Cost of Living Comparison Between Karlovo and Plovdiv Cost of Living Comparison Between Karlovo and Plovdiv

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $813 per month in Karlovo vs $1,255 in Plovdiv, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,324 per month in Karlovo vs $1,928 in Plovdiv, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,834 per month in Karlovo vs $2,601 in Plovdiv, rent included.

Karlovo is about 35% cheaper than Plovdiv, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Karlovo and Plovdiv are more affordable than the global median – Karlovo 41% lower, Plovdiv 9% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.42 BGN 12.34

$9.43 BGN 15.69

-21.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.60 BGN 59.2

$46.81 BGN 77.9

-23.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.96 BGN 14.91

$9.74 BGN 16.21

-8.01%

Cappuccino

$1.46 BGN 2.43

$2.97 BGN 4.95

-50.84%

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

$1.07 BGN 1.77

$1.76 BGN 2.93

-39.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.79 BGN 1.31

$1.64 BGN 2.73

-51.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 BGN 3.54

$2.72 BGN 4.52

-21.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 BGN 3.03

$4.09 BGN 6.80

-55.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 BGN 2.01

$1.87 BGN 3.10

-35.29%

White Bread (500g)

$0.91 BGN 1.52

$1.22 BGN 2.02

-25.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.95 BGN 3.25

$2.24 BGN 3.72

-12.95%

Eggs

$3.52 BGN 5.86

$3.78 BGN 6.28

-6.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.27 BGN 15.42

$12.10 BGN 20.13

-23.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.43 BGN 14.02

$8.95 BGN 14.90

-5.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.77 BGN 9.60

$14.73 BGN 24.51

-60.83%

Apples (1kg)

$1.35 BGN 2.24

$1.78 BGN 2.97

-24.16%

Banana (1kg)

$2.07 BGN 3.45

$1.93 BGN 3.21

7.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.98 BGN 3.29

$2.02 BGN 3.35

-1.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 BGN 3.79

$2.63 BGN 4.38

-13.31%

Potato (1kg)

$0.47 BGN 0.78

$1.11 BGN 1.85

-57.66%

Onion (1kg)

$0.90 BGN 1.50

$1.14 BGN 1.90

-21.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 BGN 1.70

$1.22 BGN 2.03

-16.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 BGN 1.34

$0.75 BGN 1.25

8.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.49 BGN 5.81

$4.20 BGN 6.99

-16.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.95 BGN 11.55

$6.36 BGN 10.57

9.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 BGN 1.67

$1.23 BGN 2.04

-17.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.86 BGN 3.10

$2.04 BGN 3.40

-8.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.20 BGN 2.00

$0.62 BGN 1.03

93.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.48 BGN 42.38

$30.02 BGN 49.94

-15.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.22 BGN 2.04

$1.34 BGN 2.23

-8.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.80 BGN 1.33

$0.67 BGN 1.12

19.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.41 BGN 20.64

$10.90 BGN 18.13

13.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 BGN 2.43

$1.68 BGN 2.79

-13.10%

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

$31.7K BGN 52.8K

$31.0K BGN 51.5K

2.41%

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

$23.3K BGN 38.8K

$25.4K BGN 42.3K

-8.24%

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

$112 BGN 186

$119 BGN 197

-5.61%

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

$15.02 BGN 24.99

$19.32 BGN 32.14

-22.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.13 BGN 20.18

$16.32 BGN 27.15

-25.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.72 BGN 52.8

$42.57 BGN 70.8

-25.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.13 BGN 33.49

$21.66 BGN 36.04

-7.06%

Cinema Ticket

$5.76 BGN 9.59

$9.35 BGN 15.56

-38.40%

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

$242 BGN 402

$536 BGN 891

-54.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,030 BGN 10.0K

$5,743 BGN 9,554

5.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.31 BGN 48.75

$70.5 BGN 117

-58.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$11.66 BGN 19.41

$43.64 BGN 72.6

-73.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$58.3 BGN 96.9

$102 BGN 170

-42.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.83 BGN 77.9

$109 BGN 182

-57.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$351 BGN 583

$546 BGN 908

-35.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$199 BGN 332

$398 BGN 662

-49.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$559 BGN 931

$917 BGN 1,525

-38.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$415 BGN 691

$677 BGN 1,126

-38.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,569 BGN 2,610

$2,365 BGN 3,935

-33.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,133 BGN 1,884

$1,619 BGN 2,693

-30.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$477 BGN 794

$1,174 BGN 1,954

-59.37%

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 Karlovo: August 31, 2026

Last update for Plovdiv: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $351 in Karlovo versus $546 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 146% higher in Plovdiv, 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 $36.00 in Karlovo versus $47.00 in Plovdiv. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $208 vs $264 – making Karlovo 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

Karlovo vs Plovdiv: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Plovdiv is pricier by about 54%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,220 per month in Karlovo and $1,882 in Plovdiv. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 18% less in Karlovo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $242 per month in Karlovo and $536 in Plovdiv. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Karlovo, where all-in costs run around $813, than in Plovdiv at $1,255. In Karlovo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Plovdiv it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Karlovo – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Karlovo. 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.