BGN 3.16
8.95%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 BGN 3.34
$2.00 BGN 3.33
0.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.57 BGN 4.27
$2.84 BGN 4.73
-9.51%
Potato (1kg)
$1.44 BGN 2.39
$1.10 BGN 1.83
30.91%
Onion (1kg)
$1.31 BGN 2.17
$1.02 BGN 1.69
28.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 BGN 1.69
$1.18 BGN 1.96
-13.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 BGN 1.28
$0.66 BGN 1.10
16.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.52 BGN 5.85
$3.81 BGN 6.33
-7.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.68 BGN 11.12
$7.65 BGN 12.73
-12.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.02 BGN 1.70
$1.09 BGN 1.82
-6.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 BGN 2.88
$1.79 BGN 2.98
-3.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Burgas
Sofia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.90 BGN 1.50
$0.92 BGN 1.53
-2.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$34.91 BGN 58.1
$29.72 BGN 49.45
17.46%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.21 BGN 2.01
$1.49 BGN 2.48
-18.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.67 BGN 1.11
$0.76 BGN 1.27
-11.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.22 BGN 21.99
$14.34 BGN 23.86
-7.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.54 BGN 2.57
$1.51 BGN 2.51
1.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.1K BGN 53.5K
$32.5K BGN 54.0K
-1.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0K BGN 43.2K
$28.4K BGN 47.3K
-8.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Burgas
Sofia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$93.3 BGN 155
$154 BGN 256
-39.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.36 BGN 27.21
$18.05 BGN 30.04
-9.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.05 BGN 23.37
$14.97 BGN 24.90
-6.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Burgas
Sofia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.89 BGN 51.4
$44.03 BGN 73.3
-29.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.05 BGN 25.03
$21.88 BGN 36.40
-31.22%
Cinema Ticket
$8.65 BGN 14.39
$9.24 BGN 15.37
-6.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Burgas
Sofia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$234 BGN 388
$624 BGN 1,037
-62.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,083 BGN 6,793
$9,327 BGN 15.5K
-56.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Burgas
Sofia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.6 BGN 99.1
$71.3 BGN 119
-16.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.36 BGN 70.5
$35.76 BGN 59.5
18.46%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.9 BGN 135
$105 BGN 175
-23.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.6 BGN 119
$119 BGN 198
-39.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Burgas
Sofia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$508 BGN 845
$696 BGN 1,157
-26.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$386 BGN 643
$501 BGN 834
-22.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$885 BGN 1,472
$1,296 BGN 2,157
-31.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$615 BGN 1,023
$910 BGN 1,513
-32.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,512 BGN 4,179
$4,510 BGN 7,502
-44.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,817 BGN 3,023
$3,161 BGN 5,258
-42.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Burgas
Sofia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,024 BGN 1,703
$1,674 BGN 2,786
-38.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.57
3.09
47.90%

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

Last update for Burgas: May 30, 2026

Last update for Sofia: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $508 in Burgas versus $696 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 64% 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 $41.00 in Burgas versus $51.0 in Sofia. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $236 vs $261 – 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
How do living costs in Burgas and Sofia compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,134 in Burgas, $1,373 in Sofia – roughly 21% apart. Sofia costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Burgas compared to Sofia?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,700 per month in Burgas and $2,060 in Sofia. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Burgas and Sofia?
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.
How do commuting costs compare in Burgas and Sofia?
Public transport costs about 17% less in Burgas. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Burgas and Sofia?
Kindergarten costs $234 per month in Burgas and $624 in Sofia. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Burgas, where all-in costs run around $1,134, than in Sofia at $1,373. In Burgas it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sofia it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Burgas and Sofia?
It depends on your priorities. Burgas has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,134 in Burgas to $1,373 in Sofia. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Burgas or Sofia safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Burgas and Sofia?
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.

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