Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Gliwice and Sofia

For one person, living is cheaper in Gliwice: $1,315 a month against $1,589 in Sofia, rent and utilities included – about $3,300 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Gliwice
🇵🇱 Poland
$1,315
/mo nomad
Sofia
🇧🇬 Bulgaria
$1,589
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $1,315 per month in Gliwice vs $1,589 in Sofia, rent included.

  • Gliwice $1,315
  • Sofia $1,589

A couple spends around $1,934 per month in Gliwice vs $2,456 in Sofia, rent included.

  • Gliwice $1,934
  • Sofia $2,456

A family of three spends $2,553 per month in Gliwice vs $3,324 in Sofia, rent included.

  • Gliwice $2,553
  • Sofia $3,324

Gliwice is about 17% cheaper than Sofia, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Gliwice sits 2% below the global median, while Sofia is 19% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gliwice
Sofia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.94 zł 50.6
$17.10 BGN 29.93
-24.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.22 zł 157
$66.9 BGN 117
-39.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.14 zł 35.72
$11.77 BGN 20.59
-22.34%
Cappuccino
$2.89 zł 11.30
$3.42 BGN 5.99
-15.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13 zł 4.43
$2.42 BGN 4.23
-53.31%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 zł 6.39
$1.86 BGN 3.26
-12.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.87 zł 11.23
$3.33 BGN 5.83
-13.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04 zł 11.90
$4.53 BGN 7.92
-32.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gliwice
Sofia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 zł 4.06
$1.92 BGN 3.36
-45.83%
White Bread (500g)
$1.32 zł 5.18
$1.51 BGN 2.64
-12.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.81 zł 7.07
$2.21 BGN 3.88
-18.10%
Eggs
$2.88 zł 11.26
$4.40 BGN 7.69
-34.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.82 zł 30.56
$11.56 BGN 20.22
-32.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.36 zł 24.86
$8.79 BGN 15.38
-27.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.70 zł 37.90
$16.97 BGN 29.71
-42.84%
Apples (1kg)
$0.99 zł 3.86
$2.17 BGN 3.79
-54.38%
Banana (1kg)
$1.89 zł 7.39
$2.04 BGN 3.57
-7.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.61 zł 6.29
$1.84 BGN 3.22
-12.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.61 zł 10.22
$4.29 BGN 7.51
-39.16%
Potato (1kg)
$0.88 zł 3.46
$1.03 BGN 1.80
-14.56%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 zł 4.41
$0.93 BGN 1.62
21.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.40 zł 5.47
$1.20 BGN 2.11
16.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 zł 2.58
$0.92 BGN 1.62
-28.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.89 zł 19.10
$4.30 BGN 7.53
13.72%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.58 zł 29.64
$7.33 BGN 12.83
3.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.04 zł 4.07
$1.18 BGN 2.06
-11.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 zł 5.96
$1.87 BGN 3.28
-18.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Gliwice
Sofia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.06 zł 4.16
$0.87 BGN 1.52
21.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.50 zł 119
$28.14 BGN 49.24
8.39%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.99 zł 7.79
$1.74 BGN 3.04
14.37%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.61 zł 2.39
$0.96 BGN 1.68
-36.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.12 zł 39.54
$15.54 BGN 27.19
-34.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.71 zł 6.69
$1.79 BGN 3.14
-4.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.4K zł 122.8K
$30.0K BGN 52.5K
4.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K zł 104.2K
$26.4K BGN 46.1K
1.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gliwice
Sofia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$226 zł 885
$156 BGN 273
45.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.00 zł 54.7
$21.21 BGN 37.11
-33.99%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.00 zł 62.5
$15.64 BGN 27.37
2.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gliwice
Sofia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.64 zł 104
$46.76 BGN 81.8
-43.03%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.20 zł 63.3
$27.74 BGN 48.54
-41.60%
Cinema Ticket
$6.27 zł 24.51
$10.02 BGN 17.53
-37.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gliwice
Sofia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$333 zł 1,302
$766 BGN 1,341
-56.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$12.8K BGN 22.4K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gliwice
Sofia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$97.1 zł 380
$89.7 BGN 157
8.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.25 zł 173
$40.88 BGN 71.5
8.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$66.1 zł 258
$106 BGN 186
-37.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.4 zł 295
$105 BGN 183
-28.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gliwice
Sofia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$516 zł 2,017
$796 BGN 1,393
-35.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$472 zł 1,845
$607 BGN 1,063
-22.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$861 zł 3,367
$1,563 BGN 2,735
-44.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$728 zł 2,845
$1,060 BGN 1,855
-31.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,431 zł 9,500
$4,357 BGN 7,626
-44.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,782 zł 6,965
$3,250 BGN 5,688
-45.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gliwice
Sofia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,354 zł 5,294
$1,740 BGN 3,044
-22.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.23
2.89
150.17%

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

Last update for Gliwice: October 3, 2026

Last update for Sofia: October 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Gliwice
$472
Sofia
$607 28.7% $135
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gliwice
$256
Sofia
$193 24.8% $64
Groceries & Markets
Gliwice
$204
Sofia
$287 40.6% $83
Eating Out
Gliwice
$197
Sofia
$256 29.9% $59
Clothing & Footwear
Gliwice
$127
Sofia
$154 20.7% $26
Getting Around
Gliwice
$40
Sofia
$38 4.1% $1.7
Sport & Entertainment
Gliwice
$39
Sofia
$67 70.5% $28

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $516 in Gliwice versus $796 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 28% 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 $40.00 in Gliwice versus $67.0 in Sofia. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $204 vs $287 – making Gliwice the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇵🇱 Gliwice
🇧🇬 Sofia
🕒 Local time
12:03 12:03 PM
13:03 1:03 PM
1 h ahead of Gliwice
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
185,450
1,286,383 Capital
💱 Currency
Bulgarian Lev BGN лв.
Exchange rates and currency converter

BGN, USD, EUR to PLN – Polish Złoty Converter

Polish Złoty exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 3.91 PLN (1 PLN = 0.256 USD). 1 EUR = 4.38 PLN (1 PLN = 0.228 EUR).

Bulgarian Lev exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1.75 BGN (1 BGN = 0.571 USD). 1 EUR = 1.96 BGN (1 BGN = 0.51 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Gliwice Sofia 920 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Gliwice
  • 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
Gliwice vs Sofia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sofia cheaper than Gliwice?
Yes – Sofia is pricier by about 21%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,972 per month in Gliwice and $2,384 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 Gliwice, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Gliwice or in Sofia?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Gliwice and $67.0 in Sofia. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Gliwice and in Sofia?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,315 in Gliwice and $1,589 in Sofia. That's a gap of about 21%.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Gliwice or in Sofia?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Gliwice, where all-in costs run around $1,315, than in Sofia at $1,589. In Gliwice it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sofia it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Gliwice or Sofia more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Gliwice – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Gliwice 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 Gliwice. 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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