Cost of Living Comparison Between Pleven and Plovdiv Cost of Living Comparison Between Pleven and Plovdiv

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Pleven vs $1,255 in Plovdiv, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,456 per month in Pleven vs $1,928 in Plovdiv, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,980 per month in Pleven vs $2,601 in Plovdiv, rent included.

Pleven is about 26% cheaper than Plovdiv, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Pleven and Plovdiv are more affordable than the global median – Pleven 32% lower, Plovdiv 9% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.75 BGN 14.55

$9.43 BGN 15.69

-7.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.20 BGN 51.9

$46.81 BGN 77.9

-33.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.63 BGN 11.02

$9.74 BGN 16.21

-31.93%

Cappuccino

$2.28 BGN 3.80

$2.97 BGN 4.95

-23.23%

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

$1.33 BGN 2.21

$1.76 BGN 2.93

-24.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.18 BGN 1.96

$1.64 BGN 2.73

-28.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.27 BGN 3.78

$2.72 BGN 4.52

-16.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 BGN 3.84

$4.09 BGN 6.80

-43.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 BGN 2.84

$1.87 BGN 3.10

-8.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.22 BGN 2.03

$1.22 BGN 2.02

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.81 BGN 3.02

$2.24 BGN 3.72

-19.20%

Eggs

$3.72 BGN 6.20

$3.78 BGN 6.28

-1.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.68 BGN 16.10

$12.10 BGN 20.13

-20.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.09 BGN 13.45

$8.95 BGN 14.90

-9.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.51 BGN 24.14

$14.73 BGN 24.51

-1.49%

Apples (1kg)

$1.28 BGN 2.13

$1.78 BGN 2.97

-28.09%

Banana (1kg)

$2.13 BGN 3.54

$1.93 BGN 3.21

10.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.29 BGN 3.80

$2.02 BGN 3.35

13.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.31 BGN 3.85

$2.63 BGN 4.38

-12.17%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 BGN 2.04

$1.11 BGN 1.85

10.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 BGN 1.87

$1.14 BGN 1.90

-0.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 BGN 1.78

$1.22 BGN 2.03

-12.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 BGN 1.30

$0.75 BGN 1.25

4.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.58 BGN 5.96

$4.20 BGN 6.99

-14.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.72 BGN 11.19

$6.36 BGN 10.57

5.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 BGN 1.41

$1.23 BGN 2.04

-30.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.23 BGN 2.04

$2.04 BGN 3.40

-39.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 BGN 1.48

$0.62 BGN 1.03

43.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.99 BGN 69.9

$30.02 BGN 49.94

39.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.51 BGN 2.50

$1.34 BGN 2.23

12.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.93 BGN 1.54

$0.67 BGN 1.12

38.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.28 BGN 20.43

$10.90 BGN 18.13

12.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.61 BGN 2.68

$1.68 BGN 2.79

-4.17%

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

$31.0K BGN 51.6K

$31.0K BGN 51.5K

0.14%

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

$26.4K BGN 43.8K

$25.4K BGN 42.3K

3.57%

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

$101 BGN 167

$119 BGN 197

-15.22%

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

$16.44 BGN 27.35

$19.32 BGN 32.14

-14.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.07 BGN 18.42

$16.32 BGN 27.15

-32.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.26 BGN 55.3

$42.57 BGN 70.8

-21.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.36 BGN 42.20

$21.66 BGN 36.04

17.08%

Cinema Ticket

$9.17 BGN 15.25

$9.35 BGN 15.56

-1.93%

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

$535 BGN 890

$536 BGN 891

-0.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,621 BGN 11.0K

$5,743 BGN 9,554

15.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$43.16 BGN 71.8

$70.5 BGN 117

-38.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.45 BGN 49.00

$43.64 BGN 72.6

-32.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.8 BGN 163

$102 BGN 170

-4.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 BGN 174

$109 BGN 182

-4.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$351 BGN 584

$546 BGN 908

-35.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$178 BGN 296

$398 BGN 662

-55.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$584 BGN 972

$917 BGN 1,525

-36.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$336 BGN 559

$677 BGN 1,126

-50.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,478 BGN 2,458

$2,365 BGN 3,935

-37.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,177 BGN 1,958

$1,619 BGN 2,693

-27.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$954 BGN 1,587

$1,174 BGN 1,954

-18.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.93

3.1

-5.48%

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

Last update for Pleven: August 30, 2026

Last update for Plovdiv: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $351 in Pleven 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 23% 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 $31.00 in Pleven versus $47.00 in Plovdiv. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $264 – making Pleven 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

Pleven vs Plovdiv: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $932 in Pleven, $1,255 in Plovdiv – roughly 35% apart. Plovdiv costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Pleven 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 Pleven, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 8% more in Plovdiv, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $31.00 in Pleven and $47.00 in Plovdiv. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Pleven, where all-in costs run around $932, than in Plovdiv at $1,255. In Pleven it covers expenses comfortably, while in Plovdiv it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Plovdiv has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $932 in Pleven to $1,255 in Plovdiv. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Pleven. 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.