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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $791 per month in Karlovo vs $1,102 in Plovdiv, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,255 per month in Karlovo vs $1,712 in Plovdiv, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,718 per month in Karlovo vs $2,321 in Plovdiv, rent included.

Karlovo is about 28% cheaper than Plovdiv, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Karlovo and Plovdiv are more affordable than the global median – Karlovo 41% lower, Plovdiv 18% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.49 BGN 12.46

$8.70 BGN 14.47

-13.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.49 BGN 59.0

$47.28 BGN 78.7

-24.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.94 BGN 14.87

$8.69 BGN 14.46

2.88%

Cappuccino

$1.50 BGN 2.49

$2.49 BGN 4.15

-39.76%

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

$1.08 BGN 1.80

$1.49 BGN 2.48

-27.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 BGN 1.16

$0.91 BGN 1.51

-23.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.09 BGN 3.48

$2.99 BGN 4.97

-30.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.80 BGN 2.99

$2.93 BGN 4.88

-38.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 BGN 1.91

$1.81 BGN 3.02

-36.46%

White Bread (500g)

$0.86 BGN 1.43

$1.07 BGN 1.78

-19.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.91 BGN 3.18

$2.11 BGN 3.51

-9.48%

Eggs

$3.36 BGN 5.59

$3.40 BGN 5.66

-1.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.28 BGN 15.43

$11.61 BGN 19.31

-20.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.76 BGN 12.92

$7.95 BGN 13.22

-2.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.94 BGN 9.88

$12.02 BGN 19.99

-50.58%

Apples (1kg)

$1.28 BGN 2.14

$1.50 BGN 2.49

-14.67%

Banana (1kg)

$2.14 BGN 3.56

$1.76 BGN 2.93

21.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.08 BGN 3.46

$1.66 BGN 2.76

25.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.21 BGN 3.68

$2.48 BGN 4.12

-10.89%

Potato (1kg)

$0.45 BGN 0.75

$1.02 BGN 1.70

-55.88%

Onion (1kg)

$0.87 BGN 1.44

$1.14 BGN 1.90

-23.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 BGN 1.76

$1.09 BGN 1.82

-2.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 BGN 1.30

$0.77 BGN 1.28

1.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.41 BGN 5.67

$3.61 BGN 6.01

-5.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.65 BGN 11.07

$6.07 BGN 10.11

9.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 BGN 1.67

$1.04 BGN 1.73

-2.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 BGN 3.01

$1.80 BGN 2.99

0.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.17 BGN 1.94

$0.60 BGN 1.00

95.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.08 BGN 45.04

$28.44 BGN 47.32

-4.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 BGN 2.02

$1.16 BGN 1.93

4.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 BGN 1.17

$0.66 BGN 1.09

6.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.19 BGN 21.94

$10.48 BGN 17.44

25.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 BGN 2.41

$1.50 BGN 2.50

-3.33%

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

$32.0K BGN 53.2K

$31.9K BGN 53.1K

0.23%

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

$25.2K BGN 41.8K

$28.7K BGN 47.8K

-12.51%

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

$95.7 BGN 159

$97.8 BGN 163

-2.13%

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

$16.31 BGN 27.13

$18.10 BGN 30.11

-9.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.75 BGN 21.20

$15.31 BGN 25.47

-16.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.31 BGN 48.75

$37.70 BGN 62.7

-22.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.82 BGN 24.66

$14.69 BGN 24.44

0.88%

Cinema Ticket

$5.74 BGN 9.54

$8.96 BGN 14.90

-35.94%

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

$234 BGN 389

$425 BGN 706

-44.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,076 BGN 6,781

$7,126 BGN 11.9K

-42.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.19 BGN 48.57

$61.5 BGN 102

-52.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$12.03 BGN 20.01

$35.35 BGN 58.8

-65.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.6 BGN 99.1

$98.1 BGN 163

-39.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.03 BGN 78.2

$106 BGN 176

-55.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$289 BGN 481

$482 BGN 802

-39.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$197 BGN 328

$336 BGN 558

-41.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$473 BGN 787

$816 BGN 1,357

-42.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$355 BGN 590

$609 BGN 1,013

-41.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,367 BGN 2,275

$2,299 BGN 3,824

-40.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,110 BGN 1,847

$1,556 BGN 2,589

-28.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$485 BGN 807

$1,160 BGN 1,929

-58.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.57

4.49

1.78%

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

Last update for Karlovo: June 1, 2026

Last update for Plovdiv: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $289 in Karlovo 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 139% 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 $35.00 in Karlovo versus $47.00 in Plovdiv. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $203 vs $238 – 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 39%, 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 $1,187 per month in Karlovo and $1,654 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 5% less in Karlovo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $234 per month in Karlovo and $425 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 $791, than in Plovdiv at $1,102. 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.