Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Sofia and Homa Bay

For one person, living is cheaper in Homa Bay: $58.0 a month against $1,585 in Sofia, rent and utilities included – about $18,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Sofia, Bulgaria
Homa Bay, Kenya
Sofia
🇧🇬 Bulgaria
$1,585
/mo nomad
Homa Bay
🇰🇪 Kenya
$58.0
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Sofia and in Homa Bay

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 Homa Bay actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,585 per month in Sofia vs $58 in Homa Bay, rent included.

  • Sofia $1,585
  • Homa Bay $58

A couple spends around $2,486 per month in Sofia vs $453 in Homa Bay, rent included.

  • Sofia $2,486
  • Homa Bay $453

A family of three spends $3,387 per month in Sofia vs $848 in Homa Bay, rent included.

  • Sofia $3,387
  • Homa Bay $848

Sofia costs about 2633% more than Homa Bay, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Sofia sits 17% above the global median, while Homa Bay is 96% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sofia
Homa Bay
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.57 BGN 28.84
-
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.7 BGN 118
$150 KES 19.5K
-54.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.68 BGN 20.33
$10.62 KES 1,379
9.98%
Cappuccino
$3.41 BGN 5.93
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 BGN 4.11
-
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 BGN 2.91
$0.99 KES 128
68.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.99 BGN 6.94
$2.45 KES 319
62.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53 BGN 7.88
$4.97 KES 646
-8.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sofia
Homa Bay
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.94 BGN 3.38
-
-
White Bread (500g)
$1.55 BGN 2.70
-
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.35 BGN 4.09
-
-
Eggs
$4.60 BGN 8.00
-
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.47 BGN 19.96
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.65 BGN 15.04
-
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.34 BGN 30.17
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.15 BGN 3.73
-
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.98 BGN 3.45
-
-
Oranges (1kg)
$1.83 BGN 3.18
-
-
Tomato (1kg)
$4.27 BGN 7.43
-
-
Potato (1kg)
$1.04 BGN 1.82
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$0.89 BGN 1.54
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 BGN 2.06
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83 BGN 1.45
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.40 BGN 7.66
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$7.42 BGN 12.91
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 BGN 2.01
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90 BGN 3.30
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Sofia
Homa Bay
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.92 BGN 1.60
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.11 BGN 48.91
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.67 BGN 2.90
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.85 BGN 1.49
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.59 BGN 28.87
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.74 BGN 3.03
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.9K BGN 52.1K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.0K BGN 43.5K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sofia
Homa Bay
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$158 BGN 275
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.27 BGN 37.01
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.12 BGN 26.30
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sofia
Homa Bay
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.85 BGN 81.5
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.82 BGN 48.41
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.00 BGN 17.39
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sofia
Homa Bay
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$815 BGN 1,419
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.6K BGN 25.5K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sofia
Homa Bay
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.1 BGN 152
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.28 BGN 66.6
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$106 BGN 184
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 BGN 187
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sofia
Homa Bay
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$769 BGN 1,338
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$593 BGN 1,032
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,530 BGN 2,662
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,061 BGN 1,846
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,526 BGN 7,875
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,109 BGN 5,410
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sofia
Homa Bay
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,780 BGN 3,098
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.89
0
-

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

Last update for Sofia: November 1, 2026

Last update for Homa Bay: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Sofia
$593
Homa Bay
–
Groceries & Markets
Sofia
$288
Homa Bay
–
Eating Out
Sofia
$254
Homa Bay
–
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sofia
$194
Homa Bay
–
Clothing & Footwear
Sofia
$152
Homa Bay
–
Sport & Entertainment
Sofia
$67
Homa Bay
–
Getting Around
Sofia
$38
Homa Bay
–

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $68 in Sofia versus $150 in Homa Bay. Use this as a proxy for overall food spending across the two cities.

Good to know
🇧🇬 Sofia
🇰🇪 Homa Bay
🕒 Local time
23:26 11:26 PM
00:26 12:26 AM
1 h ahead of Sofia
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,286,383 Capital
44,949
💱 Currency
Bulgarian Lev BGN лв.
Exchange rates and currency converter

KES, USD, EUR to BGN – Bulgarian Lev Converter

Bulgarian Lev exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 1.74 BGN (1 BGN = 0.575 USD). 1 EUR = 1.94 BGN (1 BGN = 0.514 EUR).

Kenyan Shilling exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 130 KES (1,000 KES = 7.7 USD). 1 EUR = 145 KES (1,000 KES = 6.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Sofia Homa Bay 4,930 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Sofia
  • Homa Bay

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 Homa Bay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Homa Bay cheaper than Sofia?
Yes – Sofia is pricier by about 2633%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,378 per month in Sofia and $87 in Homa Bay. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Sofia and in Homa Bay?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,585 in Sofia and $58 in Homa Bay. That makes Homa Bay about 96% cheaper.
Is eating out cheaper in Sofia or in Homa Bay?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $68 in Sofia and $150 in Homa Bay. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Sofia or in Homa Bay?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Homa Bay, where all-in costs run around $58, than in Sofia at $1,585. In Homa Bay it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sofia it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is it better to live in Sofia or in Homa Bay?
It depends on your priorities. Sofia has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $58 in Homa Bay to $1,585 in Sofia. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Which city is safer, Sofia or Homa Bay?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

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