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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,079 per month in Plovdiv vs $718 in Kardzhali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,702 per month in Plovdiv vs $1,153 in Kardzhali, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,325 per month in Plovdiv vs $1,588 in Kardzhali, rent included.

Plovdiv costs about 50% more than Kardzhali, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Plovdiv and Kardzhali are more affordable than the global median – Plovdiv 20% lower, Kardzhali 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.83 BGN 14.69

$8.61 BGN 14.32

2.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.68 BGN 79.3

$26.23 BGN 43.63

81.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.74 BGN 14.54

$8.98 BGN 14.95

-2.67%

Cappuccino

$2.45 BGN 4.08

$1.20 BGN 1.99

104.17%

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

$1.50 BGN 2.49

$0.85 BGN 1.42

76.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 BGN 1.41

$1.39 BGN 2.32

-38.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.02 BGN 5.02

$1.62 BGN 2.69

86.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 BGN 4.86

$1.32 BGN 2.20

121.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 BGN 3.00

$1.80 BGN 2.99

White Bread (500g)

$1.01 BGN 1.69

$0.84 BGN 1.39

20.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.10 BGN 3.50

$1.80 BGN 2.99

16.67%

Eggs

$3.41 BGN 5.67

$3.19 BGN 5.30

6.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.58 BGN 19.27

$12.44 BGN 20.70

-6.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.71 BGN 12.82

$8.51 BGN 14.15

-9.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.19 BGN 20.28

$12.92 BGN 21.50

-5.65%

Apples (1kg)

$1.58 BGN 2.63

$1.85 BGN 3.07

-14.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 BGN 2.93

$1.88 BGN 3.13

-6.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 BGN 2.69

$2.03 BGN 3.37

-20.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.43 BGN 4.05

$2.20 BGN 3.66

10.45%

Potato (1kg)

$0.98 BGN 1.63

$0.90 BGN 1.50

8.89%

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 BGN 1.92

$1.04 BGN 1.73

10.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 BGN 1.82

$0.87 BGN 1.45

25.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 BGN 1.36

$0.72 BGN 1.19

13.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.48 BGN 5.78

$3.90 BGN 6.49

-10.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.94 BGN 9.89

$4.62 BGN 7.69

28.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 BGN 1.79

$1.06 BGN 1.76

0.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.80 BGN 2.99

$1.74 BGN 2.89

3.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 BGN 1.00

$0.28 BGN 0.46

114.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.43 BGN 47.30

$8.71 BGN 14.50

226.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 BGN 2.02

$1.09 BGN 1.81

11.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.64 BGN 1.07

$0.68 BGN 1.13

-5.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.74 BGN 17.87

$14.09 BGN 23.45

-23.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.59 BGN 2.65

$1.55 BGN 2.57

2.58%

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

$32.3K BGN 53.8K

$32.7K BGN 54.3K

-1.09%

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

$28.5K BGN 47.5K

$28.8K BGN 47.9K

-0.82%

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

$94.3 BGN 157

$61.2 BGN 102

54.00%

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

$18.13 BGN 30.17

$17.92 BGN 29.81

1.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.02 BGN 24.99

$5.95 BGN 9.89

152.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.21 BGN 61.9

$29.55 BGN 49.17

25.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.90 BGN 24.78

$14.90 BGN 24.79

Cinema Ticket

$8.89 BGN 14.79

$9.58 BGN 15.95

-7.20%

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

$416 BGN 692

$619 BGN 1,031

-32.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,099 BGN 11.8K

$9,147 BGN 15.2K

-22.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.4 BGN 100

$29.54 BGN 49.14

104.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.87 BGN 59.7

$17.90 BGN 29.77

100.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 BGN 167

$47.04 BGN 78.3

113.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 BGN 177

$89.3 BGN 149

19.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$471 BGN 784

$117 BGN 195

302.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$335 BGN 557

$117 BGN 194

187.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$835 BGN 1,390

$234 BGN 390

256.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$612 BGN 1,018

$210 BGN 350

190.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,324 BGN 3,866

$1,181 BGN 1,964

96.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,559 BGN 2,593

$887 BGN 1,475

75.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,160 BGN 1,930

$1,326 BGN 2,207

-12.54%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Kardzhali: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $471 in Plovdiv versus $117 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 14% 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 $26.00 in Kardzhali. Groceries tell a different story – $237 in Plovdiv vs $239 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 50% 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 $1,619 per month in Plovdiv and $1,078 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 $1,079 in Plovdiv and $718 in Kardzhali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 226% 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 $718, than in Plovdiv at $1,079. 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 $718 versus $1,079 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.