Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Sofia and Iran

For one person, living is cheaper in Iran: $495 a month against $1,585 in Sofia, rent and utilities included – about $13,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Sofia, Bulgaria
Iran
Sofia
🇧🇬 Bulgaria
$1,585
/mo nomad
🇮🇷 Iran
$495
/mo nomad
😐 Solo nomad: Sofia is 175% more expensive than Iran without rent, and 220.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Sofia is 184.5% more expensive than Iran without rent, and 204.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sofia
Iran
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.57 BGN 28.84
$3.30 $3.30
402.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.7 BGN 118
$16.06 $16.06
321.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.68 BGN 20.33
$4.12 $4.12
183.50%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.84 $0.84
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.14 $1.14
-
Cappuccino
$3.41 BGN 5.93
$1.17 $1.17
191.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 BGN 4.11
$0.54 $0.54
337.04%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 BGN 2.91
$0.92 $0.92
81.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.99 BGN 6.94
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53 BGN 7.88
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sofia
Iran
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.94 BGN 3.38
$0.62 $0.62
212.90%
White Bread (500g)
$1.55 BGN 2.70
$0.50 $0.50
210.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.35 BGN 4.09
$2.36 $2.36
-0.42%
Eggs
$4.60 BGN 8.00
$1.12 $1.12
310.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.47 BGN 19.96
$3.64 $3.64
215.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.65 BGN 15.04
$3.01 $3.01
187.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.34 BGN 30.17
$9.80 $9.80
76.94%
Apples (1kg)
$2.15 BGN 3.73
$0.97 $0.97
121.65%
Banana (1kg)
$1.98 BGN 3.45
$1.49 $1.49
32.89%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.83 BGN 3.18
$0.88 $0.88
107.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.27 BGN 7.43
$0.58 $0.58
636.21%
Potato (1kg)
$1.04 BGN 1.82
$0.48 $0.48
116.67%
Onion (1kg)
$0.89 BGN 1.54
$0.49 $0.49
81.63%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 BGN 2.06
$0.49 $0.49
142.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83 BGN 1.45
$0.25 $0.25
232.00%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$1.02 $1.02
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.53 $0.53
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.39 $1.39
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.40 BGN 7.66
$2.14 $2.14
105.61%
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
Iran
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.92 BGN 1.60
$0.16 $0.16
475.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.11 BGN 48.91
$10.09 $10.09
178.59%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.67 BGN 2.90
$0.48 $0.48
247.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.85 BGN 1.49
$0.29 $0.29
193.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.59 BGN 28.87
$2.44 $2.44
579.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.74 BGN 3.03
$0.30 $0.30
480.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.9K BGN 52.1K
$58.9K $58.9K
-49.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.0K BGN 43.5K
$52.9K $52.9K
-52.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sofia
Iran
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$158 BGN 275
$13.82 $13.82
1042.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.27 BGN 37.01
$2.24 $2.24
849.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.12 BGN 26.30
$6.49 $6.49
132.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sofia
Iran
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.85 BGN 81.5
$16.50 $16.50
183.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.82 BGN 48.41
$12.32 $12.32
125.81%
Cinema Ticket
$10.00 BGN 17.39
$1.46 $1.46
584.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sofia
Iran
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$815 BGN 1,419
$80.2 $80.2
916.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.6K BGN 25.5K
$1,168 $1,168
1153.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sofia
Iran
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.1 BGN 152
$22.51 $22.51
286.89%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.28 BGN 66.6
$26.70 $26.70
43.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$106 BGN 184
$103 $103
2.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 BGN 187
$60.8 $60.8
76.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sofia
Iran
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$769 BGN 1,338
$251 $251
206.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$593 BGN 1,032
$177 $177
234.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,530 BGN 2,662
$560 $560
173.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,061 BGN 1,846
$337 $337
214.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,526 BGN 7,875
$993 $993
355.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,109 BGN 5,410
$604 $604
415.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sofia
Iran
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,780 BGN 3,098
$244 $244
628.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.89
23.49
-87.70%

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

Last update for Sofia: November 1, 2026

Last update for Iran: October 31, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Sofia
$593
Iran
$177 70.1% $416
Groceries & Markets
Sofia
$288
Iran
$108 62.5% $180
Eating Out
Sofia
$254
Iran
$59 76.9% $195
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sofia
$194
Iran
$23 88.4% $172
Clothing & Footwear
Sofia
$152
Iran
$96 36.9% $56
Sport & Entertainment
Sofia
$67
Iran
$19 70.9% $47
Getting Around
Sofia
$38
Iran
$13 66.5% $25
Good to know
🇧🇬 Sofia
🇮🇷 Iran
🕒 Local time
20:58 8:58 PM
22:28 10:28 PM
1 h 30 min ahead of Sofia
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,286,383 Capital
86,758,304
💱 Currency
Bulgarian Lev BGN лв.
USD USD
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to BGN – Bulgarian Lev Converter

Bulgarian Lev exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 1.74 BGN (1 BGN = 0.575 USD). 1 EUR = 1.96 BGN (1 BGN = 0.511 EUR).

USD exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Sofia Iran 2,530 km ≈ 3 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Sofia
  • Iran

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

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