Last update: Nov 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Sofia and the Maldives
For one person, living is cheaper in the Maldives: $1,466 a month against $1,585 in Sofia, rent and utilities included – about $1,400 less a year. The total is higher in Sofia despite lower rent and utilities.
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Sofia Living Index76Cost of Living Index in SofiaLearn more -
Maldives Living Index71Cost of Living Index in the MaldivesLearn more
😐 Solo nomad: Sofia is 24.6% more expensive than the Maldives without rent, and 8.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Sofia is 30.1% more expensive than the Maldives without rent, and 3.1% more expensive with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
Sofia
Maldives
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.57 BGN 28.84
$6.56 MVR 101
152.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.7 BGN 118
$50.9 MVR 784
33.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.68 BGN 20.33
$9.80 MVR 151
19.18%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$4.81 MVR 74.2
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Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$9.45 MVR 146
-
Cappuccino
$3.41 BGN 5.93
$3.32 MVR 51.1
2.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 BGN 4.11
$1.57 MVR 24.24
50.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 BGN 2.91
$0.30 MVR 4.62
456.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.99 BGN 6.94
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Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53 BGN 7.88
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🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sofia
Maldives
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.94 BGN 3.38
$1.82 MVR 28.06
6.59%
White Bread (500g)
$1.55 BGN 2.70
$1.60 MVR 24.62
-3.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.35 BGN 4.09
$1.27 MVR 19.64
85.04%
Eggs
$4.60 BGN 8.00
$1.81 MVR 27.98
154.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.47 BGN 19.96
$6.35 MVR 97.9
80.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.65 BGN 15.04
$6.48 MVR 99.9
33.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.34 BGN 30.17
$10.11 MVR 156
71.51%
Apples (1kg)
$2.15 BGN 3.73
$3.98 MVR 61.3
-45.98%
Banana (1kg)
$1.98 BGN 3.45
$2.88 MVR 44.39
-31.25%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.83 BGN 3.18
$3.83 MVR 59.1
-52.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.27 BGN 7.43
$2.50 MVR 38.62
70.80%
Potato (1kg)
$1.04 BGN 1.82
$1.97 MVR 30.40
-47.21%
Onion (1kg)
$0.89 BGN 1.54
$1.88 MVR 28.98
-52.66%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 BGN 2.06
$1.99 MVR 30.75
-40.20%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83 BGN 1.45
$0.65 MVR 9.95
27.69%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$11.26 MVR 174
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.47 MVR 38.02
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.62 MVR 71.3
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.40 BGN 7.66
$15.08 MVR 233
-70.82%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.42 BGN 12.91
-
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Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 BGN 2.01
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90 BGN 3.30
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🚌 Getting Around
Sofia
Maldives
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.92 BGN 1.60
$0.63 MVR 9.66
46.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.11 BGN 48.91
$28.53 MVR 440
-1.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.67 BGN 2.90
$1.99 MVR 30.63
-16.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.85 BGN 1.49
$1.91 MVR 29.46
-55.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.59 BGN 28.87
$10.20 MVR 157
62.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.74 BGN 3.03
$1.03 MVR 15.87
68.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.9K BGN 52.1K
$23.0K MVR 354.7K
30.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.0K BGN 43.5K
$26.3K MVR 405.4K
-4.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sofia
Maldives
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$158 BGN 275
$132 MVR 2,029
19.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.27 BGN 37.01
$28.97 MVR 447
-26.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.12 BGN 26.30
$68.9 MVR 1,063
-78.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sofia
Maldives
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.85 BGN 81.5
$62.3 MVR 961
-24.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.82 BGN 48.41
$21.33 MVR 329
30.43%
Cinema Ticket
$10.00 BGN 17.39
$9.21 MVR 142
8.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sofia
Maldives
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$815 BGN 1,419
$176 MVR 2,716
363.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.6K BGN 25.5K
$4,713 MVR 72.7K
210.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sofia
Maldives
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.1 BGN 152
$37.35 MVR 576
133.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.28 BGN 66.6
$49.01 MVR 756
-21.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$106 BGN 184
$85.3 MVR 1,315
23.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 BGN 187
$51.7 MVR 797
107.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sofia
Maldives
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$769 BGN 1,338
$933 MVR 14.4K
-17.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$593 BGN 1,032
$665 MVR 10.2K
-10.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,530 BGN 2,662
$1,898 MVR 29.3K
-19.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,061 BGN 1,846
$1,488 MVR 22.9K
-28.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,526 BGN 7,875
$2,602 MVR 40.1K
73.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,109 BGN 5,410
$774 MVR 11.9K
301.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sofia
Maldives
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,780 BGN 3,098
$756 MVR 11.7K
135.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.89
14
-79.36%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sofia: November 1, 2026
Last update for the Maldives: November 2, 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 $593 37.4%
Maldives $665 45.4% 12.1% $72
Groceries & Markets
Sofia $288 18.2%
Maldives $219 14.9% 24% $69
Eating Out
Sofia $254 16%
Maldives $129 8.8% 49.1% $124
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sofia $194 12.3%
Maldives $229 15.7% 18.1% $35
Clothing & Footwear
Sofia $152 9.6%
Maldives $101 6.9% 33.9% $52
Sport & Entertainment
Sofia $67 4.2%
Maldives $81 5.5% 20.8% $14
Getting Around
Sofia $38 2.4%
Maldives $43 2.9% 12.9% $4.9
Accommodation & Living
Sofia $1.1K 31.3%
Maldives $1.5K 45.3% 40.2% $427
Groceries & Markets
Sofia $683 20.2%
Maldives $536 16.3% 21.6% $147
Eating Out
Sofia $851 25.1%
Maldives $512 15.6% 39.8% $339
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sofia $216 6.4%
Maldives $258 7.9% 19.9% $43
Clothing & Footwear
Sofia $338 10%
Maldives $223 6.8% 34% $115
Sport & Entertainment
Sofia $162 4.8%
Maldives $183 5.6% 13.2% $21
Getting Around
Sofia $77 2.3%
Maldives $86 2.6% 11.8% $9.1
Good to know
🇧🇬 Sofia
🇲🇻 Maldives
Weather
Population
1,286,383 Capital
436,330
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- Sofia Maldives 6,530 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
- Sofia
- Maldives
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 other spots: cost of living compared
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