Cost of Living Comparison Between Plovdiv and Kardzhali Cost of Living Comparison Between Plovdiv and Kardzhali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,084 per month in Plovdiv vs $716 in Kardzhali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,710 per month in Plovdiv vs $1,167 in Kardzhali, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,336 per month in Plovdiv vs $1,619 in Kardzhali, rent included.

Plovdiv costs about 51% more than Kardzhali, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Plovdiv and Kardzhali are more affordable than the global median – Plovdiv 19% lower, Kardzhali 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.06 BGN 15.07

$8.62 BGN 14.34

5.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.11 BGN 80.0

$26.60 BGN 44.25

80.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.35 BGN 13.90

$8.63 BGN 14.35

-3.24%

Cappuccino

$2.45 BGN 4.08

$1.20 BGN 1.99

104.17%

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

$1.48 BGN 2.47

$0.85 BGN 1.41

74.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 BGN 1.41

$1.45 BGN 2.41

-41.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.98 BGN 4.96

$1.69 BGN 2.81

76.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 BGN 4.95

$1.28 BGN 2.12

132.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 BGN 2.90

$1.81 BGN 3.00

-3.87%

White Bread (500g)

$1.01 BGN 1.68

$0.76 BGN 1.27

32.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.14 BGN 3.56

$1.79 BGN 2.97

19.55%

Eggs

$3.48 BGN 5.79

$3.13 BGN 5.22

11.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.61 BGN 19.31

$12.46 BGN 20.73

-6.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.57 BGN 12.59

$8.66 BGN 14.41

-12.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.95 BGN 19.88

$13.24 BGN 22.02

-9.74%

Apples (1kg)

$1.55 BGN 2.59

$1.83 BGN 3.05

-15.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 BGN 2.83

$1.90 BGN 3.15

-10.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.67 BGN 2.77

$2.00 BGN 3.33

-16.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.46 BGN 4.09

$2.16 BGN 3.59

13.89%

Potato (1kg)

$0.98 BGN 1.64

$0.89 BGN 1.48

10.11%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 BGN 1.84

$1.02 BGN 1.69

7.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 BGN 1.83

$0.90 BGN 1.49

22.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 BGN 1.36

$0.72 BGN 1.20

13.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.57 BGN 5.94

$3.86 BGN 6.43

-7.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.49 BGN 10.80

$4.67 BGN 7.77

38.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 BGN 1.72

$1.04 BGN 1.74

-0.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 BGN 2.88

$1.80 BGN 2.99

-3.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.61 BGN 1.02

$0.28 BGN 0.46

117.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.41 BGN 47.26

$8.63 BGN 14.35

229.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 BGN 2.00

$1.04 BGN 1.72

15.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.62 BGN 1.02

$0.68 BGN 1.13

-8.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.51 BGN 17.49

$14.29 BGN 23.77

-26.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.51 BGN 2.51

$1.53 BGN 2.55

-1.31%

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

$31.9K BGN 53.2K

$32.3K BGN 53.8K

-1.19%

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

$28.8K BGN 48.0K

$29.1K BGN 48.4K

-0.81%

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

$94.5 BGN 157

$62.3 BGN 104

51.78%

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

$18.15 BGN 30.19

$17.87 BGN 29.73

1.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.95 BGN 24.88

$5.91 BGN 9.83

152.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.16 BGN 61.8

$29.08 BGN 48.38

27.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.77 BGN 24.58

$14.74 BGN 24.52

0.20%

Cinema Ticket

$9.10 BGN 15.14

$9.66 BGN 16.06

-5.80%

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

$427 BGN 710

$639 BGN 1,063

-33.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,070 BGN 11.8K

$9,291 BGN 15.5K

-23.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.4 BGN 102

$29.63 BGN 49.29

107.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.91 BGN 58.1

$17.61 BGN 29.29

98.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.0 BGN 163

$47.63 BGN 79.2

105.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 BGN 178

$88.8 BGN 148

20.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$474 BGN 789

$116 BGN 192

309.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$342 BGN 568

$119 BGN 199

186.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$833 BGN 1,385

$239 BGN 397

248.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$599 BGN 997

$208 BGN 347

187.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,292 BGN 3,812

$1,144 BGN 1,903

100.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,558 BGN 2,591

$855 BGN 1,423

82.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,151 BGN 1,914

$1,289 BGN 2,145

-10.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.49

3.1

44.84%

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

Last update for Plovdiv: July 27, 2026

Last update for Kardzhali: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $474 in Plovdiv versus $116 in Kardzhali. 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 12% higher in Kardzhali, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Plovdiv versus $27.00 in Kardzhali. Groceries tell a different story – $236 in Plovdiv vs $240 in Kardzhali – so Plovdiv wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Plovdiv vs Kardzhali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Plovdiv costs about 51% more than Kardzhali, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,626 per month in Plovdiv and $1,073 in Kardzhali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Kardzhali, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,084 in Plovdiv and $716 in Kardzhali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 229% less in Kardzhali. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kardzhali, where all-in costs run around $716, than in Plovdiv at $1,084. In Kardzhali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Plovdiv it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kardzhali costs $716 versus $1,084 in Plovdiv. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Kardzhali. 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.