Cost of Living Comparison Between Kardzhali and Plovdiv Cost of Living Comparison Between Kardzhali and Plovdiv

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $716 per month in Kardzhali vs $1,084 in Plovdiv, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,167 per month in Kardzhali vs $1,710 in Plovdiv, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,619 per month in Kardzhali vs $2,336 in Plovdiv, rent included.

Kardzhali is about 34% cheaper than Plovdiv, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Kardzhali and Plovdiv are more affordable than the global median – Kardzhali 46% lower, Plovdiv 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.62 BGN 14.34

$9.06 BGN 15.07

-4.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.60 BGN 44.25

$48.11 BGN 80.0

-44.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.63 BGN 14.35

$8.35 BGN 13.90

3.35%

Cappuccino

$1.20 BGN 1.99

$2.45 BGN 4.08

-51.02%

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

$0.85 BGN 1.41

$1.48 BGN 2.47

-42.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 BGN 2.41

$0.85 BGN 1.41

70.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 BGN 2.81

$2.98 BGN 4.96

-43.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.28 BGN 2.12

$2.97 BGN 4.95

-56.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 BGN 3.00

$1.74 BGN 2.90

4.02%

White Bread (500g)

$0.76 BGN 1.27

$1.01 BGN 1.68

-24.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.79 BGN 2.97

$2.14 BGN 3.56

-16.36%

Eggs

$3.13 BGN 5.22

$3.48 BGN 5.79

-10.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.46 BGN 20.73

$11.61 BGN 19.31

7.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.66 BGN 14.41

$7.57 BGN 12.59

14.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.24 BGN 22.02

$11.95 BGN 19.88

10.79%

Apples (1kg)

$1.83 BGN 3.05

$1.55 BGN 2.59

18.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.90 BGN 3.15

$1.70 BGN 2.83

11.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.00 BGN 3.33

$1.67 BGN 2.77

19.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.16 BGN 3.59

$2.46 BGN 4.09

-12.20%

Potato (1kg)

$0.89 BGN 1.48

$0.98 BGN 1.64

-9.18%

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 BGN 1.69

$1.10 BGN 1.84

-7.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 BGN 1.49

$1.10 BGN 1.83

-18.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 BGN 1.20

$0.82 BGN 1.36

-12.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.86 BGN 6.43

$3.57 BGN 5.94

8.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.67 BGN 7.77

$6.49 BGN 10.80

-28.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 BGN 1.74

$1.03 BGN 1.72

0.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.80 BGN 2.99

$1.73 BGN 2.88

4.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 BGN 0.46

$0.61 BGN 1.02

-54.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.63 BGN 14.35

$28.41 BGN 47.26

-69.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.04 BGN 1.72

$1.20 BGN 2.00

-13.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.68 BGN 1.13

$0.62 BGN 1.02

9.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.29 BGN 23.77

$10.51 BGN 17.49

35.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.53 BGN 2.55

$1.51 BGN 2.51

1.32%

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

$32.3K BGN 53.8K

$31.9K BGN 53.2K

1.20%

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

$29.1K BGN 48.4K

$28.8K BGN 48.0K

0.81%

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

$62.3 BGN 104

$94.5 BGN 157

-34.11%

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

$17.87 BGN 29.73

$18.15 BGN 30.19

-1.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$5.91 BGN 9.83

$14.95 BGN 24.88

-60.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.08 BGN 48.38

$37.16 BGN 61.8

-21.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.74 BGN 24.52

$14.77 BGN 24.58

-0.20%

Cinema Ticket

$9.66 BGN 16.06

$9.10 BGN 15.14

6.15%

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

$639 BGN 1,063

$427 BGN 710

49.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,291 BGN 15.5K

$7,070 BGN 11.8K

31.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.63 BGN 49.29

$61.4 BGN 102

-51.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.61 BGN 29.29

$34.91 BGN 58.1

-49.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$47.63 BGN 79.2

$98.0 BGN 163

-51.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.8 BGN 148

$107 BGN 178

-17.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$116 BGN 192

$474 BGN 789

-75.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$119 BGN 199

$342 BGN 568

-65.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$239 BGN 397

$833 BGN 1,385

-71.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$208 BGN 347

$599 BGN 997

-65.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,144 BGN 1,903

$2,292 BGN 3,812

-50.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$855 BGN 1,423

$1,558 BGN 2,591

-45.10%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,289 BGN 2,145

$1,151 BGN 1,914

12.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.1

4.49

-30.96%

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

Last update for Kardzhali: July 27, 2026

Last update for Plovdiv: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $116 in Kardzhali versus $474 in Plovdiv. 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 12% higher in Kardzhali, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Kardzhali versus $48.00 in Plovdiv. Groceries tell a different story – $240 in Kardzhali vs $236 in Plovdiv – so Plovdiv wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Kardzhali vs Plovdiv: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Plovdiv costs about 51% more than Kardzhali, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,073 per month in Kardzhali and $1,626 in Plovdiv. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $716 in Kardzhali and $1,084 in Plovdiv. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 229% less in Kardzhali. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kardzhali, where all-in costs run around $716, than in Plovdiv at $1,084. In Kardzhali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Plovdiv it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kardzhali costs $716 versus $1,084 in Plovdiv. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Kardzhali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Plovdiv makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.