Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lomza and Sofia

For one person, living is cheaper in Lomza: $1,483 a month against $1,594 in Sofia, rent and utilities included – about $1,300 less a year. The total is higher in Sofia despite lower rent and utilities.

Lomza
🇵🇱 Poland
$1,483
/mo nomad
Sofia
🇧🇬 Bulgaria
$1,594
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lomza 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 Lomza and in Sofia actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,483 in Lomza versus $1,594 in Sofia.

  • Lomza $1,483
  • Sofia $1,594

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,144 in Lomza versus $2,478 in Sofia.

  • Lomza $2,144
  • Sofia $2,478

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,805 in Lomza versus $3,361 in Sofia.

  • Lomza $2,805
  • Sofia $3,361

Living in Lomza costs roughly 7% less than in Sofia, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lomza 10% above, Sofia 18% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lomza
Sofia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.52 zł 37.00
$16.87 BGN 29.35
-43.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.51 zł 181
$65.8 BGN 115
-29.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.00 zł 34.98
$11.32 BGN 19.69
-20.49%
Cappuccino
$3.66 zł 14.22
$3.43 BGN 5.98
6.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64 zł 10.25
$2.41 BGN 4.19
9.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 zł 10.73
$1.85 BGN 3.22
49.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.71 zł 18.28
$3.70 BGN 6.44
27.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.05 zł 19.61
$4.58 BGN 7.97
10.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lomza
Sofia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.03 zł 3.98
$2.02 BGN 3.51
-49.01%
White Bread (500g)
$1.07 zł 4.15
$1.56 BGN 2.72
-31.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.39 zł 5.39
$2.33 BGN 4.05
-40.34%
Eggs
$3.42 zł 13.29
$4.36 BGN 7.59
-21.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.65 zł 41.39
$11.76 BGN 20.47
-9.44%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.81 zł 26.44
$8.83 BGN 15.37
-22.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.64 zł 45.24
$17.46 BGN 30.38
-33.33%
Apples (1kg)
$1.18 zł 4.60
$2.15 BGN 3.74
-45.12%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 zł 6.27
$1.98 BGN 3.44
-18.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.36 zł 9.15
$1.93 BGN 3.37
22.28%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.00 zł 11.66
$4.24 BGN 7.37
-29.25%
Potato (1kg)
$0.79 zł 3.06
$1.04 BGN 1.80
-24.04%
Onion (1kg)
$0.88 zł 3.42
$0.85 BGN 1.48
3.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.38 zł 5.34
$1.15 BGN 2.00
20.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59 zł 2.28
$0.89 BGN 1.56
-33.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.82 zł 22.63
$4.21 BGN 7.33
38.24%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.66 zł 25.88
$7.46 BGN 12.98
-10.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10 zł 4.29
$1.15 BGN 2.01
-4.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 zł 6.51
$1.85 BGN 3.23
-9.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Lomza
Sofia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.12 zł 4.34
$0.87 BGN 1.51
28.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.42 zł 114
$28.53 BGN 49.65
3.12%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.59 zł 6.17
$1.68 BGN 2.93
-5.36%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.59 zł 2.28
$0.94 BGN 1.63
-37.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.37 zł 36.39
$15.35 BGN 26.70
-38.96%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.60 zł 6.23
$1.69 BGN 2.94
-5.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.1K zł 116.8K
$29.8K BGN 51.9K
0.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K zł 104.6K
$26.1K BGN 45.5K
3.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lomza
Sofia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$316 zł 1,227
$156 BGN 272
102.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.65 zł 33.59
$21.56 BGN 37.52
-59.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.11 zł 66.5
$15.24 BGN 26.51
12.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lomza
Sofia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.54 zł 126
$46.08 BGN 80.2
-29.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.27 zł 90.4
$27.92 BGN 48.58
-16.65%
Cinema Ticket
$8.12 zł 31.54
$10.18 BGN 17.72
-20.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lomza
Sofia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$509 zł 1,978
$774 BGN 1,347
-34.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.3K zł 40.1K
$12.8K BGN 22.3K
-19.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lomza
Sofia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.7 zł 290
$89.9 BGN 157
-16.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.74 zł 158
$41.29 BGN 71.8
-1.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.1 zł 350
$105 BGN 183
-14.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.7 zł 372
$107 BGN 186
-10.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lomza
Sofia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$608 zł 2,363
$783 BGN 1,362
-22.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$496 zł 1,927
$597 BGN 1,038
-16.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$969 zł 3,766
$1,516 BGN 2,638
-36.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$809 zł 3,142
$1,030 BGN 1,792
-21.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,957 zł 11.5K
$4,350 BGN 7,568
-32.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,539 zł 9,864
$3,177 BGN 5,528
-20.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lomza
Sofia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$1,735 BGN 3,019
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.87
2.89
137.72%

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

Last update for Lomza: October 11, 2026

Last update for Sofia: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lomza
$496
Sofia
$597 20.3% $101
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lomza
$342
Sofia
$193 43.6% $149
Groceries & Markets
Lomza
$220
Sofia
$290 32.1% $71
Eating Out
Lomza
$202
Sofia
$255 25.9% $52
Clothing & Footwear
Lomza
$136
Sofia
$154 13.9% $19
Sport & Entertainment
Lomza
$49
Sofia
$66 36.2% $18
Getting Around
Lomza
$38
Sofia
$38 0.1% $0

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $608 in Lomza and $783 in Sofia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $47.00 in Lomza vs $66.0 in Sofia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $220 vs $290 per month, with Lomza cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇱 Lomza
🇧🇬 Sofia
🕒 Local time
03:09 3:09 AM
04:09 4:09 AM
1 h ahead of Lomza
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
62,711
1,286,383 Capital
💱 Currency
Bulgarian Lev BGN лв.
Exchange rates and currency converter

BGN, USD, EUR to PLN – Polish Złoty Converter

Polish Złoty exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 3.89 PLN (1 PLN = 0.257 USD). 1 EUR = 4.37 PLN (1 PLN = 0.229 EUR).

Bulgarian Lev exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 1.74 BGN (1 BGN = 0.575 USD). 1 EUR = 1.96 BGN (1 BGN = 0.511 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lomza Sofia 1,170 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Lomza
  • 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
Lomza vs Sofia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sofia cheaper than Lomza?
Lomza is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 8% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,224 in Lomza and $2,391 in Sofia to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Lomza and Sofia?
Rent for a central apartment: $608 in Lomza versus $783 in Sofia. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Lomza runs roughly 3% less than in Sofia. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $509 in Lomza versus $774 in Sofia. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Lomza or in Sofia?
At $1,483 in Lomza versus $1,594 in Sofia, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Lomza but tight or insufficient in Sofia. The gap between the two cities makes Lomza the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Lomza or Sofia more family-friendly?
For families, Lomza 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, Lomza or Sofia?
Safety-wise, Lomza 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 Lomza gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Sofia. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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