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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,214 per month in Plovdiv vs $677 in Kardzhali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,882 per month in Plovdiv vs $1,099 in Kardzhali, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,551 per month in Plovdiv vs $1,520 in Kardzhali, rent included.

Plovdiv costs about 79% more than Kardzhali, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Plovdiv and Kardzhali are more affordable than the global median – Plovdiv 11% lower, Kardzhali 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.17 BGN 15.25

$11.65 BGN 19.38

-21.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.82 BGN 77.9

$23.94 BGN 39.82

95.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.19 BGN 16.95

$9.21 BGN 15.33

10.64%

Cappuccino

$2.97 BGN 4.94

$1.15 BGN 1.91

158.26%

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

$1.68 BGN 2.80

$1.11 BGN 1.85

51.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 BGN 2.61

$0.76 BGN 1.26

106.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.69 BGN 4.47

$1.68 BGN 2.80

60.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.08 BGN 6.78

$1.37 BGN 2.28

197.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.83 BGN 3.04

$1.69 BGN 2.81

8.28%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 BGN 2.07

$0.74 BGN 1.22

68.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.34 BGN 3.89

$1.54 BGN 2.56

51.95%

Eggs

$3.77 BGN 6.27

$3.08 BGN 5.13

22.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.15 BGN 20.22

$9.14 BGN 15.20

32.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.64 BGN 14.37

$5.80 BGN 9.65

48.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.71 BGN 24.48

$7.05 BGN 11.72

108.65%

Apples (1kg)

$1.68 BGN 2.80

$0.87 BGN 1.44

93.10%

Banana (1kg)

$1.87 BGN 3.12

$2.03 BGN 3.37

-7.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.05 BGN 3.40

$1.93 BGN 3.21

6.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.74 BGN 4.56

$2.30 BGN 3.82

19.13%

Potato (1kg)

$1.08 BGN 1.79

$0.70 BGN 1.17

54.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 BGN 1.86

$1.29 BGN 2.14

-13.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 BGN 2.00

$0.70 BGN 1.17

71.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 BGN 1.24

$0.83 BGN 1.39

-10.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.06 BGN 6.76

$3.75 BGN 6.24

8.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.60 BGN 10.98

$4.63 BGN 7.71

42.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 BGN 1.96

$1.04 BGN 1.74

13.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 BGN 3.52

$1.48 BGN 2.47

43.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.61 BGN 1.01

$0.56 BGN 0.93

8.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.00 BGN 49.90

$11.46 BGN 19.07

161.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.28 BGN 2.14

$1.81 BGN 3.01

-29.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.62 BGN 1.03

$0.80 BGN 1.34

-22.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.79 BGN 17.95

$5.80 BGN 9.65

86.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.63 BGN 2.71

$1.59 BGN 2.65

2.52%

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

$31.2K BGN 51.9K

$30.6K BGN 51.0K

1.91%

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

$25.2K BGN 41.9K

$23.3K BGN 38.8K

7.89%

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

$117 BGN 194

$62.8 BGN 105

85.99%

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

$19.07 BGN 31.73

$5.91 BGN 9.83

222.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.19 BGN 26.93

$8.18 BGN 13.62

97.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.94 BGN 69.8

$23.88 BGN 39.73

75.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.99 BGN 34.91

Cinema Ticket

$9.23 BGN 15.35

$8.90 BGN 14.81

3.71%

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

$531 BGN 883

$233 BGN 387

127.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,699 BGN 9,480

$15.0K BGN 25.0K

-62.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.7 BGN 118

$23.50 BGN 39.09

200.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.62 BGN 72.6

$12.94 BGN 21.53

237.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.7 BGN 166

$47.12 BGN 78.4

111.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 BGN 180

$75.4 BGN 125

43.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$547 BGN 911

$119 BGN 197

361.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$399 BGN 663

$119 BGN 197

236.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$902 BGN 1,501

$236 BGN 392

282.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$685 BGN 1,139

$282 BGN 468

143.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,348 BGN 3,907

$1,192 BGN 1,983

97.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,591 BGN 2,647

$872 BGN 1,450

82.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,203 BGN 2,001

$1,349 BGN 2,244

-10.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.1

3.25

-4.62%

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

Last update for Plovdiv: September 12, 2026

Last update for Kardzhali: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $547 in Plovdiv versus $119 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 $47.00 in Plovdiv versus $24.00 in Kardzhali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $263 vs $191 – making Kardzhali 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

Plovdiv vs Kardzhali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Plovdiv costs about 79% 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 $1,821 per month in Plovdiv and $1,016 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 $1,214 in Plovdiv and $677 in Kardzhali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 162% 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 $677, than in Plovdiv at $1,214. 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 $677 versus $1,214 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.