Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeddah and Sofia Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeddah and Sofia

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,202 per month in Jeddah vs $1,373 in Sofia, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,858 per month in Jeddah vs $2,132 in Sofia, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,514 per month in Jeddah vs $2,892 in Sofia, rent included.

Jeddah is about 12% cheaper than Sofia, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Jeddah sits 10% below the global median, while Sofia is 2% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.54 SAR 24.53

$11.89 BGN 19.78

-45.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.72 SAR 153

$50.6 BGN 84.2

-19.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.21 SAR 30.82

$8.76 BGN 14.57

-6.28%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.19 SAR 8.23

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 SAR 7.89

Cappuccino

$3.58 SAR 13.45

$2.60 BGN 4.32

37.69%

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

$0.70 SAR 2.64

$1.74 BGN 2.89

-59.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 SAR 0.94

$1.43 BGN 2.38

-82.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.93 BGN 4.88

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 BGN 5.37

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 SAR 6.51

$1.94 BGN 3.23

-10.31%

White Bread (500g)

$0.96 SAR 3.58

$1.20 BGN 2.00

-20.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.30 SAR 8.61

$1.99 BGN 3.31

15.58%

Eggs

$2.75 SAR 10.34

$3.82 BGN 6.35

-28.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.41 SAR 27.83

$12.54 BGN 20.86

-40.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.64 SAR 28.69

$8.74 BGN 14.55

-12.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.34 SAR 46.33

$13.29 BGN 22.11

-7.15%

Apples (1kg)

$2.16 SAR 8.13

$1.90 BGN 3.16

13.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 SAR 5.90

$1.90 BGN 3.16

-17.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.55 SAR 5.82

$2.00 BGN 3.33

-22.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 SAR 5.78

$2.84 BGN 4.73

-45.77%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 SAR 4.94

$1.10 BGN 1.83

20.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 SAR 4.54

$1.02 BGN 1.69

18.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 SAR 3.96

$1.18 BGN 1.96

-11.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 SAR 2.23

$0.66 BGN 1.10

-9.09%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.08 SAR 15.31

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 SAR 7.33

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 SAR 9.32

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.76 SAR 25.37

$3.81 BGN 6.33

77.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.65 BGN 12.73

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 BGN 1.82

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 BGN 2.98

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 SAR 5.12

$0.92 BGN 1.53

47.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.64 SAR 149

$29.72 BGN 49.45

33.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 SAR 12.13

$1.49 BGN 2.48

116.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.88 SAR 7.07

$0.76 BGN 1.27

147.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.36 SAR 57.7

$14.34 BGN 23.86

7.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.63 SAR 2.37

$1.51 BGN 2.51

-58.28%

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

$26.9K SAR 101.0K

$32.5K BGN 54.0K

-17.14%

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

$21.4K SAR 80.4K

$28.4K BGN 47.3K

-24.59%

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

$105 SAR 393

$154 BGN 256

-31.95%

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

$32.31 SAR 121

$18.05 BGN 30.04

79.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.1 SAR 263

$14.97 BGN 24.90

368.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$90.9 SAR 341

$44.03 BGN 73.3

106.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$45.17 SAR 170

$21.88 BGN 36.40

106.44%

Cinema Ticket

$13.12 SAR 49.26

$9.24 BGN 15.37

41.99%

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

$400 SAR 1,500

$624 BGN 1,037

-35.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,414 SAR 24.1K

$9,327 BGN 15.5K

-31.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 SAR 242

$71.3 BGN 119

-9.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$58.1 SAR 218

$35.76 BGN 59.5

62.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.5 SAR 347

$105 BGN 175

-12.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.4 SAR 317

$119 BGN 198

-28.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$501 SAR 1,881

$696 BGN 1,157

-27.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 SAR 1,464

$501 BGN 834

-22.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$899 SAR 3,375

$1,296 BGN 2,157

-30.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$618 SAR 2,321

$910 BGN 1,513

-32.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,625 SAR 6,100

$4,510 BGN 7,502

-63.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,014 SAR 3,805

$3,161 BGN 5,258

-67.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,657 SAR 6,219

$1,674 BGN 2,786

-1.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

3.09

45.63%

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

Last update for Jeddah: May 30, 2026

Last update for Sofia: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $501 in Jeddah 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 1% 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 Jeddah versus $51.0 in Sofia. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $196 vs $261 – making Jeddah 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

Jeddah vs Sofia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,202 in Jeddah, $1,373 in Sofia – roughly 14% apart. Sofia costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,803 per month in Jeddah and $2,060 in Sofia. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $41.00 in Jeddah and $51.0 in Sofia. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,202 in Jeddah and $1,373 in Sofia. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Jeddah, where all-in costs run around $1,202, than in Sofia at $1,373. In Jeddah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sofia it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Sofia has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,202 in Jeddah to $1,373 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 Jeddah. 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.