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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $677 per month in Kardzhali vs $1,214 in Plovdiv, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,099 per month in Kardzhali vs $1,882 in Plovdiv, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,520 per month in Kardzhali vs $2,551 in Plovdiv, rent included.

Kardzhali is about 44% cheaper than Plovdiv, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Kardzhali and Plovdiv are more affordable than the global median – Kardzhali 50% lower, Plovdiv 11% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.65 BGN 19.38

$9.17 BGN 15.25

27.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.94 BGN 39.82

$46.82 BGN 77.9

-48.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.21 BGN 15.33

$10.19 BGN 16.95

-9.62%

Cappuccino

$1.15 BGN 1.91

$2.97 BGN 4.94

-61.28%

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

$1.11 BGN 1.85

$1.68 BGN 2.80

-33.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 BGN 1.26

$1.57 BGN 2.61

-51.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 BGN 2.80

$2.69 BGN 4.47

-37.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.37 BGN 2.28

$4.08 BGN 6.78

-66.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.69 BGN 2.81

$1.83 BGN 3.04

-7.65%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 BGN 1.22

$1.25 BGN 2.07

-40.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 BGN 2.56

$2.34 BGN 3.89

-34.19%

Eggs

$3.08 BGN 5.13

$3.77 BGN 6.27

-18.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.14 BGN 15.20

$12.15 BGN 20.22

-24.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.80 BGN 9.65

$8.64 BGN 14.37

-32.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.05 BGN 11.72

$14.71 BGN 24.48

-52.07%

Apples (1kg)

$0.87 BGN 1.44

$1.68 BGN 2.80

-48.21%

Banana (1kg)

$2.03 BGN 3.37

$1.87 BGN 3.12

8.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.93 BGN 3.21

$2.05 BGN 3.40

-5.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.30 BGN 3.82

$2.74 BGN 4.56

-16.06%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 BGN 1.17

$1.08 BGN 1.79

-35.19%

Onion (1kg)

$1.29 BGN 2.14

$1.12 BGN 1.86

15.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 BGN 1.17

$1.20 BGN 2.00

-41.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 BGN 1.39

$0.74 BGN 1.24

12.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.75 BGN 6.24

$4.06 BGN 6.76

-7.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.63 BGN 7.71

$6.60 BGN 10.98

-29.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 BGN 1.74

$1.18 BGN 1.96

-11.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.48 BGN 2.47

$2.12 BGN 3.52

-30.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.56 BGN 0.93

$0.61 BGN 1.01

-8.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.46 BGN 19.07

$30.00 BGN 49.90

-61.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 BGN 3.01

$1.28 BGN 2.14

41.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.80 BGN 1.34

$0.62 BGN 1.03

29.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.80 BGN 9.65

$10.79 BGN 17.95

-46.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.59 BGN 2.65

$1.63 BGN 2.71

-2.45%

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

$30.6K BGN 51.0K

$31.2K BGN 51.9K

-1.88%

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

$23.3K BGN 38.8K

$25.2K BGN 41.9K

-7.31%

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

$62.8 BGN 105

$117 BGN 194

-46.23%

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

$5.91 BGN 9.83

$19.07 BGN 31.73

-69.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.18 BGN 13.62

$16.19 BGN 26.93

-49.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.88 BGN 39.73

$41.94 BGN 69.8

-43.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.99 BGN 34.91

Cinema Ticket

$8.90 BGN 14.81

$9.23 BGN 15.35

-3.58%

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

$233 BGN 387

$531 BGN 883

-56.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K BGN 25.0K

$5,699 BGN 9,480

163.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.50 BGN 39.09

$70.7 BGN 118

-66.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$12.94 BGN 21.53

$43.62 BGN 72.6

-70.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$47.12 BGN 78.4

$99.7 BGN 166

-52.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.4 BGN 125

$108 BGN 180

-30.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$119 BGN 197

$547 BGN 911

-78.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$119 BGN 197

$399 BGN 663

-70.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$236 BGN 392

$902 BGN 1,501

-73.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$282 BGN 468

$685 BGN 1,139

-58.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,192 BGN 1,983

$2,348 BGN 3,907

-49.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$872 BGN 1,450

$1,591 BGN 2,647

-45.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,349 BGN 2,244

$1,203 BGN 2,001

12.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.25

3.1

4.84%

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

Last update for Kardzhali: September 14, 2026

Last update for Plovdiv: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $119 in Kardzhali versus $547 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 $24.00 in Kardzhali versus $47.00 in Plovdiv. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $191 vs $263 – making Kardzhali 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

Kardzhali vs Plovdiv: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Plovdiv costs about 79% 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 $1,016 per month in Kardzhali and $1,821 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 $677 in Kardzhali and $1,214 in Plovdiv. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 162% 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 $677, than in Plovdiv at $1,214. 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 $677 versus $1,214 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.