Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Sofia and Augustow

For one person, living costs are similar in Sofia and in Augustow: $1,594 and $1,574 a month, rent and utilities included.

Sofia
🇧🇬 Bulgaria
$1,594
/mo nomad
Augustow
🇵🇱 Poland
$1,574
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Sofia and in Augustow

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Sofia and in Augustow actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,594 in Sofia versus $1,574 in Augustow.

  • Sofia $1,594
  • Augustow $1,574

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,478 in Sofia versus $2,298 in Augustow.

  • Sofia $2,478
  • Augustow $2,298

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,361 in Sofia versus $3,021 in Augustow.

  • Sofia $3,361
  • Augustow $3,021

Living in Sofia is roughly 1% more expensive than in Augustow, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Sofia 18% above, Augustow 17% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sofia
Augustow
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.87 BGN 29.35
$11.44 zł 44.44
47.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.8 BGN 115
$60.1 zł 233
9.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.32 BGN 19.69
$10.06 zł 39.08
12.52%
Cappuccino
$3.43 BGN 5.98
$4.22 zł 16.39
-18.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41 BGN 4.19
$2.28 zł 8.86
5.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85 BGN 3.22
$2.26 zł 8.79
-18.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.70 BGN 6.44
$4.55 zł 17.69
-18.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.58 BGN 7.97
$5.04 zł 19.56
-9.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sofia
Augustow
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.02 BGN 3.51
$1.04 zł 4.04
94.23%
White Bread (500g)
$1.56 BGN 2.72
$1.51 zł 5.87
3.31%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.33 BGN 4.05
$1.61 zł 6.26
44.72%
Eggs
$4.36 BGN 7.59
$3.77 zł 14.64
15.65%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.76 BGN 20.47
$8.83 zł 34.30
33.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.83 BGN 15.37
$6.31 zł 24.53
39.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.46 BGN 30.38
$14.49 zł 56.3
20.50%
Apples (1kg)
$2.15 BGN 3.74
$1.16 zł 4.52
85.34%
Banana (1kg)
$1.98 BGN 3.44
$1.66 zł 6.44
19.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.93 BGN 3.37
$1.71 zł 6.65
12.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.24 BGN 7.37
$3.92 zł 15.24
8.16%
Potato (1kg)
$1.04 BGN 1.80
$0.90 zł 3.51
15.56%
Onion (1kg)
$0.85 BGN 1.48
$0.93 zł 3.63
-8.60%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 BGN 2.00
$1.44 zł 5.60
-20.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89 BGN 1.56
$0.70 zł 2.70
27.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.21 BGN 7.33
$6.48 zł 25.16
-35.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.46 BGN 12.98
$6.38 zł 24.80
16.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 BGN 2.01
$1.14 zł 4.43
0.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85 BGN 3.23
$1.72 zł 6.69
7.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Sofia
Augustow
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.87 BGN 1.51
$1.12 zł 4.35
-22.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.53 BGN 49.65
$29.87 zł 116
-4.49%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.68 BGN 2.93
$2.50 zł 9.72
-32.80%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.94 BGN 1.63
$1.30 zł 5.05
-27.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$15.35 BGN 26.70
$12.97 zł 50.4
18.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.69 BGN 2.94
$1.70 zł 6.61
-0.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K BGN 51.9K
$30.0K zł 116.6K
-0.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K BGN 45.5K
$29.9K zł 116.1K
-12.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sofia
Augustow
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$156 BGN 272
$349 zł 1,355
-55.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.56 BGN 37.52
$9.00 zł 34.99
139.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.24 BGN 26.51
$16.11 zł 62.6
-5.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sofia
Augustow
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.08 BGN 80.2
$43.55 zł 169
5.81%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.92 BGN 48.58
$20.49 zł 79.6
36.26%
Cinema Ticket
$10.18 BGN 17.72
$9.20 zł 35.73
10.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sofia
Augustow
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$774 BGN 1,347
$594 zł 2,307
30.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.8K BGN 22.3K
$14.4K zł 55.9K
-10.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sofia
Augustow
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.9 BGN 157
$109 zł 424
-17.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.29 BGN 71.8
$39.15 zł 152
5.47%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$105 BGN 183
$107 zł 414
-1.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 BGN 186
$113 zł 439
-5.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sofia
Augustow
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$783 BGN 1,362
$611 zł 2,374
28.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$597 BGN 1,038
$475 zł 1,845
25.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,516 BGN 2,638
$1,067 zł 4,147
42.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,030 BGN 1,792
$749 zł 2,908
37.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,350 BGN 7,568
$2,951 zł 11.5K
47.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,177 BGN 5,528
$2,243 zł 8,715
41.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sofia
Augustow
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,735 BGN 3,019
$1,441 zł 5,600
20.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.89
6.68
-56.74%

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

Last update for Sofia: October 13, 2026

Last update for Augustow: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Sofia
$597
Augustow
$475 20.4% $122
Groceries & Markets
Sofia
$290
Augustow
$231 20.3% $59
Eating Out
Sofia
$255
Augustow
$223 12.4% $31
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sofia
$193
Augustow
$374 93.8% $181
Clothing & Footwear
Sofia
$154
Augustow
$166 7.3% $11
Sport & Entertainment
Sofia
$66
Augustow
$62 6.8% $4.5
Getting Around
Sofia
$38
Augustow
$43 12.9% $5

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $783 in Sofia and $611 in Augustow. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sofia pays 20% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $66.0 in Sofia vs $60.0 in Augustow for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $290 vs $231 per month, with Augustow cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇧🇬 Sofia
🇵🇱 Augustow
🕒 Local time
02:47 2:47 AM
01:47 1:47 AM
1 h behind Sofia
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,286,383 Capital
29,785
💱 Currency
Bulgarian Lev BGN лв.
Exchange rates and currency converter

PLN, USD, EUR to BGN – Bulgarian Lev Converter

Bulgarian Lev exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 1.74 BGN (1 BGN = 0.575 USD). 1 EUR = 1.96 BGN (1 BGN = 0.511 EUR).

Polish Złoty exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 3.89 PLN (1 PLN = 0.257 USD). 1 EUR = 4.37 PLN (1 PLN = 0.229 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Sofia Augustow 1,240 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Sofia
  • Augustow

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
Sofia vs Augustow: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Sofia or Augustow?
Augustow wins on cost – living expenses run 1% lower than in Sofia. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Augustow the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Sofia or in Augustow?
Average pay runs 20% higher in Sofia, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Sofia compared to Augustow?
Rent for a central apartment: $783 in Sofia versus $611 in Augustow. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Sofia and in Augustow?
Childcare runs $774 in Sofia versus $594 in Augustow. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Sofia or in Augustow?
Supermarket bills run roughly 26% higher in Sofia. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Sofia or in Augustow?
At $1,574 in Augustow versus $1,594 in Sofia, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Augustow but tight or insufficient in Sofia. The gap between the two cities makes Augustow the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Sofia or Augustow?
Both work as nomad bases, but Augustow delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,574 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Augustow hard to pass up.
How safe is Sofia compared to Augustow?
Safety-wise, Sofia and Augustow are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Augustow gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Sofia. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Sofia vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?