Cost of Living Comparison Between Sofia and KozaniCost of Living Comparison Between Sofia and Kozani
Monthly Cost of Living
😐A single person spends $1,365 per month in Sofia vs $1,325 in Kozani, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,143 per month in Sofia vs $1,947 in Kozani, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,922 per month in Sofia vs $2,570 in Kozani, rent included.
😐Sofia costs about 3% more than Kozani, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Sofia sits 2% above the global median, while Kozani is 1% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sofia
Kozani
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72BGN 19.51
$11.53€10.09
1.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.80BGN 82.8
$45.72€40.00
8.92%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.77BGN 14.59
$10.54€9.22
-16.79%
Cappuccino
$2.63BGN 4.38
$3.07€2.69
-14.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78BGN 2.96
$1.72€1.50
3.49%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42BGN 2.36
$0.60€0.53
136.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.96BGN 4.92
$4.72€4.13
-37.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27BGN 5.43
$4.97€4.35
-34.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sofia
Kozani
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.86BGN 3.09
$1.47€1.28
26.53%
White Bread(500g)
$1.20BGN 2.00
$1.44€1.26
-16.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99BGN 3.31
$1.97€1.73
1.02%
Eggs
$3.96BGN 6.58
$3.33€2.92
18.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.18BGN 20.26
$13.37€11.70
-8.90%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.72BGN 14.51
$8.89€7.78
-1.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.98BGN 21.60
$13.03€11.40
-0.38%
Apples(1kg)
$1.91BGN 3.18
$1.64€1.44
16.46%
Banana(1kg)
$1.96BGN 3.27
$1.79€1.57
9.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99BGN 3.31
$1.56€1.37
27.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.75BGN 4.57
$1.70€1.49
61.76%
Potato(1kg)
$1.12BGN 1.86
$1.05€0.92
6.67%
Onion(1kg)
$1.05BGN 1.75
$0.87€0.76
20.69%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19BGN 1.98
$1.10€0.96
8.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66BGN 1.10
$0.86€0.75
-23.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.87BGN 6.43
$5.09€4.46
-23.97%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.39BGN 12.29
$9.07€7.94
-18.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10BGN 1.83
$2.02€1.77
-45.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83BGN 3.04
$2.77€2.42
-33.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Sofia
Kozani
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.98BGN 1.63
$1.71€1.50
-42.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.45BGN 48.99
$46.76€40.91
-37.02%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.45BGN 2.40
$4.54€3.97
-68.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.78BGN 1.30
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.34BGN 23.86
$13.44€11.76
6.70%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.57BGN 2.62
$2.12€1.85
-25.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.1KBGN 53.3K
$31.0K€27.1K
3.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.0KBGN 48.3K
$31.3K€27.4K
-7.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sofia
Kozani
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$150BGN 249
$214€187
-29.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.78BGN 29.57
$24.00€20.99
-25.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.40BGN 25.62
$30.37€26.57
-49.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sofia
Kozani
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.98BGN 73.2
$44.06€38.55
-0.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.48BGN 35.73
$26.12€22.85
-17.76%
Cinema Ticket
$9.61BGN 15.98
$9.14€7.99
5.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sofia
Kozani
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$642BGN 1,068
$417€364
54.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,298BGN 15.5K
$8,304€7,265
11.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sofia
Kozani
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.9BGN 120
$84.1€73.5
-14.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.78BGN 59.5
$36.90€32.28
-3.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$107BGN 178
$86.3€75.5
23.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119BGN 198
$61.3€53.6
93.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sofia
Kozani
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$695BGN 1,156
$391€342
77.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$504BGN 838
$334€292
50.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,257BGN 2,091
$515€451
144.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$893BGN 1,485
$457€400
95.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,422BGN 7,356
$2,224€1,946
98.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,336BGN 5,550
$1,937€1,695
72.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sofia
Kozani
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,674BGN 2,785
$1,113€973
50.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.09
4.26
-27.46%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sofia: July 11, 2026
Last update for Kozani: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $695 in Sofia versus $391 in Kozani. 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 50% 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 $50.0 in Sofia versus $46.00 in Kozani. Groceries tell a different story – $259 in Sofia vs $261 in Kozani – so Sofia wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Kozani: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Sofia or Kozani?
Sofia costs about 3% more than Kozani, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Sofia and in Kozani?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,047 per month in Sofia and $1,987 in Kozani. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Sofia or Kozani?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kozani, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Sofia and in Kozani?
Kindergarten costs $642 per month in Sofia and $417 in Kozani. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Sofia or in Kozani?
Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in Sofia – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Sofia or in Kozani?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kozani, where all-in costs run around $1,325, than in Sofia at $1,365. In Kozani it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sofia it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Sofia or Kozani?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kozani costs $1,325 versus $1,365 in Sofia. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Sofia compared to Kozani?
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.
Should I move to Sofia or to Kozani?
If budget matters most, go with Kozani. 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.