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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $761 per month in Sliven vs $1,102 in Plovdiv, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,207 per month in Sliven vs $1,712 in Plovdiv, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,653 per month in Sliven vs $2,321 in Plovdiv, rent included.

Sliven is about 31% cheaper than Plovdiv, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Sliven and Plovdiv are more affordable than the global median – Sliven 43% lower, Plovdiv 18% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.77 BGN 14.59

$8.70 BGN 14.47

0.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.75 BGN 59.5

$47.28 BGN 78.7

-24.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.71 BGN 14.49

$8.69 BGN 14.46

0.23%

Cappuccino

$1.84 BGN 3.06

$2.49 BGN 4.15

-26.10%

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

$1.27 BGN 2.11

$1.49 BGN 2.48

-14.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 BGN 1.51

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 BGN 2.90

$2.99 BGN 4.97

-41.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 BGN 3.81

$2.93 BGN 4.88

-21.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.59 BGN 2.64

$1.81 BGN 3.02

-12.15%

White Bread (500g)

$0.80 BGN 1.33

$1.07 BGN 1.78

-25.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.21 BGN 3.68

$2.11 BGN 3.51

4.74%

Eggs

$2.15 BGN 3.57

$3.40 BGN 5.66

-36.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.08 BGN 13.44

$11.61 BGN 19.31

-30.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.51 BGN 9.16

$7.95 BGN 13.22

-30.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.94 BGN 11.54

$12.02 BGN 19.99

-42.26%

Apples (1kg)

$1.45 BGN 2.40

$1.50 BGN 2.49

-3.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 BGN 2.86

$1.76 BGN 2.93

-2.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.48 BGN 2.47

$1.66 BGN 2.76

-10.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 BGN 3.75

$2.48 BGN 4.12

-8.87%

Potato (1kg)

$0.51 BGN 0.85

$1.02 BGN 1.70

-50.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.90 BGN 1.51

$1.14 BGN 1.90

-21.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 BGN 1.74

$1.09 BGN 1.82

-3.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 BGN 0.79

$0.77 BGN 1.28

-37.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.53 BGN 5.87

$3.61 BGN 6.01

-2.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.20 BGN 10.31

$6.07 BGN 10.11

2.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 BGN 1.74

$1.04 BGN 1.73

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.27 BGN 2.12

$1.80 BGN 2.99

-29.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 BGN 1.23

$0.60 BGN 1.00

23.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$36.12 BGN 60.1

$28.44 BGN 47.32

27.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 BGN 1.94

$1.16 BGN 1.93

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.77 BGN 1.29

$0.66 BGN 1.09

16.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.96 BGN 14.90

$10.48 BGN 17.44

-14.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 BGN 2.37

$1.50 BGN 2.50

-4.67%

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

$31.9K BGN 53.1K

0.04%

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

$27.8K BGN 46.2K

$28.7K BGN 47.8K

-3.31%

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

$89.0 BGN 148

$97.8 BGN 163

-9.01%

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

$17.99 BGN 29.94

$18.10 BGN 30.11

-0.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.21 BGN 15.33

$15.31 BGN 25.47

-39.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.18 BGN 38.57

$37.70 BGN 62.7

-38.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.92 BGN 24.82

$14.69 BGN 24.44

1.57%

Cinema Ticket

$6.03 BGN 10.04

$8.96 BGN 14.90

-32.70%

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

$422 BGN 703

$425 BGN 706

-0.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,038 BGN 11.7K

$7,126 BGN 11.9K

-1.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 BGN 99.8

$61.5 BGN 102

-2.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.21 BGN 38.62

$35.35 BGN 58.8

-34.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.6 BGN 116

$98.1 BGN 163

-29.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$64.6 BGN 107

$106 BGN 176

-39.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$233 BGN 387

$482 BGN 802

-51.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$150 BGN 249

$336 BGN 558

-55.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$336 BGN 559

$816 BGN 1,357

-58.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$269 BGN 447

$609 BGN 1,013

-55.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,181 BGN 1,965

$2,299 BGN 3,824

-48.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$965 BGN 1,605

$1,556 BGN 2,589

-38.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,395 BGN 2,320

$1,160 BGN 1,929

20.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.25

4.49

-5.35%

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

Last update for Sliven: June 1, 2026

Last update for Plovdiv: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $233 in Sliven versus $482 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 20% 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 $47.00 in Plovdiv. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $182 vs $238 – 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: $761 in Sliven, $1,102 in Plovdiv – roughly 45% apart. Plovdiv costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,141 per month in Sliven and $1,654 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 27% less in Sliven. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $422 per month in Sliven and $425 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 $761, than in Plovdiv at $1,102. 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 $761 in Sliven 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 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.