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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,242 per month in Plovdiv vs $814 in Sliven, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,928 per month in Plovdiv vs $1,284 in Sliven, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,615 per month in Plovdiv vs $1,754 in Sliven, rent included.

Plovdiv costs about 53% more than Sliven, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Plovdiv and Sliven are more affordable than the global median – Plovdiv 10% lower, Sliven 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.43 BGN 15.69

$11.94 BGN 19.86

-21.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.74 BGN 79.4

$35.86 BGN 59.7

33.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.98 BGN 16.61

$10.48 BGN 17.43

-4.77%

Cappuccino

$2.96 BGN 4.92

$1.93 BGN 3.21

53.37%

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

$1.73 BGN 2.88

$1.28 BGN 2.12

35.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 BGN 2.60

$0.91 BGN 1.51

72.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.63 BGN 4.38

$1.74 BGN 2.89

51.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.27 BGN 7.11

$2.32 BGN 3.86

84.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 BGN 3.15

$1.59 BGN 2.65

19.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 BGN 2.08

$0.79 BGN 1.32

58.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 BGN 3.74

$2.81 BGN 4.68

-19.93%

Eggs

$3.72 BGN 6.18

$2.24 BGN 3.73

66.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.89 BGN 19.79

$8.08 BGN 13.44

47.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.56 BGN 14.23

$5.58 BGN 9.29

53.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.60 BGN 24.28

$6.66 BGN 11.08

119.22%

Apples (1kg)

$1.70 BGN 2.82

$1.53 BGN 2.55

11.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.85 BGN 3.08

$1.66 BGN 2.77

11.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.01 BGN 3.34

$1.45 BGN 2.41

38.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.74 BGN 4.56

$2.20 BGN 3.66

24.55%

Potato (1kg)

$1.07 BGN 1.78

$0.51 BGN 0.85

109.80%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 BGN 1.88

$0.86 BGN 1.43

31.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.22 BGN 2.02

$1.09 BGN 1.81

11.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 BGN 1.30

$0.49 BGN 0.81

59.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 BGN 7.12

$3.64 BGN 6.05

17.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.37 BGN 10.59

$6.36 BGN 10.59

0.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 BGN 2.05

$1.10 BGN 1.83

11.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 BGN 3.41

$1.35 BGN 2.24

51.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.58 BGN 0.96

$0.68 BGN 1.13

-14.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.74 BGN 49.48

$37.20 BGN 61.9

-20.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.33 BGN 2.22

$1.21 BGN 2.02

9.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.62 BGN 1.03

$0.60 BGN 1.00

3.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.49 BGN 17.46

$8.66 BGN 14.41

21.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.69 BGN 2.81

$1.55 BGN 2.57

9.03%

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

$30.7K BGN 51.1K

$30.8K BGN 51.2K

-0.28%

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

$25.8K BGN 43.0K

$23.3K BGN 38.7K

10.91%

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

$117 BGN 195

$87.8 BGN 146

33.73%

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

$19.28 BGN 32.07

$21.17 BGN 35.21

-8.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.01 BGN 26.64

$9.25 BGN 15.39

73.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 BGN 68.9

$24.00 BGN 39.93

72.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.44 BGN 35.67

Cinema Ticket

$9.29 BGN 15.45

$5.97 BGN 9.92

55.61%

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

$534 BGN 889

$529 BGN 880

0.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,665 BGN 9,425

$6,434 BGN 10.7K

-11.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.4 BGN 117

$58.8 BGN 97.8

19.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.93 BGN 71.4

$24.13 BGN 40.14

77.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 BGN 168

$71.5 BGN 119

41.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 BGN 178

$64.8 BGN 108

65.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$563 BGN 937

$235 BGN 392

139.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 BGN 649

$146 BGN 243

167.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$916 BGN 1,523

$340 BGN 565

169.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$682 BGN 1,134

$269 BGN 447

153.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,303 BGN 3,831

$1,174 BGN 1,954

96.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,576 BGN 2,621

$966 BGN 1,607

63.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,201 BGN 1,998

$1,383 BGN 2,301

-13.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.1

2.87

8.01%

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

Last update for Plovdiv: September 6, 2026

Last update for Sliven: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $563 in Plovdiv versus $235 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 15% 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 $48.00 in Plovdiv versus $36.00 in Sliven. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $262 vs $185 – 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: $1,242 in Plovdiv, $814 in Sliven – roughly 53% apart. Plovdiv costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,862 per month in Plovdiv and $1,221 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 25% less in Sliven. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $534 per month in Plovdiv and $529 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 $814, than in Plovdiv at $1,242. 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 $814 in Sliven to $1,242 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.