Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Sofia and Ourem

For one person, living costs are similar in Sofia and in Ourem: $1,600 and $1,568 a month, rent and utilities included.

Sofia
🇧🇬 Bulgaria
$1,600
/mo nomad
Ourem
🇵🇹 Portugal
$1,568
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Sofia and in Ourem

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

A single person spends $1,600 per month in Sofia vs $1,568 in Ourem, rent included.

  • Sofia $1,600
  • Ourem $1,568

A couple spends around $2,490 per month in Sofia vs $2,326 in Ourem, rent included.

  • Sofia $2,490
  • Ourem $2,326

A family of three spends $3,380 per month in Sofia vs $3,084 in Ourem, rent included.

  • Sofia $3,380
  • Ourem $3,084

Sofia costs about 2% more than Ourem, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Sofia and Ourem sit above the global median – Sofia by 18%, Ourem by 16%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sofia
Ourem
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.96 BGN 29.51
$13.00 €11.56
30.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.3 BGN 119
$52.3 €46.52
30.52%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.62 BGN 20.21
$8.89 €7.91
30.71%
Cappuccino
$3.43 BGN 5.98
$1.27 €1.13
170.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34 BGN 4.08
$1.62 €1.44
44.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 BGN 3.19
$1.22 €1.09
50.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.41 BGN 5.93
$2.82 €2.51
20.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.44 BGN 7.73
$2.82 €2.51
57.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sofia
Ourem
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.97 BGN 3.42
$1.06 €0.94
85.85%
White Bread (500g)
$1.49 BGN 2.59
$2.41 €2.14
-38.17%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.33 BGN 4.05
$1.36 €1.21
71.32%
Eggs
$4.41 BGN 7.68
$3.67 €3.26
20.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.54 BGN 20.08
$9.09 €8.09
26.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.88 BGN 15.44
$7.62 €6.77
16.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.51 BGN 30.46
$10.89 €9.69
60.79%
Apples (1kg)
$2.15 BGN 3.74
$1.84 €1.64
16.85%
Banana (1kg)
$2.07 BGN 3.60
$1.23 €1.09
68.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.93 BGN 3.37
$1.11 €0.98
73.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.25 BGN 7.39
$1.69 €1.50
151.48%
Potato (1kg)
$1.03 BGN 1.79
$1.97 €1.75
-47.72%
Onion (1kg)
$0.88 BGN 1.54
$1.64 €1.46
-46.34%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 BGN 2.07
$1.64 €1.46
-27.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89 BGN 1.55
$0.63 €0.56
41.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.23 BGN 7.35
$6.29 €5.60
-32.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.87 BGN 13.69
$3.45 €3.07
128.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 BGN 2.06
$1.25 €1.12
-5.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89 BGN 3.29
$1.39 €1.24
35.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Sofia
Ourem
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.93 BGN 1.62
$2.24 €1.99
-58.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.30 BGN 49.24
$41.44 €36.86
-31.71%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.68 BGN 2.93
$3.98 €3.54
-57.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.96 BGN 1.68
$0.75 €0.67
28.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$15.36 BGN 26.73
$16.62 €14.78
-7.58%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.77 BGN 3.09
$2.09 €1.86
-15.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.5K BGN 53.1K
$34.1K €30.3K
-10.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.1K BGN 43.6K
$37.6K €33.4K
-33.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sofia
Ourem
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$157 BGN 273
$110 €98.1
42.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.12 BGN 36.74
$21.60 €19.21
-2.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.32 BGN 26.65
$35.43 €31.52
-56.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sofia
Ourem
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.39 BGN 80.7
$40.72 €36.22
13.92%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.09 BGN 48.87
$16.43 €14.61
70.97%
Cinema Ticket
$10.04 BGN 17.46
$8.74 €7.78
14.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sofia
Ourem
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$775 BGN 1,348
$613 €545
26.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.5K BGN 21.8K
$6,221 €5,534
101.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sofia
Ourem
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.1 BGN 153
$75.9 €67.5
16.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.39 BGN 72.0
$44.79 €39.84
-7.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$107 BGN 186
$83.5 €74.3
27.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 BGN 185
$104 €92.6
2.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sofia
Ourem
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$770 BGN 1,340
$956 €850
-19.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$602 BGN 1,048
$747 €664
-19.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,564 BGN 2,721
$1,509 €1,342
3.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,036 BGN 1,803
$1,188 €1,057
-12.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,567 BGN 7,946
$2,958 €2,631
54.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,162 BGN 5,502
$2,243 €1,995
40.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sofia
Ourem
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,742 BGN 3,031
$1,352 €1,203
28.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.89
3.54
-18.36%

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

Last update for Sofia: October 19, 2026

Last update for Ourem: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Sofia
$602
Ourem
$747 24.1% $145
Groceries & Markets
Sofia
$291
Ourem
$221 23.9% $69
Eating Out
Sofia
$254
Ourem
$177 30.4% $77
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sofia
$194
Ourem
$167 13.6% $26
Clothing & Footwear
Sofia
$154
Ourem
$139 10% $15
Sport & Entertainment
Sofia
$66
Ourem
$58 12.4% $8.3
Getting Around
Sofia
$39
Ourem
$58 50.9% $20

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $770 in Sofia versus $956 in Ourem. 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 29% 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 $68.0 in Sofia versus $52.0 in Ourem. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $291 vs $221 – making Ourem the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇧🇬 Sofia
🇵🇹 Ourem
🕒 Local time
00:56 12:56 AM
22:56 10:56 PM
2 h behind Sofia
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,286,383 Capital
44,538
💱 Currency
Bulgarian Lev BGN лв.
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to BGN – Bulgarian Lev Converter

Bulgarian Lev exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 1.74 BGN (1 BGN = 0.575 USD). 1 EUR = 1.96 BGN (1 BGN = 0.511 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Sofia Ourem 2,680 km ≈ 3 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Sofia
  • Ourem

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 Ourem: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Sofia or Ourem?
Sofia costs about 2% more than Ourem, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. 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 Ourem?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,400 per month in Sofia and $2,352 in Ourem. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Sofia or Ourem?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ourem, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How expensive is transport in Sofia compared to Ourem?
Public transport costs about 46% less in Ourem. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Sofia and in Ourem?
Kindergarten costs $775 per month in Sofia and $613 in Ourem. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Sofia or in Ourem?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ourem, where all-in costs run around $1,568, than in Sofia at $1,600. In Ourem 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 Ourem?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ourem costs $1,568 versus $1,600 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 Ourem?
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 Ourem?
If budget matters most, go with Ourem. 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.

Sofia vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?