Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Sofia and Savona

For one person, living is cheaper in Sofia: $1,594 a month against $1,801 in Savona, rent and utilities included – about $2,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Sofia
🇧🇬 Bulgaria
$1,594
/mo nomad
Savona
🇮🇹 Italy
$1,801
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Sofia and in Savona

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

A single person spends $1,594 per month in Sofia vs $1,801 in Savona, rent included.

  • Sofia $1,594
  • Savona $1,801

A couple spends around $2,478 per month in Sofia vs $2,614 in Savona, rent included.

  • Sofia $2,478
  • Savona $2,614

A family of three spends $3,361 per month in Sofia vs $3,428 in Savona, rent included.

  • Sofia $3,361
  • Savona $3,428

Sofia is about 11% cheaper than Savona, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Sofia and Savona sit above the global median – Sofia by 18%, Savona by 33%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sofia
Savona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.87 BGN 29.35
$22.34 €19.87
-24.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.8 BGN 115
$76.9 €68.4
-14.37%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.32 BGN 19.69
$11.37 €10.11
-0.44%
Cappuccino
$3.43 BGN 5.98
$1.64 €1.46
109.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41 BGN 4.19
$2.86 €2.55
-15.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85 BGN 3.22
$1.15 €1.02
60.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.70 BGN 6.44
$5.49 €4.89
-32.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.58 BGN 7.97
$6.03 €5.37
-24.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sofia
Savona
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.02 BGN 3.51
$1.43 €1.27
41.26%
White Bread (500g)
$1.56 BGN 2.72
$2.25 €2.00
-30.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.33 BGN 4.05
$2.25 €2.00
3.56%
Eggs
$4.36 BGN 7.59
$3.09 €2.75
41.10%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.76 BGN 20.47
$15.30 €13.61
-23.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.83 BGN 15.37
$13.01 €11.57
-32.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.46 BGN 30.38
$14.80 €13.16
17.97%
Apples (1kg)
$2.15 BGN 3.74
$2.80 €2.49
-23.21%
Banana (1kg)
$1.98 BGN 3.44
$1.64 €1.46
20.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.93 BGN 3.37
$3.00 €2.67
-35.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.24 BGN 7.37
$5.52 €4.91
-23.19%
Potato (1kg)
$1.04 BGN 1.80
$1.95 €1.74
-46.67%
Onion (1kg)
$0.85 BGN 1.48
$1.77 €1.57
-51.98%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 BGN 2.00
$1.64 €1.46
-29.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89 BGN 1.56
$0.60 €0.54
48.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.21 BGN 7.33
$6.64 €5.90
-36.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.46 BGN 12.98
$4.52 €4.02
65.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 BGN 2.01
$3.39 €3.02
-66.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85 BGN 3.23
$3.38 €3.01
-45.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Sofia
Savona
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.87 BGN 1.51
$1.63 €1.45
-46.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.53 BGN 49.65
$33.74 €30.01
-15.44%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.68 BGN 2.93
$7.03 €6.25
-76.10%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.94 BGN 1.63
$1.40 €1.25
-32.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$15.35 BGN 26.70
$30.04 €26.72
-48.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.69 BGN 2.94
$1.98 €1.76
-14.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K BGN 51.9K
$36.0K €32.1K
-17.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K BGN 45.5K
$35.3K €31.4K
-26.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sofia
Savona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$156 BGN 272
$192 €171
-18.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.56 BGN 37.52
$10.99 €9.78
96.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.24 BGN 26.51
$25.47 €22.65
-40.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sofia
Savona
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.08 BGN 80.2
$54.9 €48.82
-16.05%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.92 BGN 48.58
$20.00 €17.79
39.60%
Cinema Ticket
$10.18 BGN 17.72
$9.66 €8.59
5.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sofia
Savona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$774 BGN 1,347
$220 €196
251.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.8K BGN 22.3K
$2,754 €2,450
364.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sofia
Savona
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.9 BGN 157
$89.9 €80.0
0.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.29 BGN 71.8
$45.46 €40.44
-9.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$105 BGN 183
$88.5 €78.7
18.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 BGN 186
$96.3 €85.6
10.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sofia
Savona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$783 BGN 1,362
$614 €546
27.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$597 BGN 1,038
$679 €604
-12.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,516 BGN 2,638
$1,385 €1,232
9.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,030 BGN 1,792
$837 €745
23.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,350 BGN 7,568
$2,765 €2,459
57.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,177 BGN 5,528
$1,895 €1,686
67.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sofia
Savona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,735 BGN 3,019
$1,730 €1,539
0.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.89
3.65
-20.82%

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

Last update for Sofia: October 13, 2026

Last update for Savona: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Sofia
$597
Savona
$679 13.7% $82
Groceries & Markets
Sofia
$290
Savona
$333 14.6% $42
Eating Out
Sofia
$255
Savona
$288 13.1% $33
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sofia
$193
Savona
$228 18.3% $35
Clothing & Footwear
Sofia
$154
Savona
$144 6.7% $10
Sport & Entertainment
Sofia
$66
Savona
$74 11.7% $7.8
Getting Around
Sofia
$38
Savona
$54 41.5% $16

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $783 in Sofia versus $614 in Savona. 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 0% higher in Sofia, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $66.0 in Sofia versus $77.0 in Savona. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $290 vs $333 – making Sofia the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇧🇬 Sofia
🇮🇹 Savona
🕒 Local time
23:30 11:30 PM
22:30 10:30 PM
1 h behind Sofia
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,286,383 Capital
61,345
💱 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 17, 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 17, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Sofia Savona 1,210 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Sofia
  • Savona

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 Savona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Savona cheaper than Sofia?
Yes – Savona is pricier by about 13%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,391 per month in Sofia and $2,701 in Savona. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Sofia, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Sofia or in Savona?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $66.0 in Sofia and $77.0 in Savona. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Sofia and in Savona?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,594 in Sofia and $1,801 in Savona. That's a gap of about 13%.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Sofia or in Savona?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sofia, where all-in costs run around $1,594, than in Savona at $1,801. In Sofia it covers expenses comfortably, while in Savona it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Sofia or Savona more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Sofia – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Sofia or Savona?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Sofia. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Savona makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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