For one person, living is cheaper in Sfax: $620 a month against $1,589 in Sofia, rent and utilities included – about $11,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Sfax and in Sofia actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $620 per month in Sfax vs $1,589 in Sofia, rent included.
Sfax $620
Sofia $1,589
A couple spends around $975 per month in Sfax vs $2,456 in Sofia, rent included.
Sfax $975
Sofia $2,456
A family of three spends $1,329 per month in Sfax vs $3,324 in Sofia, rent included.
Sfax $1,329
Sofia $3,324
🙂
Sfax is about 61% cheaper than Sofia, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.
📊
Sfax sits 54% below the global median, while Sofia is 19% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Sfax
Sofia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.43TND 10.24
$17.10BGN 29.93
-79.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.82TND 59.1
$66.9BGN 117
-70.38%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.03TND 15.02
$11.77BGN 20.59
-57.26%
Cappuccino
$0.71TND 2.10
$3.42BGN 5.99
-79.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58TND 1.73
$2.42BGN 4.23
-76.03%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27TND 0.81
$1.86BGN 3.26
-85.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.56TND 4.66
$3.33BGN 5.83
-53.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02TND 6.03
$4.53BGN 7.92
-55.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sfax
Sofia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.50TND 1.49
$1.92BGN 3.36
-73.96%
White Bread(500g)
$0.24TND 0.72
$1.51BGN 2.64
-84.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38TND 4.12
$2.21BGN 3.88
-37.56%
Eggs
$1.56TND 4.64
$4.40BGN 7.69
-64.55%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.32TND 36.76
$11.56BGN 20.22
6.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.76TND 17.18
$8.79BGN 15.38
-34.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.97TND 41.70
$16.97BGN 29.71
-17.68%
Apples(1kg)
$1.77TND 5.29
$2.17BGN 3.79
-18.43%
Banana(1kg)
$3.08TND 9.18
$2.04BGN 3.57
50.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.04TND 3.11
$1.84BGN 3.22
-43.48%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.68TND 2.04
$4.29BGN 7.51
-84.15%
Potato(1kg)
$0.81TND 2.42
$1.03BGN 1.80
-21.36%
Onion(1kg)
$0.77TND 2.29
$0.93BGN 1.62
-17.20%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.58TND 1.72
$1.20BGN 2.11
-51.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.35TND 1.03
$0.92BGN 1.62
-61.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.87TND 11.53
$4.30BGN 7.53
-10.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.51TND 19.41
$7.33BGN 12.83
-11.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19TND 3.56
$1.18BGN 2.06
0.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04TND 3.10
$1.87BGN 3.28
-44.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Sfax
Sofia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.18TND 0.55
$0.87BGN 1.52
-79.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.98TND 29.77
$28.14BGN 49.24
-64.53%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.33TND 1.00
$1.74BGN 3.04
-81.03%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.34TND 1.03
$0.96BGN 1.68
-64.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.56TND 22.56
$15.54BGN 27.19
-51.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.83TND 2.47
$1.79BGN 3.14
-53.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.5KTND 109.0K
$30.0KBGN 52.5K
21.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.9KTND 104.2K
$26.4KBGN 46.1K
32.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sfax
Sofia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$44.47TND 133
$156BGN 273
-71.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.43TND 28.14
$21.21BGN 37.11
-55.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.85TND 44.31
$15.64BGN 27.37
-5.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sfax
Sofia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$27.37TND 81.7
$46.76BGN 81.8
-41.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.32TND 21.85
$27.74BGN 48.54
-73.61%
Cinema Ticket
$4.46TND 13.30
$10.02BGN 17.53
-55.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sfax
Sofia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$98.6TND 294
$766BGN 1,341
-87.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,470TND 7,370
$12.8KBGN 22.4K
-80.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sfax
Sofia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.94TND 128
$89.7BGN 157
-52.12%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.43TND 109
$40.88BGN 71.5
-10.89%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$114TND 340
$106BGN 186
7.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$66.2TND 198
$105BGN 183
-36.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sfax
Sofia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$194TND 579
$796BGN 1,393
-75.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$135TND 404
$607BGN 1,063
-77.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$340TND 1,013
$1,563BGN 2,735
-78.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$217TND 649
$1,060BGN 1,855
-79.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,020TND 3,043
$4,357BGN 7,626
-76.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$745TND 2,224
$3,250BGN 5,688
-77.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sfax
Sofia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$327TND 976
$1,740BGN 3,044
-81.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.6
2.89
370.59%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sfax: October 4, 2026
Last update for Sofia: October 3, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🛒Groceries & Markets
Sfax
$193 30.7%
Sofia
$287 17.9% ↑ 48.7%$94
🏠Accommodation & Living
Sfax
$135 21.5%
Sofia
$607 37.9% ↑ 348%$472
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Sfax
$117 18.6%
Sofia
$154 9.6% ↑ 31.5%$37
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sfax
$69 10.9%
Sofia
$193 12% ↑ 181%$124
🍽Eating Out
Sfax
$66 10.5%
Sofia
$256 16% ↑ 286%$190
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Sfax
$36 5.8%
Sofia
$67 4.2% ↑ 84.1%$31
🚌Getting Around
Sfax
$13 2%
Sofia
$38 2.4% ↑ 199%$25
🛒Groceries & Markets
Sfax
$458 34%
Sofia
$681 20.1% ↑ 48.9%$224
🏠Accommodation & Living
Sfax
$217 16.1%
Sofia
$1.1K 31.3% ↑ 388%$843
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Sfax
$259 19.3%
Sofia
$341 10.1% ↑ 31.5%$82
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sfax
$78 5.8%
Sofia
$214 6.3% ↑ 174%$136
🍽Eating Out
Sfax
$229 17%
Sofia
$854 25.2% ↑ 273%$625
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Sfax
$80 5.9%
Sofia
$161 4.8% ↑ 102%$81
🚌Getting Around
Sfax
$26 1.9%
Sofia
$78 2.3% ↑ 201%$52
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $194 in Sfax versus $796 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 432% higher in Sofia, 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 $20.00 in Sfax versus $67.0 in Sofia. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $287 – making Sfax the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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
Sfax vs Sofia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Sfax and in Sofia compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $620 in Sfax, $1,589 in Sofia – roughly 156% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Sfax compared to Sofia?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $931 per month in Sfax and $2,384 in Sofia. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Sfax and Sofia?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Sfax, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Sfax and Sofia?
Kindergarten costs $98.6 per month in Sfax and $766 in Sofia. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 49% more in Sofia, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sfax, where all-in costs run around $620, than in Sofia at $1,589. In Sfax it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sofia it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Sfax and Sofia?
It depends on your priorities. Sofia has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $620 in Sfax to $1,589 in Sofia. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Sfax 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 Sfax and Sofia?
If budget matters most, go with Sfax. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sofia makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.