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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,068 per month in Plovdiv vs $763 in Sliven, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,734 per month in Plovdiv vs $1,234 in Sliven, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,401 per month in Plovdiv vs $1,706 in Sliven, rent included.

Plovdiv costs about 40% more than Sliven, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Plovdiv and Sliven are more affordable than the global median – Plovdiv 20% lower, Sliven 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.72 BGN 14.51

$8.96 BGN 14.91

-2.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.71 BGN 77.7

$35.15 BGN 58.5

32.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.43 BGN 14.02

$8.81 BGN 14.65

-4.31%

Cappuccino

$2.51 BGN 4.18

$1.93 BGN 3.20

30.05%

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

$1.45 BGN 2.41

$1.32 BGN 2.20

9.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 BGN 1.51

$0.88 BGN 1.46

3.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 BGN 4.98

$1.82 BGN 3.02

64.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 BGN 4.82

$2.34 BGN 3.89

23.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 BGN 3.01

$1.57 BGN 2.61

15.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 BGN 1.71

$0.84 BGN 1.40

22.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.13 BGN 3.54

$2.19 BGN 3.65

-2.74%

Eggs

$3.32 BGN 5.52

$2.25 BGN 3.74

47.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.87 BGN 19.75

$8.02 BGN 13.35

48.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.51 BGN 12.50

$5.49 BGN 9.13

36.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.07 BGN 20.08

$6.96 BGN 11.59

73.42%

Apples (1kg)

$1.58 BGN 2.63

$1.49 BGN 2.48

6.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 BGN 2.83

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 BGN 2.75

$1.43 BGN 2.37

15.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.56 BGN 4.26

$2.21 BGN 3.68

15.84%

Potato (1kg)

$0.99 BGN 1.64

$0.52 BGN 0.87

90.38%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 BGN 1.86

$0.89 BGN 1.48

25.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 BGN 1.81

$1.05 BGN 1.75

3.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 BGN 1.26

$0.49 BGN 0.81

55.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.47 BGN 5.76

$3.60 BGN 5.98

-3.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.97 BGN 9.93

$6.08 BGN 10.12

-1.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 BGN 1.80

$1.07 BGN 1.78

0.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 BGN 2.93

$1.28 BGN 2.14

37.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.56 BGN 0.93

$0.69 BGN 1.14

-18.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.49 BGN 45.73

$36.52 BGN 60.8

-24.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 BGN 1.93

$1.15 BGN 1.91

0.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.65 BGN 1.08

$0.74 BGN 1.23

-12.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.58 BGN 17.60

$8.59 BGN 14.29

23.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.59 BGN 2.64

$1.50 BGN 2.49

6.00%

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

$32.5K BGN 54.0K

$32.7K BGN 54.5K

-0.86%

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

$28.2K BGN 47.0K

$28.0K BGN 46.5K

0.91%

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

$97.8 BGN 163

$86.8 BGN 144

12.67%

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

$17.71 BGN 29.45

$17.78 BGN 29.57

-0.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.47 BGN 25.74

$9.46 BGN 15.73

63.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.09 BGN 61.7

$23.71 BGN 39.44

56.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.94 BGN 24.85

$14.85 BGN 24.71

0.61%

Cinema Ticket

$9.02 BGN 15.01

$5.95 BGN 9.89

51.60%

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

$429 BGN 713

$430 BGN 715

-0.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,868 BGN 11.4K

$7,076 BGN 11.8K

-2.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.6 BGN 101

$58.9 BGN 98.0

2.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.10 BGN 58.4

$23.14 BGN 38.50

51.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.9 BGN 163

$71.2 BGN 118

37.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 BGN 178

$62.2 BGN 104

71.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$467 BGN 778

$239 BGN 398

95.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$344 BGN 572

$145 BGN 241

137.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$811 BGN 1,349

$340 BGN 565

138.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$622 BGN 1,035

$267 BGN 444

133.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,268 BGN 3,774

$1,159 BGN 1,929

95.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,521 BGN 2,530

$954 BGN 1,587

59.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,134 BGN 1,887

$1,329 BGN 2,211

-14.64%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Sliven: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $467 in Plovdiv versus $239 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 17% 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 $35.00 in Sliven. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $237 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: $1,068 in Plovdiv, $763 in Sliven – roughly 40% apart. Plovdiv costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,602 per month in Plovdiv and $1,144 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 33% less in Sliven. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $429 per month in Plovdiv and $430 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 $763, than in Plovdiv at $1,068. 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 $763 in Sliven to $1,068 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.