Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Makurdi and Sofia

For one person, living is cheaper in Makurdi: $12.58 a month against $1,594 in Sofia, rent and utilities included – about $19,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Makurdi
🇳🇬 Nigeria
$12.58
/mo nomad
Sofia
🇧🇬 Bulgaria
$1,594
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $12.58 in Makurdi versus $1,594 in Sofia.

  • Makurdi $12.58
  • Sofia $1,594

Estimated couple costs with rent: $17.79 in Makurdi versus $2,478 in Sofia.

  • Makurdi $17.79
  • Sofia $2,478

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $22.99 in Makurdi versus $3,361 in Sofia.

  • Makurdi $22.99
  • Sofia $3,361

Living in Makurdi costs roughly 99% less than in Sofia, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Makurdi is 99% below, Sofia is 18% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Makurdi
Sofia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$0.40 ₦526
$16.87 BGN 29.35
-97.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$65.8 BGN 115
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$1.91 ₦2,543
$11.32 BGN 19.69
-83.13%
Cappuccino
-
$3.43 BGN 5.98
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.09 ₦119
$2.41 BGN 4.19
-96.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.08 ₦105
$1.85 BGN 3.22
-95.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.36 ₦472
$3.70 BGN 6.44
-90.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62 ₦819
$4.58 BGN 7.97
-86.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Makurdi
Sofia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
-
$2.02 BGN 3.51
-
White Bread (500g)
-
$1.56 BGN 2.72
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
-
$2.33 BGN 4.05
-
Eggs
-
$4.36 BGN 7.59
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$11.76 BGN 20.47
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
-
$8.83 BGN 15.37
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$17.46 BGN 30.38
-
Apples (1kg)
-
$2.15 BGN 3.74
-
Banana (1kg)
-
$1.98 BGN 3.44
-
Oranges (1kg)
-
$1.93 BGN 3.37
-
Tomato (1kg)
-
$4.24 BGN 7.37
-
Potato (1kg)
-
$1.04 BGN 1.80
-
Onion (1kg)
-
$0.85 BGN 1.48
-
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$1.15 BGN 2.00
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.89 BGN 1.56
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.21 BGN 7.33
-
Wine (Bottle)
-
$7.46 BGN 12.98
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.15 BGN 2.01
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.85 BGN 3.23
-
🚌 Getting Around
Makurdi
Sofia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.87 BGN 1.51
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$28.53 BGN 49.65
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$1.68 BGN 2.93
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.94 BGN 1.63
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$15.35 BGN 26.70
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
-
$1.69 BGN 2.94
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$29.8K BGN 51.9K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$26.1K BGN 45.5K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Makurdi
Sofia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$156 BGN 272
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$21.56 BGN 37.52
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$15.24 BGN 26.51
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Makurdi
Sofia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$46.08 BGN 80.2
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$27.92 BGN 48.58
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$10.18 BGN 17.72
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Makurdi
Sofia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$774 BGN 1,347
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$12.8K BGN 22.3K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Makurdi
Sofia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$89.9 BGN 157
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$41.29 BGN 71.8
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$105 BGN 183
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$107 BGN 186
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Makurdi
Sofia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$783 BGN 1,362
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$597 BGN 1,038
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,516 BGN 2,638
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,030 BGN 1,792
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$4,350 BGN 7,568
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$3,177 BGN 5,528
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Makurdi
Sofia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$1,735 BGN 3,019
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
2.89
-

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

Last update for Makurdi: October 10, 2026

Last update for Sofia: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Makurdi
–
Sofia
$597
Groceries & Markets
Makurdi
–
Sofia
$290
Eating Out
Makurdi
–
Sofia
$255
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Makurdi
–
Sofia
$193
Clothing & Footwear
Makurdi
–
Sofia
$154
Sport & Entertainment
Makurdi
–
Sofia
$66
Getting Around
Makurdi
–
Sofia
$38
Good to know
🇳🇬 Makurdi
🇧🇬 Sofia
🕒 Local time
19:38 7:38 PM
21:38 9:38 PM
2 h ahead of Makurdi
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
500,797
1,286,383 Capital
💱 Currency
Bulgarian Lev BGN лв.
Exchange rates and currency converter

BGN, USD, EUR to NGN – Nigerian Naira Converter

Nigerian Naira exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 1,330 NGN (10,000 NGN = 7.52 USD). 1 EUR = 1,496 NGN (10,000 NGN = 6.69 EUR).

Bulgarian Lev exchange rates as of October 17, 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
  • Makurdi Sofia 4,150 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Makurdi
  • 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
Makurdi vs Sofia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Makurdi or Sofia?
Makurdi wins on cost – living expenses run 12572% lower than in Sofia. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Makurdi the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Makurdi and in Sofia?
You'd need roughly $18.87 in Makurdi 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.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Makurdi or in Sofia?
At $12.58 in Makurdi versus $1,594 in Sofia, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Makurdi but tight or insufficient in Sofia. The gap between the two cities makes Makurdi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Makurdi or Sofia?
Both work as nomad bases, but Makurdi delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $12.58 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Makurdi hard to pass up.
How safe is Makurdi compared to Sofia?
Safety-wise, Makurdi 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Makurdi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12572% less than in Sofia. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Makurdi vs other spots: cost of living compared

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?