Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Sofia and Iraq

For one person, living is cheaper in Iraq: $726 a month against $1,585 in Sofia, rent and utilities included – about $10,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Sofia, Bulgaria
Iraq
Sofia
🇧🇬 Bulgaria
$1,585
/mo nomad
🇮🇶 Iraq
$726
/mo nomad
😐 Solo nomad: Sofia is 90.7% more expensive than Iraq without rent, and 118.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Sofia is 115.1% more expensive than Iraq without rent, and 130.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sofia
Iraq
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.57 BGN 28.84
$3.84 IQD 5,809
331.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.7 BGN 118
$19.78 IQD 29.9K
242.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.68 BGN 20.33
$6.59 IQD 9,955
77.24%
Cappuccino
$3.41 BGN 5.93
$2.34 IQD 3,529
45.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 BGN 4.11
$0.38 IQD 569
521.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 BGN 2.91
$0.17 IQD 262
882.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.99 BGN 6.94
$3.21 IQD 4,846
24.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53 BGN 7.88
$3.39 IQD 5,127
33.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sofia
Iraq
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.94 BGN 3.38
$0.99 IQD 1,500
95.96%
White Bread (500g)
$1.55 BGN 2.70
$0.70 IQD 1,056
121.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.35 BGN 4.09
$1.38 IQD 2,078
70.29%
Eggs
$4.60 BGN 8.00
$1.57 IQD 2,371
192.99%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.47 BGN 19.96
$4.26 IQD 6,436
169.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.65 BGN 15.04
$3.73 IQD 5,633
131.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.34 BGN 30.17
$11.06 IQD 16.7K
56.78%
Apples (1kg)
$2.15 BGN 3.73
$0.89 IQD 1,340
141.57%
Banana (1kg)
$1.98 BGN 3.45
$1.05 IQD 1,582
88.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.83 BGN 3.18
$0.90 IQD 1,364
103.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.27 BGN 7.43
$0.57 IQD 859
649.12%
Potato (1kg)
$1.04 BGN 1.82
$0.53 IQD 804
96.23%
Onion (1kg)
$0.89 BGN 1.54
$0.53 IQD 808
67.92%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 BGN 2.06
$0.57 IQD 868
108.77%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83 BGN 1.45
$0.44 IQD 664
88.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.40 BGN 7.66
$1.61 IQD 2,440
173.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.42 BGN 12.91
$10.11 IQD 15.3K
-26.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 BGN 2.01
$1.68 IQD 2,538
-30.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90 BGN 3.30
$1.85 IQD 2,790
2.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Sofia
Iraq
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.92 BGN 1.60
$0.34 IQD 519
170.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.11 BGN 48.91
$19.89 IQD 30.1K
41.33%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.67 BGN 2.90
$1.95 IQD 2,950
-14.36%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.85 BGN 1.49
$1.47 IQD 2,219
-42.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.59 BGN 28.87
$5.25 IQD 7,931
216.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.74 BGN 3.03
$0.56 IQD 848
210.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.9K BGN 52.1K
$16.7K IQD 25.3M
79.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.0K BGN 43.5K
$16.6K IQD 25.1M
50.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sofia
Iraq
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$158 BGN 275
$102 IQD 154.6K
54.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.27 BGN 37.01
$13.44 IQD 20.3K
58.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.12 BGN 26.30
$29.55 IQD 44.7K
-48.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sofia
Iraq
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.85 BGN 81.5
$31.80 IQD 48.0K
47.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.82 BGN 48.41
$17.09 IQD 25.8K
62.79%
Cinema Ticket
$10.00 BGN 17.39
$7.76 IQD 11.7K
28.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sofia
Iraq
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$815 BGN 1,419
$158 IQD 239.1K
415.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.6K BGN 25.5K
$3,839 IQD 5.8M
281.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sofia
Iraq
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.1 BGN 152
$19.43 IQD 29.4K
348.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.28 BGN 66.6
$23.15 IQD 35.0K
65.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$106 BGN 184
$50.4 IQD 76.1K
109.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 BGN 187
$40.86 IQD 61.7K
162.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sofia
Iraq
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$769 BGN 1,338
$265 IQD 399.9K
190.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$593 BGN 1,032
$186 IQD 280.6K
219.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,530 BGN 2,662
$507 IQD 765.3K
202.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,061 BGN 1,846
$360 IQD 543.3K
195.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,526 BGN 7,875
$1,510 IQD 2.3M
199.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,109 BGN 5,410
$705 IQD 1.1M
340.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sofia
Iraq
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,780 BGN 3,098
$494 IQD 745.7K
260.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.89
6.32
-54.27%

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

Last update for Sofia: November 1, 2026

Last update for Iraq: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Sofia
$593
Iraq
$186 68.7% $407
Groceries & Markets
Sofia
$288
Iraq
$153 46.8% $135
Eating Out
Sofia
$254
Iraq
$104 59.2% $150
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sofia
$194
Iraq
$145 25.2% $49
Clothing & Footwear
Sofia
$152
Iraq
$60 60.4% $92
Sport & Entertainment
Sofia
$67
Iraq
$47 29.2% $20
Getting Around
Sofia
$38
Iraq
$31 19% $7.2
Good to know
🇧🇬 Sofia
🇮🇶 Iraq
🕒 Local time
11:08 11:08 AM
12:08 12:08 PM
1 h ahead of Sofia
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,286,383 Capital
38,274,618
💱 Currency
Bulgarian Lev BGN лв.
Iraqi Dinar IQD ع.د
Exchange rates and currency converter

IQD, 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 = 1.95 BGN (1 BGN = 0.512 EUR).

Iraqi Dinar exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 1,511 IQD (10,000 IQD = 6.62 USD). 1 EUR = 1,697 IQD (10,000 IQD = 5.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Sofia Iraq 2,110 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Sofia
  • Iraq

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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