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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $717 per month in Kardzhali vs $1,074 in Plovdiv, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,175 per month in Kardzhali vs $1,715 in Plovdiv, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,633 per month in Kardzhali vs $2,356 in Plovdiv, rent included.

Kardzhali is about 33% cheaper than Plovdiv, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Kardzhali and Plovdiv are more affordable than the global median – Kardzhali 46% lower, Plovdiv 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.09 BGN 15.19

$8.61 BGN 14.38

5.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.92 BGN 44.96

$47.26 BGN 78.9

-43.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.02 BGN 15.06

$8.39 BGN 14.02

7.51%

Cappuccino

$1.16 BGN 1.93

$2.39 BGN 3.99

-51.46%

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

$0.86 BGN 1.44

$1.45 BGN 2.43

-40.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.47 BGN 2.45

$0.87 BGN 1.46

68.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.66 BGN 2.78

$2.98 BGN 4.98

-44.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.32 BGN 2.21

$2.94 BGN 4.91

-55.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 BGN 3.02

$1.73 BGN 2.89

4.62%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 BGN 1.39

$1.07 BGN 1.78

-22.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.81 BGN 3.02

$2.21 BGN 3.69

-18.10%

Eggs

$3.15 BGN 5.25

$3.41 BGN 5.70

-7.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.44 BGN 20.78

$11.65 BGN 19.46

6.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.74 BGN 14.60

$7.55 BGN 12.61

15.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.27 BGN 22.16

$12.37 BGN 20.66

7.28%

Apples (1kg)

$1.83 BGN 3.05

$1.50 BGN 2.51

22.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.89 BGN 3.15

$1.68 BGN 2.80

12.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.94 BGN 3.23

$1.61 BGN 2.69

20.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.15 BGN 3.60

$2.57 BGN 4.29

-16.34%

Potato (1kg)

$0.88 BGN 1.47

$1.03 BGN 1.72

-14.56%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 BGN 1.76

$1.10 BGN 1.84

-3.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 BGN 1.41

$1.05 BGN 1.76

-19.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 BGN 1.19

$0.76 BGN 1.28

-6.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.73 BGN 6.23

$3.64 BGN 6.07

2.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.63 BGN 7.73

$7.10 BGN 11.86

-34.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.10 BGN 1.84

$1.03 BGN 1.72

6.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.77 BGN 2.95

$1.73 BGN 2.89

2.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.30 BGN 0.51

$0.62 BGN 1.03

-51.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.02 BGN 15.07

$28.20 BGN 47.10

-68.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.05 BGN 1.75

$1.21 BGN 2.02

-13.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.72 BGN 1.20

$0.61 BGN 1.02

18.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.96 BGN 23.32

$10.47 BGN 17.49

33.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 BGN 2.48

$1.57 BGN 2.62

-5.10%

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

$32.3K BGN 54.0K

$31.7K BGN 53.0K

1.92%

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

$29.3K BGN 49.0K

$28.1K BGN 46.9K

4.31%

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

$62.0 BGN 104

$94.6 BGN 158

-34.45%

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

$18.05 BGN 30.15

$17.76 BGN 29.67

1.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$5.99 BGN 10.01

$15.25 BGN 25.46

-60.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.68 BGN 49.56

$37.68 BGN 62.9

-21.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.01 BGN 25.06

$15.03 BGN 25.10

-0.13%

Cinema Ticket

$9.24 BGN 15.43

$9.04 BGN 15.09

2.21%

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

$635 BGN 1,060

$427 BGN 713

48.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,240 BGN 15.4K

$7,075 BGN 11.8K

30.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.92 BGN 49.96

$61.0 BGN 102

-50.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.56 BGN 29.33

$36.05 BGN 60.2

-51.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$46.39 BGN 77.5

$102 BGN 170

-54.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.0 BGN 150

$106 BGN 177

-15.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$118 BGN 197

$482 BGN 805

-75.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$116 BGN 194

$343 BGN 572

-66.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$237 BGN 396

$821 BGN 1,371

-71.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$205 BGN 343

$602 BGN 1,005

-65.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,207 BGN 2,015

$2,400 BGN 4,009

-49.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$875 BGN 1,461

$1,560 BGN 2,605

-43.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,341 BGN 2,240

$1,142 BGN 1,908

17.43%

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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Plovdiv: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $118 in Kardzhali versus $482 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 17% 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 $47.00 in Plovdiv. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Kardzhali vs $239 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 50% 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 $1,075 per month in Kardzhali and $1,611 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 $717 in Kardzhali and $1,074 in Plovdiv. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 213% 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 $717, than in Plovdiv at $1,074. 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 $717 versus $1,074 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.