Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Khartoum and Sofia

For one person, living is cheaper in Khartoum: $505 a month against $1,589 in Sofia, rent and utilities included – about $13,000 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Khartoum
🇸🇩 Sudan
$505
/mo nomad
Sofia
🇧🇬 Bulgaria
$1,589
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Khartoum and in Sofia

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Khartoum and in Sofia actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $505 in Khartoum versus $1,589 in Sofia.

  • Khartoum $505
  • Sofia $1,589

Estimated couple costs with rent: $681 in Khartoum versus $2,456 in Sofia.

  • Khartoum $681
  • Sofia $2,456

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $856 in Khartoum versus $3,324 in Sofia.

  • Khartoum $856
  • Sofia $3,324

Living in Khartoum costs roughly 68% less than in Sofia, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Khartoum is 62% below, Sofia is 19% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Khartoum
Sofia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.34 SDG 1,401
$17.10 BGN 29.93
-86.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.08 SDG 8,425
$66.9 BGN 117
-78.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.64 SDG 1,579
$11.77 BGN 20.59
-77.57%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.40 SDG 1,434
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 SDG 1,289
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.73 SDG 1,633
$3.42 BGN 5.99
-20.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52 SDG 314
$2.42 BGN 4.23
-78.51%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 SDG 212
$1.86 BGN 3.26
-81.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.33 BGN 5.83
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.53 BGN 7.92
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Khartoum
Sofia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 SDG 826
$1.92 BGN 3.36
-28.13%
White Bread (500g)
$1.39 SDG 829
$1.51 BGN 2.64
-7.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.42 SDG 853
$2.21 BGN 3.88
-35.75%
Eggs
$3.64 SDG 2,179
$4.40 BGN 7.69
-17.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$11.56 BGN 20.22
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.32 SDG 2,584
$8.79 BGN 15.38
-50.85%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$16.97 BGN 29.71
-
Apples (1kg)
$4.27 SDG 2,555
$2.17 BGN 3.79
96.77%
Banana (1kg)
$1.02 SDG 611
$2.04 BGN 3.57
-50.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.57 SDG 941
$1.84 BGN 3.22
-14.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 SDG 964
$4.29 BGN 7.51
-62.47%
Potato (1kg)
$1.04 SDG 625
$1.03 BGN 1.80
0.97%
Onion (1kg)
$0.74 SDG 444
$0.93 BGN 1.62
-20.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.57 SDG 340
$1.20 BGN 2.11
-52.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 SDG 336
$0.92 BGN 1.62
-39.13%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$3.97 SDG 2,374
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 SDG 463
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69 SDG 1,010
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.86 SDG 1,114
$4.30 BGN 7.53
-56.74%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$7.33 BGN 12.83
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.18 BGN 2.06
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.87 BGN 3.28
-
🚌 Getting Around
Khartoum
Sofia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.67 SDG 404
$0.87 BGN 1.52
-22.99%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$28.14 BGN 49.24
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.80 SDG 2,274
$1.74 BGN 3.04
118.39%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.96 BGN 1.68
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.88 SDG 2,923
$15.54 BGN 27.19
-68.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 SDG 693
$1.79 BGN 3.14
-35.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$4,970 SDG 3.0M
$30.0K BGN 52.5K
-83.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$10.1K SDG 6.0M
$26.4K BGN 46.1K
-61.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Khartoum
Sofia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$71.1 SDG 42.6K
$156 BGN 273
-54.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.87 SDG 5,906
$21.21 BGN 37.11
-53.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.81 SDG 19.6K
$15.64 BGN 27.37
109.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Khartoum
Sofia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$8.18 SDG 4,897
$46.76 BGN 81.8
-82.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$27.74 BGN 48.54
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.89 SDG 2,329
$10.02 BGN 17.53
-61.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Khartoum
Sofia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$111 SDG 66.7K
$766 BGN 1,341
-85.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,732 SDG 1.6M
$12.8K BGN 22.4K
-78.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Khartoum
Sofia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$89.7 BGN 157
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$8.72 SDG 5,218
$40.88 BGN 71.5
-78.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$106 BGN 186
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$105 BGN 183
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Khartoum
Sofia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$538 SDG 322.2K
$796 BGN 1,393
-32.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$170 SDG 101.9K
$607 BGN 1,063
-71.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,243 SDG 743.7K
$1,563 BGN 2,735
-20.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$164 SDG 98.4K
$1,060 BGN 1,855
-84.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,029 SDG 615.8K
$4,357 BGN 7,626
-76.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,019 SDG 609.7K
$3,250 BGN 5,688
-68.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Khartoum
Sofia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$241 SDG 144.2K
$1,740 BGN 3,044
-86.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
30
2.89
938.06%

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

Last update for Khartoum: October 4, 2026

Last update for Sofia: October 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Khartoum
$170
Sofia
$607 257% $437
Groceries & Markets
Khartoum
$125 *
Sofia
$287 130% $162
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Khartoum
$114
Sofia
$193 69.4% $79
Eating Out
Khartoum
$63
Sofia
$256 307% $193
Sport & Entertainment
Khartoum
$16
Sofia
$67 318% $51
Getting Around
Khartoum
$6.5 *
Sofia
$38 487% $32
Clothing & Footwear
Khartoum
$3.9 *
Sofia
$154 3818% $150

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $538 in Khartoum and $796 in Sofia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sofia pays 622% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $14.00 in Khartoum vs $67.0 in Sofia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $125 vs $287 per month, with Khartoum cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇸🇩 Khartoum
🇧🇬 Sofia
🕒 Local time
09:27 9:27 AM
10:27 10:27 AM
1 h ahead of Khartoum
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,682,431 Capital
1,286,383 Capital
💱 Currency
Bulgarian Lev BGN лв.
Exchange rates and currency converter

BGN, USD, EUR to SDG – Sudanese Pound Converter

Sudanese Pound exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 599 SDG (1,000 SDG = 1.67 USD). 1 EUR = 671 SDG (1,000 SDG = 1.49 EUR).

Bulgarian Lev exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1.75 BGN (1 BGN = 0.571 USD). 1 EUR = 1.96 BGN (1 BGN = 0.509 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Khartoum Sofia 3,140 km ≈ 4 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Khartoum
  • Sofia

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Khartoum vs Sofia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sofia cheaper than Khartoum?
Khartoum is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and leisure. The 215% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Khartoum or Sofia?
On paper, salaries run 622% lower in Sofia. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Khartoum and Sofia?
Rent for a central apartment: $538 in Khartoum versus $796 in Sofia. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $111 in Khartoum versus $766 in Sofia. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Khartoum or in Sofia?
Dining out is cheaper in Khartoum – a meal for two runs $14.00 versus $67.0 in Sofia. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Khartoum or in Sofia?
At $505 in Khartoum versus $1,589 in Sofia, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Khartoum but tight or insufficient in Sofia. The gap between the two cities makes Khartoum the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Khartoum or Sofia more family-friendly?
For families, Khartoum is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Sofia, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Khartoum or Sofia?
Safety-wise, Khartoum and Sofia are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Khartoum gentler on the wallet – expenses run 215% less than in Sofia. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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