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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $814 per month in Sliven vs $1,242 in Plovdiv, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,284 per month in Sliven vs $1,928 in Plovdiv, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,754 per month in Sliven vs $2,615 in Plovdiv, rent included.

Sliven is about 34% cheaper than Plovdiv, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Sliven and Plovdiv are more affordable than the global median – Sliven 41% lower, Plovdiv 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.94 BGN 19.86

$9.43 BGN 15.69

26.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.86 BGN 59.7

$47.74 BGN 79.4

-24.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.48 BGN 17.43

$9.98 BGN 16.61

5.01%

Cappuccino

$1.93 BGN 3.21

$2.96 BGN 4.92

-34.80%

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

$1.28 BGN 2.12

$1.73 BGN 2.88

-26.01%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 BGN 1.51

$1.57 BGN 2.60

-42.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 BGN 2.89

$2.63 BGN 4.38

-33.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 BGN 3.86

$4.27 BGN 7.11

-45.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.59 BGN 2.65

$1.90 BGN 3.15

-16.32%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 BGN 1.32

$1.25 BGN 2.08

-36.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.81 BGN 4.68

$2.25 BGN 3.74

24.89%

Eggs

$2.24 BGN 3.73

$3.72 BGN 6.18

-39.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.08 BGN 13.44

$11.89 BGN 19.79

-32.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.58 BGN 9.29

$8.56 BGN 14.23

-34.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.66 BGN 11.08

$14.60 BGN 24.28

-54.38%

Apples (1kg)

$1.53 BGN 2.55

$1.70 BGN 2.82

-10.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 BGN 2.77

$1.85 BGN 3.08

-10.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.45 BGN 2.41

$2.01 BGN 3.34

-27.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.20 BGN 3.66

$2.74 BGN 4.56

-19.71%

Potato (1kg)

$0.51 BGN 0.85

$1.07 BGN 1.78

-52.34%

Onion (1kg)

$0.86 BGN 1.43

$1.13 BGN 1.88

-23.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 BGN 1.81

$1.22 BGN 2.02

-10.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 BGN 0.81

$0.78 BGN 1.30

-37.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.64 BGN 6.05

$4.28 BGN 7.12

-14.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.36 BGN 10.59

$6.37 BGN 10.59

-0.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.10 BGN 1.83

$1.23 BGN 2.05

-10.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.35 BGN 2.24

$2.05 BGN 3.41

-34.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 BGN 1.13

$0.58 BGN 0.96

17.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.20 BGN 61.9

$29.74 BGN 49.48

25.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 BGN 2.02

$1.33 BGN 2.22

-9.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.60 BGN 1.00

$0.62 BGN 1.03

-3.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.66 BGN 14.41

$10.49 BGN 17.46

-17.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 BGN 2.57

$1.69 BGN 2.81

-8.28%

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

$30.8K BGN 51.2K

$30.7K BGN 51.1K

0.28%

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

$23.3K BGN 38.7K

$25.8K BGN 43.0K

-9.84%

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

$87.8 BGN 146

$117 BGN 195

-25.22%

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

$21.17 BGN 35.21

$19.28 BGN 32.07

9.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.25 BGN 15.39

$16.01 BGN 26.64

-42.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.00 BGN 39.93

$41.41 BGN 68.9

-42.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.44 BGN 35.67

Cinema Ticket

$5.97 BGN 9.92

$9.29 BGN 15.45

-35.74%

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

$529 BGN 880

$534 BGN 889

-0.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,434 BGN 10.7K

$5,665 BGN 9,425

13.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.8 BGN 97.8

$70.4 BGN 117

-16.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.13 BGN 40.14

$42.93 BGN 71.4

-43.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.5 BGN 119

$101 BGN 168

-29.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$64.8 BGN 108

$107 BGN 178

-39.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$235 BGN 392

$563 BGN 937

-58.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$146 BGN 243

$390 BGN 649

-62.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$340 BGN 565

$916 BGN 1,523

-62.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$269 BGN 447

$682 BGN 1,134

-60.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,174 BGN 1,954

$2,303 BGN 3,831

-49.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$966 BGN 1,607

$1,576 BGN 2,621

-38.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,383 BGN 2,301

$1,201 BGN 1,998

15.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.87

3.1

-7.42%

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

Last update for Sliven: September 8, 2026

Last update for Plovdiv: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $235 in Sliven versus $563 in Plovdiv. 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 15% 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 $36.00 in Sliven versus $48.00 in Plovdiv. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $185 vs $262 – 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

Sliven vs Plovdiv: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $814 in Sliven, $1,242 in Plovdiv – roughly 53% apart. Plovdiv costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,221 per month in Sliven and $1,862 in Plovdiv. 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 25% less in Sliven. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $529 per month in Sliven and $534 in Plovdiv. 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 $814, than in Plovdiv at $1,242. 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 $814 in Sliven to $1,242 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.