Cost of Living Comparison Between Plovdiv and Sliven Cost of Living Comparison Between Plovdiv and Sliven

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,102 per month in Plovdiv vs $761 in Sliven, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,712 per month in Plovdiv vs $1,207 in Sliven, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,321 per month in Plovdiv vs $1,653 in Sliven, rent included.

Plovdiv costs about 45% more than Sliven, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Plovdiv and Sliven are more affordable than the global median – Plovdiv 18% lower, Sliven 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.70 BGN 14.47

$8.77 BGN 14.59

-0.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.28 BGN 78.7

$35.75 BGN 59.5

32.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.69 BGN 14.46

$8.71 BGN 14.49

-0.23%

Cappuccino

$2.49 BGN 4.15

$1.84 BGN 3.06

35.33%

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

$1.49 BGN 2.48

$1.27 BGN 2.11

17.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 BGN 1.51

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 BGN 4.97

$1.74 BGN 2.90

71.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 BGN 4.88

$2.29 BGN 3.81

27.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 BGN 3.02

$1.59 BGN 2.64

13.84%

White Bread (500g)

$1.07 BGN 1.78

$0.80 BGN 1.33

33.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.11 BGN 3.51

$2.21 BGN 3.68

-4.52%

Eggs

$3.40 BGN 5.66

$2.15 BGN 3.57

58.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.61 BGN 19.31

$8.08 BGN 13.44

43.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.95 BGN 13.22

$5.51 BGN 9.16

44.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.02 BGN 19.99

$6.94 BGN 11.54

73.20%

Apples (1kg)

$1.50 BGN 2.49

$1.45 BGN 2.40

3.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 BGN 2.93

$1.72 BGN 2.86

2.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.66 BGN 2.76

$1.48 BGN 2.47

12.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.48 BGN 4.12

$2.26 BGN 3.75

9.73%

Potato (1kg)

$1.02 BGN 1.70

$0.51 BGN 0.85

100.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.14 BGN 1.90

$0.90 BGN 1.51

26.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 BGN 1.82

$1.05 BGN 1.74

3.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 BGN 1.28

$0.48 BGN 0.79

60.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.61 BGN 6.01

$3.53 BGN 5.87

2.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.07 BGN 10.11

$6.20 BGN 10.31

-2.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 BGN 1.73

$1.04 BGN 1.74

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.80 BGN 2.99

$1.27 BGN 2.12

41.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 BGN 1.00

$0.74 BGN 1.23

-18.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.44 BGN 47.32

$36.12 BGN 60.1

-21.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 BGN 1.93

$1.16 BGN 1.94

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.66 BGN 1.09

$0.77 BGN 1.29

-14.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.48 BGN 17.44

$8.96 BGN 14.90

16.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.50 BGN 2.50

$1.43 BGN 2.37

4.90%

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

$31.9K BGN 53.1K

-0.04%

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

$28.7K BGN 47.8K

$27.8K BGN 46.2K

3.43%

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

$97.8 BGN 163

$89.0 BGN 148

9.90%

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

$18.10 BGN 30.11

$17.99 BGN 29.94

0.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.31 BGN 25.47

$9.21 BGN 15.33

66.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.70 BGN 62.7

$23.18 BGN 38.57

62.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.69 BGN 24.44

$14.92 BGN 24.82

-1.54%

Cinema Ticket

$8.96 BGN 14.90

$6.03 BGN 10.04

48.59%

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

$425 BGN 706

$422 BGN 703

0.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,126 BGN 11.9K

$7,038 BGN 11.7K

1.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.5 BGN 102

$60.0 BGN 99.8

2.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.35 BGN 58.8

$23.21 BGN 38.62

52.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.1 BGN 163

$69.6 BGN 116

41.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 BGN 176

$64.6 BGN 107

63.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 BGN 802

$233 BGN 387

107.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$336 BGN 558

$150 BGN 249

124.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$816 BGN 1,357

$336 BGN 559

142.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$609 BGN 1,013

$269 BGN 447

126.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,299 BGN 3,824

$1,181 BGN 1,965

94.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,556 BGN 2,589

$965 BGN 1,605

61.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,160 BGN 1,929

$1,395 BGN 2,320

-16.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.49

4.25

5.65%

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

Last update for Plovdiv: June 2, 2026

Last update for Sliven: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Plovdiv versus $233 in Sliven. 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 20% higher in Sliven, 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 $36.00 in Sliven. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $238 vs $182 – making Sliven 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 Sliven: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,102 in Plovdiv, $761 in Sliven – roughly 45% apart. Plovdiv costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,654 per month in Plovdiv and $1,141 in Sliven. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 27% less in Sliven. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $425 per month in Plovdiv and $422 in Sliven. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Sliven, where all-in costs run around $761, than in Plovdiv at $1,102. In Sliven 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 $761 in Sliven to $1,102 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 Sliven. 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.