For one person, living is cheaper in Sofia: $1,600 a month against $2,122 in Taby, rent and utilities included – about $6,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
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 Taby actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $1,600 per month in Sofia vs $2,122 in Taby, rent included.
Sofia $1,600
Taby $2,122
A couple spends around $2,490 per month in Sofia vs $3,043 in Taby, rent included.
Sofia $2,490
Taby $3,043
A family of three spends $3,380 per month in Sofia vs $3,964 in Taby, rent included.
Sofia $3,380
Taby $3,964
🙂
Sofia is about 25% cheaper than Taby, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.
📊
Both Sofia and Taby sit above the global median – Sofia by 18%, Taby by 57%.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Sofia
Taby
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.96BGN 29.51
$13.66SEK 135
24.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.3BGN 119
$65.8SEK 652
3.66%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.62BGN 20.21
$10.09SEK 100.0
15.16%
Cappuccino
$3.43BGN 5.98
$4.28SEK 42.41
-19.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34BGN 4.08
$3.58SEK 35.48
-34.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83BGN 3.19
$2.34SEK 23.19
-21.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.41BGN 5.93
$6.95SEK 68.9
-50.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.44BGN 7.73
$8.79SEK 87.1
-49.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sofia
Taby
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.97BGN 3.42
$1.70SEK 16.83
15.88%
White Bread(500g)
$1.49BGN 2.59
$3.02SEK 29.90
-50.66%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.33BGN 4.05
$3.91SEK 38.75
-40.41%
Eggs
$4.41BGN 7.68
$5.20SEK 51.5
-15.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.54BGN 20.08
$12.81SEK 127
-9.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.88BGN 15.44
$12.82SEK 127
-30.73%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.51BGN 30.46
$17.59SEK 174
-0.45%
Apples(1kg)
$2.15BGN 3.74
$3.13SEK 31.05
-31.31%
Banana(1kg)
$2.07BGN 3.60
$2.62SEK 25.97
-20.99%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93BGN 3.37
$1.97SEK 19.52
-2.03%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.25BGN 7.39
$4.50SEK 44.60
-5.56%
Potato(1kg)
$1.03BGN 1.79
$1.70SEK 16.88
-39.41%
Onion(1kg)
$0.88BGN 1.54
$1.80SEK 17.80
-51.11%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19BGN 2.07
$2.33SEK 23.13
-48.93%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89BGN 1.55
$1.90SEK 18.87
-53.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.23BGN 7.35
$7.00SEK 69.4
-39.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.87BGN 13.69
$12.21SEK 121
-35.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18BGN 2.06
$1.90SEK 18.84
-37.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89BGN 3.29
$2.21SEK 21.90
-14.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Sofia
Taby
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.93BGN 1.62
$4.17SEK 41.32
-77.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.30BGN 49.24
$101SEK 1,002
-72.02%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.68BGN 2.93
$5.87SEK 58.1
-71.38%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.96BGN 1.68
$1.55SEK 15.38
-38.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$15.36BGN 26.73
$57.4SEK 569
-73.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.77BGN 3.09
$1.84SEK 18.22
-3.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.5KBGN 53.1K
$33.3KSEK 330.3K
-8.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.1KBGN 43.6K
$32.7KSEK 324.2K
-23.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sofia
Taby
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$157BGN 273
$177SEK 1,758
-11.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.12BGN 36.74
$27.61SEK 274
-23.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.32BGN 26.65
$40.66SEK 403
-62.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sofia
Taby
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.39BGN 80.7
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.09BGN 48.87
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.04BGN 17.46
$17.11SEK 170
-41.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sofia
Taby
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$775BGN 1,348
$156SEK 1,543
397.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.5KBGN 21.8K
$16.3KSEK 161.4K
-23.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sofia
Taby
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.1BGN 153
$98.0SEK 971
-10.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.39BGN 72.0
$53.0SEK 526
-21.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$107BGN 186
$94.4SEK 935
13.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106BGN 185
$183SEK 1,813
-41.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sofia
Taby
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$770BGN 1,340
$1,023SEK 10.1K
-24.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$602BGN 1,048
$870SEK 8,625
-30.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,564BGN 2,721
$1,411SEK 14.0K
10.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,036BGN 1,803
$1,189SEK 11.8K
-12.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,567BGN 7,946
$5,994SEK 59.4K
-23.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,162BGN 5,502
$6,951SEK 68.9K
-54.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sofia
Taby
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,742BGN 3,031
$3,306SEK 32.8K
-47.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.89
2.8
3.21%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sofia: October 19, 2026
Last update for Taby: October 19, 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
$602 37.6%
Taby
$870 41% ↑ 44.5%$268
🛒Groceries & Markets
Sofia
$291 18.2%
Taby
$380 17.9% ↑ 30.6%$89
🍽Eating Out
Sofia
$254 15.9%
Taby
$267 12.6% ↑ 4.9%$13
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sofia
$194 12.1%
Taby
$246 11.6% ↑ 27%$52
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Sofia
$154 9.6%
Taby
$193 9.1% ↑ 25.1%$39
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Sofia
$66 4.2%
Taby
$34 * 1.6% ↓ 48.5%$32
🚌Getting Around
Sofia
$39 2.4%
Taby
$131 6.2% ↑ 241%$93
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Sofia
$1K 30.7%
Taby
$1.2K 30% ↑ 14.8%$153
🛒Groceries & Markets
Sofia
$690 20.4%
Taby
$879 22.2% ↑ 27.5%$189
🍽Eating Out
Sofia
$857 25.4%
Taby
$855 21.6% ↓ 0.3%$2.5
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sofia
$215 6.4%
Taby
$273 6.9% ↑ 27.4%$59
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Sofia
$342 10.1%
Taby
$428 10.8% ↑ 25.1%$86
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Sofia
$161 4.8%
Taby
$68 * 1.7% ↓ 57.5%$93
🚌Getting Around
Sofia
$79 2.3%
Taby
$271 6.8% ↑ 244%$192
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $770 in Sofia versus $1,023 in Taby. 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 90% higher in Taby, 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 $66.0 in Taby. Groceries tell a different story – $291 in Sofia vs $380 in Taby – so Sofia wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Taby: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Sofia and in Taby compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,600 in Sofia, $2,122 in Taby – roughly 33% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in transport.
What salary covers living expenses in Sofia compared to Taby?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,400 per month in Sofia and $3,182 in Taby. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Sofia and Taby?
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.
Which city is more expensive overall: Sofia or Taby?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,600 in Sofia and $2,122 in Taby. That's a gap of about 33%.
How do commuting costs compare in Sofia and in Taby?
Public transport costs about 257% less in Sofia. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Sofia, where all-in costs run around $1,600, than in Taby at $2,122. In Sofia it covers expenses comfortably, while in Taby it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Sofia and Taby?
It depends on your priorities. Sofia has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,600 in Sofia to $2,122 in Taby. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Sofia or Taby safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Sofia and Taby?
If budget matters most, go with Sofia. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Taby makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.