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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,074 per month in Plovdiv vs $717 in Kardzhali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,715 per month in Plovdiv vs $1,175 in Kardzhali, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,356 per month in Plovdiv vs $1,633 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 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.61 BGN 14.38

$9.09 BGN 15.19

-5.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.26 BGN 78.9

$26.92 BGN 44.96

75.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.39 BGN 14.02

$9.02 BGN 15.06

-6.98%

Cappuccino

$2.39 BGN 3.99

$1.16 BGN 1.93

106.03%

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

$1.45 BGN 2.43

$0.86 BGN 1.44

68.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 BGN 1.46

$1.47 BGN 2.45

-40.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.98 BGN 4.98

$1.66 BGN 2.78

79.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 BGN 4.91

$1.32 BGN 2.21

122.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 BGN 2.89

$1.81 BGN 3.02

-4.42%

White Bread (500g)

$1.07 BGN 1.78

$0.83 BGN 1.39

28.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.21 BGN 3.69

$1.81 BGN 3.02

22.10%

Eggs

$3.41 BGN 5.70

$3.15 BGN 5.25

8.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.65 BGN 19.46

$12.44 BGN 20.78

-6.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.55 BGN 12.61

$8.74 BGN 14.60

-13.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.37 BGN 20.66

$13.27 BGN 22.16

-6.78%

Apples (1kg)

$1.50 BGN 2.51

$1.83 BGN 3.05

-18.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 BGN 2.80

$1.89 BGN 3.15

-11.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 BGN 2.69

$1.94 BGN 3.23

-17.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.57 BGN 4.29

$2.15 BGN 3.60

19.53%

Potato (1kg)

$1.03 BGN 1.72

$0.88 BGN 1.47

17.05%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 BGN 1.84

$1.06 BGN 1.76

3.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 BGN 1.76

$0.85 BGN 1.41

23.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 BGN 1.28

$0.71 BGN 1.19

7.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.64 BGN 6.07

$3.73 BGN 6.23

-2.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.10 BGN 11.86

$4.63 BGN 7.73

53.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 BGN 1.72

$1.10 BGN 1.84

-6.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 BGN 2.89

$1.77 BGN 2.95

-2.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.62 BGN 1.03

$0.30 BGN 0.51

106.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.20 BGN 47.10

$9.02 BGN 15.07

212.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 BGN 2.02

$1.05 BGN 1.75

15.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 BGN 1.02

$0.72 BGN 1.20

-15.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.47 BGN 17.49

$13.96 BGN 23.32

-25.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.57 BGN 2.62

$1.49 BGN 2.48

5.37%

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

$31.7K BGN 53.0K

$32.3K BGN 54.0K

-1.88%

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

$28.1K BGN 46.9K

$29.3K BGN 49.0K

-4.13%

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

$94.6 BGN 158

$62.0 BGN 104

52.56%

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

$17.76 BGN 29.67

$18.05 BGN 30.15

-1.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.25 BGN 25.46

$5.99 BGN 10.01

154.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.68 BGN 62.9

$29.68 BGN 49.56

26.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.03 BGN 25.10

$15.01 BGN 25.06

0.13%

Cinema Ticket

$9.04 BGN 15.09

$9.24 BGN 15.43

-2.16%

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

$427 BGN 713

$635 BGN 1,060

-32.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,075 BGN 11.8K

$9,240 BGN 15.4K

-23.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.0 BGN 102

$29.92 BGN 49.96

103.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.05 BGN 60.2

$17.56 BGN 29.33

105.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 BGN 170

$46.39 BGN 77.5

118.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 BGN 177

$90.0 BGN 150

17.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 BGN 805

$118 BGN 197

307.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$343 BGN 572

$116 BGN 194

195.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$821 BGN 1,371

$237 BGN 396

246.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$602 BGN 1,005

$205 BGN 343

193.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,400 BGN 4,009

$1,207 BGN 2,015

98.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,560 BGN 2,605

$875 BGN 1,461

78.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,142 BGN 1,908

$1,341 BGN 2,240

-14.84%

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: April 25, 2026

Last update for Kardzhali: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Plovdiv versus $118 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 17% 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 $27.00 in Kardzhali. Groceries tell a different story – $239 in Plovdiv vs $241 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 $1,611 per month in Plovdiv and $1,075 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 $1,074 in Plovdiv and $717 in Kardzhali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 213% 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 $717, than in Plovdiv at $1,074. 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 $717 versus $1,074 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.