Cost of Living Comparison Between Setubal and SofiaCost of Living Comparison Between Setubal and Sofia
Monthly Cost of Living
😐A single person spends $1,668 per month in Setubal vs $1,373 in Sofia, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,390 per month in Setubal vs $2,132 in Sofia, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,113 per month in Setubal vs $2,892 in Sofia, rent included.
😐Setubal costs about 21% more than Sofia, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Setubal and Sofia sit above the global median – Setubal by 24%, Sofia by 2%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Setubal
Sofia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.37€9.78
$11.89BGN 19.78
-4.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.04€39.60
$50.6BGN 84.2
-9.07%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.98€7.73
$8.76BGN 14.57
2.51%
Cappuccino
$2.00€1.72
$2.60BGN 4.32
-23.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75€1.51
$1.74BGN 2.89
0.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28€1.10
$1.43BGN 2.38
-10.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.37€2.04
$2.93BGN 4.88
-19.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.57€3.07
$3.23BGN 5.37
10.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Setubal
Sofia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06€0.91
$1.94BGN 3.23
-45.36%
White Bread(500g)
$1.77€1.52
$1.20BGN 2.00
47.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.92€1.65
$1.99BGN 3.31
-3.52%
Eggs
$3.01€2.59
$3.82BGN 6.35
-21.20%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.27€9.70
$12.54BGN 20.86
-10.13%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.98€6.86
$8.74BGN 14.55
-8.70%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.08€12.11
$13.29BGN 22.11
5.94%
Apples(1kg)
$2.57€2.21
$1.90BGN 3.16
35.26%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51€1.30
$1.90BGN 3.16
-20.53%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.76€1.52
$2.00BGN 3.33
-12.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.99€2.58
$2.84BGN 4.73
5.28%
Potato(1kg)
$1.31€1.13
$1.10BGN 1.83
19.09%
Onion(1kg)
$1.80€1.55
$1.02BGN 1.69
76.47%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.60€1.38
$1.18BGN 1.96
35.59%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88€0.76
$0.66BGN 1.10
33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.20€5.33
$3.81BGN 6.33
62.73%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.68€4.03
$7.65BGN 12.73
-38.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.09€0.93
$1.09BGN 1.82
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70€2.32
$1.79BGN 2.98
50.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Setubal
Sofia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.29€3.69
$0.92BGN 1.53
366.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$47.11€40.52
$29.72BGN 49.45
58.51%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.68€3.16
$1.49BGN 2.48
146.98%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.03€0.89
$0.76BGN 1.27
35.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.54€12.51
$14.34BGN 23.86
1.39%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.97€1.70
$1.51BGN 2.51
30.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8K€33.4K
$32.5KBGN 54.0K
19.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.9K€34.3K
$28.4KBGN 47.3K
40.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Setubal
Sofia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102€87.7
$154BGN 256
-33.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.19€18.23
$18.05BGN 30.04
17.40%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.62€35.80
$14.97BGN 24.90
178.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Setubal
Sofia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$31.03€26.69
$44.03BGN 73.3
-29.53%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.35€14.06
$21.88BGN 36.40
-25.27%
Cinema Ticket
$7.97€6.85
$9.24BGN 15.37
-13.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Setubal
Sofia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$350€301
$624BGN 1,037
-43.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,286€6,268
$9,327BGN 15.5K
-21.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Setubal
Sofia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.6€59.8
$71.3BGN 119
-2.48%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.84€29.11
$35.76BGN 59.5
-5.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$71.2€61.2
$105BGN 175
-32.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.0€85.2
$119BGN 198
-16.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Setubal
Sofia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$957€823
$696BGN 1,157
37.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$829€713
$501BGN 834
65.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,381€1,188
$1,296BGN 2,157
6.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,144€984
$910BGN 1,513
25.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,333€3,727
$4,510BGN 7,502
-3.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,441€2,100
$3,161BGN 5,258
-22.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Setubal
Sofia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,343€1,156
$1,674BGN 2,786
-19.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.01
3.09
62.14%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Setubal: June 1, 2026
Last update for Sofia: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $957 in Setubal versus $696 in Sofia. 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 25% higher in Sofia, 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 $46.00 in Setubal versus $51.0 in Sofia. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $253 vs $261 – making Setubal 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
Setubal vs Sofia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Setubal and Sofia compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,668 in Setubal, $1,373 in Sofia – roughly 21% apart. Setubal costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Setubal compared to Sofia?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,502 per month in Setubal and $2,060 in Sofia. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Setubal and Sofia?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Sofia, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Setubal and $51.0 in Sofia. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Setubal or Sofia?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,668 in Setubal and $1,373 in Sofia. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sofia, where all-in costs run around $1,373, than in Setubal at $1,668. In Sofia it covers expenses comfortably, while in Setubal it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Setubal and Sofia?
It depends on your priorities. Sofia has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,373 in Sofia to $1,668 in Setubal. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Setubal or Sofia safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Setubal and Sofia?
If budget matters most, go with Sofia. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Setubal makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.