Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Sofia and Siedlce

For one person, living is cheaper in Siedlce: $1,379 a month against $1,594 in Sofia, rent and utilities included – about $2,600 less a year. The total is higher in Sofia despite lower rent and utilities.

Sofia
🇧🇬 Bulgaria
$1,594
/mo nomad
Siedlce
🇵🇱 Poland
$1,379
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Sofia and in Siedlce

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,594 in Sofia versus $1,379 in Siedlce.

  • Sofia $1,594
  • Siedlce $1,379

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,478 in Sofia versus $1,999 in Siedlce.

  • Sofia $2,478
  • Siedlce $1,999

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,361 in Sofia versus $2,618 in Siedlce.

  • Sofia $3,361
  • Siedlce $2,618

Living in Sofia is roughly 16% more expensive than in Siedlce, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Sofia 18% above, Siedlce 2% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sofia
Siedlce
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.87 BGN 29.35
$5.12 zł 19.91
229.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.8 BGN 115
$43.74 zł 170
50.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.32 BGN 19.69
$6.48 zł 25.16
74.69%
Cappuccino
$3.43 BGN 5.98
$2.23 zł 8.67
53.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41 BGN 4.19
$1.79 zł 6.97
34.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85 BGN 3.22
$1.36 zł 5.30
36.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.70 BGN 6.44
$3.47 zł 13.48
6.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.58 BGN 7.97
$3.50 zł 13.59
30.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sofia
Siedlce
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.02 BGN 3.51
$0.94 zł 3.66
114.89%
White Bread (500g)
$1.56 BGN 2.72
$1.00 zł 3.90
56.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.33 BGN 4.05
$1.35 zł 5.24
72.59%
Eggs
$4.36 BGN 7.59
$3.14 zł 12.19
38.85%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.76 BGN 20.47
$7.44 zł 28.90
58.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.83 BGN 15.37
$5.06 zł 19.67
74.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.46 BGN 30.38
$11.64 zł 45.22
50.00%
Apples (1kg)
$2.15 BGN 3.74
$0.49 zł 1.90
338.78%
Banana (1kg)
$1.98 BGN 3.44
$0.72 zł 2.81
175.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.93 BGN 3.37
$2.30 zł 8.93
-16.09%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.24 BGN 7.37
$2.84 zł 11.03
49.30%
Potato (1kg)
$1.04 BGN 1.80
$0.82 zł 3.19
26.83%
Onion (1kg)
$0.85 BGN 1.48
$0.86 zł 3.32
-1.16%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 BGN 2.00
$1.34 zł 5.19
-14.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89 BGN 1.56
$0.53 zł 2.06
67.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.21 BGN 7.33
$4.73 zł 18.38
-10.99%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.46 BGN 12.98
$4.94 zł 19.19
51.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 BGN 2.01
$1.15 zł 4.48
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85 BGN 3.23
$1.70 zł 6.60
8.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Sofia
Siedlce
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.87 BGN 1.51
$0.99 zł 3.85
-12.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.53 BGN 49.65
$30.43 zł 118
-6.24%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.68 BGN 2.93
$1.56 zł 6.07
7.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.94 BGN 1.63
$0.58 zł 2.24
62.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$15.35 BGN 26.70
$9.28 zł 36.06
65.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.69 BGN 2.94
$1.63 zł 6.34
3.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K BGN 51.9K
$30.0K zł 116.7K
-0.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K BGN 45.5K
$25.9K zł 100.7K
0.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sofia
Siedlce
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$156 BGN 272
$308 zł 1,195
-49.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.56 BGN 37.52
$8.74 zł 33.97
146.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.24 BGN 26.51
$17.13 zł 66.6
-11.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sofia
Siedlce
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.08 BGN 80.2
$37.63 zł 146
22.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.92 BGN 48.58
$21.91 zł 85.1
27.43%
Cinema Ticket
$10.18 BGN 17.72
$7.56 zł 29.37
34.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sofia
Siedlce
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$774 BGN 1,347
$501 zł 1,945
54.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.8K BGN 22.3K
$10.2K zł 39.6K
25.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sofia
Siedlce
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.9 BGN 157
$73.5 zł 285
22.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.29 BGN 71.8
$40.50 zł 157
1.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$105 BGN 183
$90.5 zł 351
16.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 BGN 186
$97.6 zł 379
9.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sofia
Siedlce
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$783 BGN 1,362
$486 zł 1,887
61.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$597 BGN 1,038
$509 zł 1,978
17.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,516 BGN 2,638
$970 zł 3,768
56.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,030 BGN 1,792
$874 zł 3,397
17.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,350 BGN 7,568
$2,088 zł 8,111
108.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,177 BGN 5,528
$2,192 zł 8,516
44.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sofia
Siedlce
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,735 BGN 3,019
$995 zł 3,867
74.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.89
6.87
-57.93%

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

Last update for Sofia: October 13, 2026

Last update for Siedlce: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Sofia
$597
Siedlce
$509 14.7% $88
Groceries & Markets
Sofia
$290
Siedlce
$185 36.3% $105
Eating Out
Sofia
$255
Siedlce
$124 51.3% $131
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sofia
$193
Siedlce
$333 72.8% $141
Clothing & Footwear
Sofia
$154
Siedlce
$136 12% $18
Sport & Entertainment
Sofia
$66
Siedlce
$53 20.6% $14
Getting Around
Sofia
$38
Siedlce
$39 1.2% $0.5

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $783 in Sofia and $486 in Siedlce. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sofia pays 74% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $66.0 in Sofia vs $44.00 in Siedlce for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $290 vs $185 per month, with Siedlce cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇧🇬 Sofia
🇵🇱 Siedlce
🕒 Local time
02:07 2:07 AM
01:07 1:07 AM
1 h behind Sofia
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,286,383 Capital
77,645
💱 Currency
Bulgarian Lev BGN лв.
Exchange rates and currency converter

PLN, USD, EUR to BGN – Bulgarian Lev Converter

Bulgarian Lev exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 1.74 BGN (1 BGN = 0.575 USD). 1 EUR = 1.96 BGN (1 BGN = 0.511 EUR).

Polish Złoty exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 3.89 PLN (1 PLN = 0.257 USD). 1 EUR = 4.37 PLN (1 PLN = 0.229 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Sofia Siedlce 1,060 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Sofia
  • Siedlce

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 Siedlce: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Sofia or Siedlce?
Siedlce wins on cost – living expenses run 16% lower than in Sofia. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Siedlce the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Sofia or in Siedlce?
Average pay runs 74% higher in Sofia, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Sofia compared to Siedlce?
Rent for a central apartment: $783 in Sofia versus $486 in Siedlce. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Sofia compared to Siedlce?
All in, you'll spend $1,594 per month in Sofia versus $1,379 in Siedlce – a 16% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Sofia compared to Siedlce?
A monthly transit pass in Siedlce runs roughly 7% less than in Sofia. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Sofia or in Siedlce?
At $1,379 in Siedlce versus $1,594 in Sofia, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Siedlce but tight or insufficient in Sofia. The gap between the two cities makes Siedlce the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Sofia or Siedlce?
Both work as nomad bases, but Siedlce delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,379 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Siedlce hard to pass up.
How safe is Sofia compared to Siedlce?
Safety-wise, Sofia and Siedlce are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Siedlce gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Sofia. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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