For one person, living is cheaper in Gafsa: $586 a month against $1,594 in Sofia, rent and utilities included – about $12,100 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 Sofia and in Gafsa actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $1,594 per month in Sofia vs $586 in Gafsa, rent included.
Sofia $1,594
Gafsa $586
A couple spends around $2,478 per month in Sofia vs $903 in Gafsa, rent included.
Sofia $2,478
Gafsa $903
A family of three spends $3,361 per month in Sofia vs $1,220 in Gafsa, rent included.
Sofia $3,361
Gafsa $1,220
😐
Sofia costs about 172% more than Gafsa, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.
📊
Sofia sits 18% above the global median, while Gafsa is 57% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Sofia
Gafsa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.87BGN 29.35
$3.96TND 11.86
326.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.8BGN 115
$9.87TND 29.56
566.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.32BGN 19.69
$2.47TND 7.40
358.30%
Cappuccino
$3.43BGN 5.98
$0.58TND 1.74
491.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41BGN 4.19
$0.52TND 1.55
363.46%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85BGN 3.22
$0.24TND 0.71
670.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.70BGN 6.44
$1.72TND 5.15
115.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.58BGN 7.97
$1.68TND 5.05
172.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sofia
Gafsa
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.02BGN 3.51
$0.46TND 1.39
339.13%
White Bread(500g)
$1.56BGN 2.72
$0.13TND 0.39
1100.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.33BGN 4.05
$1.67TND 5.02
39.52%
Eggs
$4.36BGN 7.59
$1.04TND 3.13
319.23%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.76BGN 20.47
$12.88TND 38.59
-8.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.83BGN 15.37
$5.98TND 17.90
47.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.46BGN 30.38
$11.60TND 34.75
50.52%
Apples(1kg)
$2.15BGN 3.74
$1.39TND 4.15
54.68%
Banana(1kg)
$1.98BGN 3.44
$3.02TND 9.05
-34.44%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93BGN 3.37
$0.83TND 2.48
132.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.24BGN 7.37
$0.93TND 2.78
355.91%
Potato(1kg)
$1.04BGN 1.80
$0.71TND 2.12
46.48%
Onion(1kg)
$0.85BGN 1.48
$0.47TND 1.40
80.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.15BGN 2.00
$0.45TND 1.35
155.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89BGN 1.56
$0.27TND 0.81
229.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.21BGN 7.33
$2.52TND 7.54
67.06%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.46BGN 12.98
$5.16TND 15.47
44.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15BGN 2.01
$1.22TND 3.66
-5.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85BGN 3.23
$1.35TND 4.05
37.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Sofia
Gafsa
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.87BGN 1.51
$0.32TND 0.95
171.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.53BGN 49.65
$10.92TND 32.70
161.26%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.68BGN 2.93
$0.29TND 0.86
479.31%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.94BGN 1.63
$0.25TND 0.75
276.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$15.35BGN 26.70
$4.13TND 12.37
271.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.69BGN 2.94
$0.87TND 2.61
94.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8KBGN 51.9K
$38.2KTND 114.5K
-22.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KBGN 45.5K
$31.4KTND 93.9K
-16.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sofia
Gafsa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$156BGN 272
$39.47TND 118
295.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.56BGN 37.52
$8.41TND 25.20
156.36%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.24BGN 26.51
$19.27TND 57.7
-20.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sofia
Gafsa
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.08BGN 80.2
$15.29TND 45.80
201.37%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.92BGN 48.58
$12.41TND 37.16
124.98%
Cinema Ticket
$10.18BGN 17.72
$3.43TND 10.27
196.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sofia
Gafsa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$774BGN 1,347
$59.1TND 177
1210.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.8KBGN 22.3K
$1,023TND 3,065
1151.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sofia
Gafsa
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.9BGN 157
$39.72TND 119
126.44%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.29BGN 71.8
$52.5TND 157
-21.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105BGN 183
$104TND 313
0.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107BGN 186
$113TND 340
-5.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sofia
Gafsa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$783BGN 1,362
$141TND 422
455.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$597BGN 1,038
$102TND 304
487.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,516BGN 2,638
$205TND 615
638.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,030BGN 1,792
$153TND 458
573.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,350BGN 7,568
$969TND 2,904
348.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,177BGN 5,528
$358TND 1,073
786.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sofia
Gafsa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,735BGN 3,019
$305TND 913
469.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.89
8.88
-67.45%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sofia: October 13, 2026
Last update for Gafsa: October 11, 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.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Sofia
$597 37.4%
Gafsa
$102 17.3% ↓ 83%$495
🛒Groceries & Markets
Sofia
$290 18.2%
Gafsa
$180 30.8% ↓ 37.9%$110
🍽Eating Out
Sofia
$255 16%
Gafsa
$61 10.4% ↓ 76%$194
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sofia
$193 12.1%
Gafsa
$67 11.5% ↓ 65.2%$126
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Sofia
$154 9.7%
Gafsa
$140 23.8% ↓ 9.6%$15
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Sofia
$66 4.2%
Gafsa
$22 3.8% ↓ 66.7%$44
🚌Getting Around
Sofia
$38 2.4%
Gafsa
$14 2.3% ↓ 64.2%$25
🏠Accommodation & Living
Sofia
$1K 30.6%
Gafsa
$153 12.5% ↓ 85.1%$877
🛒Groceries & Markets
Sofia
$689 20.5%
Gafsa
$425 34.8% ↓ 38.3%$264
🍽Eating Out
Sofia
$845 25.2%
Gafsa
$172 14.1% ↓ 79.7%$673
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sofia
$214 6.4%
Gafsa
$76 6.2% ↓ 64.8%$139
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Sofia
$343 10.2%
Gafsa
$310 25.4% ↓ 9.6%$33
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Sofia
$161 4.8%
Gafsa
$57 4.7% ↓ 64.7%$104
🚌Getting Around
Sofia
$78 2.3%
Gafsa
$28 2.3% ↓ 64.2%$50
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $783 in Sofia versus $141 in Gafsa. 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 469% 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 $66.0 in Sofia versus $10.00 in Gafsa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $290 vs $180 – making Gafsa 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
Sofia vs Gafsa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gafsa cheaper than Sofia?
Yes – Sofia is pricier by about 172%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,391 per month in Sofia and $878 in Gafsa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Gafsa, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $774 per month in Sofia and $59.1 in Gafsa. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Sofia and in Gafsa?
Groceries cost about 61% more in Sofia, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Sofia or in Gafsa?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Gafsa, where all-in costs run around $586, than in Sofia at $1,594. In Gafsa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sofia it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Sofia or Gafsa more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Gafsa – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Sofia or Gafsa?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Gafsa. 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.