For one person, living is cheaper in Gabes: $518 a month against $1,594 in Sofia, rent and utilities included – about $12,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Gabes and in Sofia actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $518 per month in Gabes vs $1,594 in Sofia, rent included.
Gabes $518
Sofia $1,594
A couple spends around $827 per month in Gabes vs $2,478 in Sofia, rent included.
Gabes $827
Sofia $2,478
A family of three spends $1,136 per month in Gabes vs $3,361 in Sofia, rent included.
Gabes $1,136
Sofia $3,361
🙂
Gabes is about 68% cheaper than Sofia, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.
📊
Gabes sits 62% below the global median, while Sofia is 18% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Gabes
Sofia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.70TND 8.08
$16.87BGN 29.35
-84.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.86TND 50.5
$65.8BGN 115
-74.38%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.44TND 10.29
$11.32BGN 19.69
-69.61%
Cappuccino
$0.78TND 2.34
$3.43BGN 5.98
-77.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64TND 1.93
$2.41BGN 4.19
-73.44%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25TND 0.75
$1.85BGN 3.22
-86.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.16TND 3.46
$3.70BGN 6.44
-68.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53TND 4.59
$4.58BGN 7.97
-66.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gabes
Sofia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.43TND 1.30
$2.02BGN 3.51
-78.71%
White Bread(500g)
$0.25TND 0.75
$1.56BGN 2.72
-83.97%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76TND 5.26
$2.33BGN 4.05
-24.46%
Eggs
$1.48TND 4.44
$4.36BGN 7.59
-66.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.23TND 36.63
$11.76BGN 20.47
4.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.60TND 16.76
$8.83BGN 15.37
-36.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.82TND 44.39
$17.46BGN 30.38
-15.12%
Apples(1kg)
$1.61TND 4.83
$2.15BGN 3.74
-25.12%
Banana(1kg)
$2.92TND 8.75
$1.98BGN 3.44
47.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.92TND 2.75
$1.93BGN 3.37
-52.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.87TND 2.60
$4.24BGN 7.37
-79.48%
Potato(1kg)
$0.95TND 2.84
$1.04BGN 1.80
-8.65%
Onion(1kg)
$0.57TND 1.70
$0.85BGN 1.48
-32.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.34TND 1.02
$1.15BGN 2.00
-70.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.29TND 0.86
$0.89BGN 1.56
-67.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.31TND 9.92
$4.21BGN 7.33
-21.38%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.42TND 10.23
$7.46BGN 12.98
-54.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.67TND 2.01
$1.15BGN 2.01
-41.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82TND 2.45
$1.85BGN 3.23
-55.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Gabes
Sofia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.19TND 0.56
$0.87BGN 1.51
-78.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$6.85TND 20.53
$28.53BGN 49.65
-75.99%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.31TND 0.94
$1.68BGN 2.93
-81.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.18TND 0.53
$0.94BGN 1.63
-80.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.92TND 11.73
$15.35BGN 26.70
-74.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.87TND 2.61
$1.69BGN 2.94
-48.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.9KTND 116.4K
$29.8KBGN 51.9K
30.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.0KTND 83.8K
$26.1KBGN 45.5K
7.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gabes
Sofia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$42.91TND 129
$156BGN 272
-72.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.75TND 23.20
$21.56BGN 37.52
-64.05%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.73TND 50.1
$15.24BGN 26.51
9.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gabes
Sofia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$31.56TND 94.5
$46.08BGN 80.2
-31.51%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.61TND 13.81
$27.92BGN 48.58
-83.49%
Cinema Ticket
$3.31TND 9.93
$10.18BGN 17.72
-67.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gabes
Sofia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$56.0TND 168
$774BGN 1,347
-92.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,951TND 5,843
$12.8KBGN 22.3K
-84.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gabes
Sofia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.42TND 97.1
$89.9BGN 157
-63.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.92TND 120
$41.29BGN 71.8
-3.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.9TND 227
$105BGN 183
-27.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$66.2TND 198
$107BGN 186
-37.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gabes
Sofia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$115TND 344
$783BGN 1,362
-85.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$70.2TND 210
$597BGN 1,038
-88.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$204TND 611
$1,516BGN 2,638
-86.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$116TND 348
$1,030BGN 1,792
-88.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$945TND 2,832
$4,350BGN 7,568
-78.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$620TND 1,856
$3,177BGN 5,528
-80.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gabes
Sofia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$418TND 1,251
$1,735BGN 3,019
-75.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12
2.89
315.22%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Gabes: October 11, 2026
Last update for Sofia: October 13, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🛒Groceries & Markets
Gabes
$183 35.4%
Sofia
$290 18.2% ↑ 58.6%$107
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Gabes
$97 18.6%
Sofia
$154 9.7% ↑ 59.9%$58
🏠Accommodation & Living
Gabes
$70 13.6%
Sofia
$597 37.4% ↑ 750%$527
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gabes
$67 13%
Sofia
$193 12.1% ↑ 186%$126
🍽Eating Out
Gabes
$54 10.4%
Sofia
$255 16% ↑ 375%$201
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Gabes
$38 7.4%
Sofia
$66 4.2% ↑ 74%$28
🚌Getting Around
Gabes
$8.8 1.7%
Sofia
$38 2.4% ↑ 336%$30
🛒Groceries & Markets
Gabes
$442 38.9%
Sofia
$689 20.5% ↑ 55.9%$247
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Gabes
$214 18.9%
Sofia
$343 10.2% ↑ 59.9%$129
🏠Accommodation & Living
Gabes
$116 10.2%
Sofia
$1K 30.6% ↑ 787%$914
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gabes
$75 6.6%
Sofia
$214 6.4% ↑ 185%$139
🍽Eating Out
Gabes
$189 16.7%
Sofia
$845 25.2% ↑ 346%$656
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Gabes
$81 7.1%
Sofia
$161 4.8% ↑ 98.6%$80
🚌Getting Around
Gabes
$18 1.6%
Sofia
$78 2.3% ↑ 337%$61
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $115 in Gabes versus $783 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 315% 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 $17.00 in Gabes versus $66.0 in Sofia. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $183 vs $290 – making Gabes the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Gabes vs Sofia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sofia cheaper than Gabes?
Yes – Sofia is pricier by about 208%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $777 per month in Gabes and $2,391 in Sofia. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Gabes, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $56.0 per month in Gabes and $774 in Sofia. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Gabes and in Sofia?
Groceries cost about 59% more in Sofia, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Gabes or in Sofia?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Gabes, where all-in costs run around $518, than in Sofia at $1,594. In Gabes it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sofia it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Gabes or Sofia more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Gabes – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Gabes or 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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Gabes. 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.