For one person, living is cheaper in Gafsa: $586 a month against $1,594 in Sofia, rent and utilities included – about $12,100 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 Gafsa and in Sofia actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $586 per month in Gafsa vs $1,594 in Sofia, rent included.
Gafsa $586
Sofia $1,594
A couple spends around $903 per month in Gafsa vs $2,478 in Sofia, rent included.
Gafsa $903
Sofia $2,478
A family of three spends $1,220 per month in Gafsa vs $3,361 in Sofia, rent included.
Gafsa $1,220
Sofia $3,361
🙂
Gafsa is about 63% cheaper than Sofia, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.
📊
Gafsa sits 57% below the global median, while Sofia is 18% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Gafsa
Sofia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.96TND 11.86
$16.87BGN 29.35
-76.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.87TND 29.56
$65.8BGN 115
-85.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.47TND 7.40
$11.32BGN 19.69
-78.18%
Cappuccino
$0.58TND 1.74
$3.43BGN 5.98
-83.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52TND 1.55
$2.41BGN 4.19
-78.42%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24TND 0.71
$1.85BGN 3.22
-87.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72TND 5.15
$3.70BGN 6.44
-53.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68TND 5.05
$4.58BGN 7.97
-63.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gafsa
Sofia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.46TND 1.39
$2.02BGN 3.51
-77.23%
White Bread(500g)
$0.13TND 0.39
$1.56BGN 2.72
-91.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.67TND 5.02
$2.33BGN 4.05
-28.33%
Eggs
$1.04TND 3.13
$4.36BGN 7.59
-76.15%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.88TND 38.59
$11.76BGN 20.47
9.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.98TND 17.90
$8.83BGN 15.37
-32.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.60TND 34.75
$17.46BGN 30.38
-33.56%
Apples(1kg)
$1.39TND 4.15
$2.15BGN 3.74
-35.35%
Banana(1kg)
$3.02TND 9.05
$1.98BGN 3.44
52.53%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.83TND 2.48
$1.93BGN 3.37
-56.99%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.93TND 2.78
$4.24BGN 7.37
-78.07%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71TND 2.12
$1.04BGN 1.80
-31.73%
Onion(1kg)
$0.47TND 1.40
$0.85BGN 1.48
-44.71%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.45TND 1.35
$1.15BGN 2.00
-60.87%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.27TND 0.81
$0.89BGN 1.56
-69.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.52TND 7.54
$4.21BGN 7.33
-40.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.16TND 15.47
$7.46BGN 12.98
-30.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.22TND 3.66
$1.15BGN 2.01
6.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35TND 4.05
$1.85BGN 3.23
-27.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Gafsa
Sofia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.32TND 0.95
$0.87BGN 1.51
-63.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.92TND 32.70
$28.53BGN 49.65
-61.72%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.29TND 0.86
$1.68BGN 2.93
-82.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.25TND 0.75
$0.94BGN 1.63
-73.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.13TND 12.37
$15.35BGN 26.70
-73.09%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.87TND 2.61
$1.69BGN 2.94
-48.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.2KTND 114.5K
$29.8KBGN 51.9K
28.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.4KTND 93.9K
$26.1KBGN 45.5K
19.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gafsa
Sofia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$39.47TND 118
$156BGN 272
-74.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.41TND 25.20
$21.56BGN 37.52
-60.99%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.27TND 57.7
$15.24BGN 26.51
26.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gafsa
Sofia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$15.29TND 45.80
$46.08BGN 80.2
-66.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.41TND 37.16
$27.92BGN 48.58
-55.55%
Cinema Ticket
$3.43TND 10.27
$10.18BGN 17.72
-66.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gafsa
Sofia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$59.1TND 177
$774BGN 1,347
-92.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,023TND 3,065
$12.8KBGN 22.3K
-92.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gafsa
Sofia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$39.72TND 119
$89.9BGN 157
-55.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.5TND 157
$41.29BGN 71.8
27.10%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104TND 313
$105BGN 183
-0.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113TND 340
$107BGN 186
6.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gafsa
Sofia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$141TND 422
$783BGN 1,362
-81.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$102TND 304
$597BGN 1,038
-82.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$205TND 615
$1,516BGN 2,638
-86.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$153TND 458
$1,030BGN 1,792
-85.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$969TND 2,904
$4,350BGN 7,568
-77.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$358TND 1,073
$3,177BGN 5,528
-88.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gafsa
Sofia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$305TND 913
$1,735BGN 3,019
-82.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.88
2.89
207.27%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Gafsa: 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
Gafsa
$180 30.8%
Sofia
$290 18.2% ↑ 61%$110
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Gafsa
$140 23.8%
Sofia
$154 9.7% ↑ 10.7%$15
🏠Accommodation & Living
Gafsa
$102 17.3%
Sofia
$597 37.4% ↑ 488%$495
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gafsa
$67 11.5%
Sofia
$193 12.1% ↑ 187%$126
🍽Eating Out
Gafsa
$61 10.4%
Sofia
$255 16% ↑ 318%$194
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Gafsa
$22 3.8%
Sofia
$66 4.2% ↑ 200%$44
🚌Getting Around
Gafsa
$14 2.3%
Sofia
$38 2.4% ↑ 180%$25
🛒Groceries & Markets
Gafsa
$425 34.8%
Sofia
$689 20.5% ↑ 62.2%$264
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Gafsa
$310 25.4%
Sofia
$343 10.2% ↑ 10.6%$33
🏠Accommodation & Living
Gafsa
$153 12.5%
Sofia
$1K 30.6% ↑ 573%$877
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gafsa
$76 6.2%
Sofia
$214 6.4% ↑ 184%$139
🍽Eating Out
Gafsa
$172 14.1%
Sofia
$845 25.2% ↑ 392%$673
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Gafsa
$57 4.7%
Sofia
$161 4.8% ↑ 184%$104
🚌Getting Around
Gafsa
$28 2.3%
Sofia
$78 2.3% ↑ 179%$50
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $141 in Gafsa 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 469% 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 $10.00 in Gafsa versus $66.0 in Sofia. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $180 vs $290 – making Gafsa 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
Gafsa vs Sofia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sofia cheaper than Gafsa?
Yes – Sofia is pricier by about 172%, 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 $878 per month in Gafsa 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 Gafsa, 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 $59.1 per month in Gafsa 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 Gafsa and in Sofia?
Groceries cost about 61% 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 Gafsa or in Sofia?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Gafsa, where all-in costs run around $586, than in Sofia at $1,594. In Gafsa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sofia it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Gafsa or Sofia more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Gafsa – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Gafsa 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 Gafsa. 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.