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 $1,102 per month in Plovdiv vs $864 in Stara Zagora, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,712 per month in Plovdiv vs $1,330 in Stara Zagora, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,321 per month in Plovdiv vs $1,796 in Stara Zagora, rent included.

Plovdiv costs about 28% more than Stara Zagora, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Plovdiv and Stara Zagora are more affordable than the global median – Plovdiv 18% lower, Stara Zagora 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.70 BGN 14.47

$8.82 BGN 14.68

-1.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.28 BGN 78.7

$34.74 BGN 57.8

36.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.69 BGN 14.46

$8.99 BGN 14.95

-3.34%

Cappuccino

$2.49 BGN 4.15

$1.87 BGN 3.11

33.16%

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

$0.73 BGN 1.22

24.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 BGN 4.97

$1.17 BGN 1.94

155.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 BGN 4.88

$2.02 BGN 3.35

45.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 BGN 3.02

$1.86 BGN 3.09

-2.69%

White Bread (500g)

$1.07 BGN 1.78

$0.78 BGN 1.29

37.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.11 BGN 3.51

$1.54 BGN 2.56

37.01%

Eggs

$3.40 BGN 5.66

$2.25 BGN 3.74

51.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.61 BGN 19.31

$9.15 BGN 15.21

26.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.95 BGN 13.22

$7.52 BGN 12.51

5.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.02 BGN 19.99

$8.65 BGN 14.39

38.96%

Apples (1kg)

$1.50 BGN 2.49

$1.37 BGN 2.27

9.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 BGN 2.93

$1.66 BGN 2.76

6.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.66 BGN 2.76

$1.88 BGN 3.13

-11.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.48 BGN 4.12

$2.14 BGN 3.55

15.89%

Potato (1kg)

$1.02 BGN 1.70

$1.01 BGN 1.67

0.99%

Onion (1kg)

$1.14 BGN 1.90

$0.85 BGN 1.42

34.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 BGN 1.82

$0.57 BGN 0.95

91.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 BGN 1.28

$0.75 BGN 1.24

2.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.61 BGN 6.01

$3.84 BGN 6.39

-5.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.07 BGN 10.11

$5.34 BGN 8.88

13.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 BGN 1.73

$1.22 BGN 2.03

-14.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.80 BGN 2.99

$2.17 BGN 3.62

-17.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 BGN 1.00

$0.92 BGN 1.54

-34.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.44 BGN 47.32

$18.95 BGN 31.52

50.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 BGN 1.93

$1.38 BGN 2.29

-15.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.66 BGN 1.09

$0.70 BGN 1.17

-5.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.48 BGN 17.44

$11.66 BGN 19.39

-10.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.50 BGN 2.50

$1.54 BGN 2.55

-2.60%

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

$31.9K BGN 53.1K

$24.7K BGN 41.0K

29.53%

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

$28.7K BGN 47.8K

$17.9K BGN 29.8K

60.25%

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

$97.8 BGN 163

$104 BGN 173

-5.78%

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

$18.10 BGN 30.11

$15.07 BGN 25.06

20.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.31 BGN 25.47

$11.04 BGN 18.36

38.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.70 BGN 62.7

$19.66 BGN 32.70

91.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.69 BGN 24.44

$17.48 BGN 29.08

-15.96%

Cinema Ticket

$8.96 BGN 14.90

$7.78 BGN 12.94

15.17%

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

$425 BGN 706

$232 BGN 386

82.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,126 BGN 11.9K

$2,361 BGN 3,927

201.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.5 BGN 102

$38.22 BGN 63.6

60.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.35 BGN 58.8

$18.85 BGN 31.36

87.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.1 BGN 163

$76.1 BGN 127

28.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 BGN 176

$75.7 BGN 126

39.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 BGN 802

$244 BGN 406

97.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$336 BGN 558

$232 BGN 386

44.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$816 BGN 1,357

$399 BGN 663

104.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$609 BGN 1,013

$368 BGN 612

65.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,299 BGN 3,824

$1,508 BGN 2,508

52.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,556 BGN 2,589

$1,120 BGN 1,863

38.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,160 BGN 1,929

$1,062 BGN 1,767

9.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.49

3.4

32.06%

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

Last update for Plovdiv: June 2, 2026

Last update for Stara Zagora: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Plovdiv versus $244 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 9% 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 $35.00 in Stara Zagora. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $238 vs $204 – making Stara Zagora 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 Stara Zagora: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,102 in Plovdiv, $864 in Stara Zagora – roughly 28% apart. Plovdiv costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,654 per month in Plovdiv and $1,296 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 50% less in Stara Zagora. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $425 per month in Plovdiv and $232 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 $864, than in Plovdiv at $1,102. 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 $864 in Stara Zagora 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 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.