Cost of Living Comparison Between Plovdiv and Stara Zagora Cost of Living Comparison Between Plovdiv and Stara Zagora

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,255 per month in Plovdiv vs $903 in Stara Zagora, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,928 per month in Plovdiv vs $1,422 in Stara Zagora, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,601 per month in Plovdiv vs $1,940 in Stara Zagora, rent included.

Plovdiv costs about 39% more than Stara Zagora, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Plovdiv and Stara Zagora are more affordable than the global median – Plovdiv 9% lower, Stara Zagora 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.43 BGN 15.69

$10.68 BGN 17.77

-11.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.81 BGN 77.9

$52.4 BGN 87.3

-10.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.74 BGN 16.21

$9.47 BGN 15.75

2.85%

Cappuccino

$2.97 BGN 4.95

$2.34 BGN 3.89

26.92%

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

$1.76 BGN 2.93

$1.56 BGN 2.59

12.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 BGN 2.73

$0.84 BGN 1.40

95.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.72 BGN 4.52

$2.25 BGN 3.75

20.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.09 BGN 6.80

$2.06 BGN 3.43

98.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 BGN 3.10

$1.80 BGN 3.00

3.89%

White Bread (500g)

$1.22 BGN 2.02

$0.84 BGN 1.39

45.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.24 BGN 3.72

$1.52 BGN 2.53

47.37%

Eggs

$3.78 BGN 6.28

$2.42 BGN 4.03

56.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.10 BGN 20.13

$9.38 BGN 15.60

29.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.95 BGN 14.90

$6.75 BGN 11.23

32.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.73 BGN 24.51

$8.71 BGN 14.50

69.12%

Apples (1kg)

$1.78 BGN 2.97

$1.30 BGN 2.17

36.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.93 BGN 3.21

$1.75 BGN 2.91

10.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.02 BGN 3.35

$1.76 BGN 2.93

14.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.63 BGN 4.38

$1.97 BGN 3.27

33.50%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 BGN 1.85

$1.04 BGN 1.73

6.73%

Onion (1kg)

$1.14 BGN 1.90

$0.74 BGN 1.23

54.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.22 BGN 2.03

$0.58 BGN 0.96

110.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 BGN 1.25

$0.66 BGN 1.09

13.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.20 BGN 6.99

$3.84 BGN 6.39

9.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.36 BGN 10.57

$5.29 BGN 8.80

20.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 BGN 2.04

$1.13 BGN 1.88

8.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 BGN 3.40

$1.83 BGN 3.04

11.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.62 BGN 1.03

$0.92 BGN 1.54

-32.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.02 BGN 49.94

$18.78 BGN 31.23

59.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.34 BGN 2.23

$1.39 BGN 2.32

-3.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.67 BGN 1.12

$0.63 BGN 1.05

6.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.90 BGN 18.13

$11.67 BGN 19.42

-6.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.68 BGN 2.79

$1.66 BGN 2.77

1.20%

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

$31.0K BGN 51.5K

$31.4K BGN 52.2K

-1.23%

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

$25.4K BGN 42.3K

$21.8K BGN 36.3K

16.66%

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

$119 BGN 197

$96.0 BGN 160

23.56%

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

$19.32 BGN 32.14

$15.63 BGN 26.00

23.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.32 BGN 27.15

$12.41 BGN 20.65

31.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.57 BGN 70.8

$28.08 BGN 46.72

51.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.66 BGN 36.04

$22.42 BGN 37.31

-3.39%

Cinema Ticket

$9.35 BGN 15.56

$9.15 BGN 15.22

2.19%

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

$536 BGN 891

$235 BGN 392

127.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,743 BGN 9,554

$2,345 BGN 3,902

144.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.5 BGN 117

$31.63 BGN 52.6

122.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.64 BGN 72.6

$20.06 BGN 33.37

117.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 BGN 170

$66.1 BGN 110

54.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 BGN 182

$53.8 BGN 89.5

103.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$546 BGN 908

$306 BGN 509

78.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$398 BGN 662

$264 BGN 439

50.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$917 BGN 1,525

$514 BGN 855

78.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$677 BGN 1,126

$405 BGN 674

67.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,365 BGN 3,935

$1,495 BGN 2,488

58.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,619 BGN 2,693

$1,107 BGN 1,841

46.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,174 BGN 1,954

$1,094 BGN 1,819

7.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.1

2.99

3.68%

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

Last update for Plovdiv: August 29, 2026

Last update for Stara Zagora: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $546 in Plovdiv versus $306 in Stara Zagora. 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 7% higher in Plovdiv, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Plovdiv versus $52.0 in Stara Zagora. Groceries tell a different story – $264 in Plovdiv vs $199 in Stara Zagora – so Stara Zagora 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 Stara Zagora: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,255 in Plovdiv, $903 in Stara Zagora – roughly 39% apart. Plovdiv costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,882 per month in Plovdiv and $1,355 in Stara Zagora. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 60% less in Stara Zagora. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $536 per month in Plovdiv and $235 in Stara Zagora. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Stara Zagora, where all-in costs run around $903, than in Plovdiv at $1,255. In Stara Zagora 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 $903 in Stara Zagora to $1,255 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 Stara Zagora. 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.