😐A single person spends $1,650 per month in Sofia vs $583 in Targovishte, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,556 per month in Sofia vs $1,168 in Targovishte, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,462 per month in Sofia vs $1,753 in Targovishte, rent included.
😐Sofia costs about 183% more than Targovishte, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Sofia sits 20% above the global median, while Targovishte is 58% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sofia
Targovishte
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.41BGN 28.96
$7.19BGN 11.96
142.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.4BGN 109
$40.52BGN 67.4
61.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.17BGN 20.25
$6.90BGN 11.48
76.38%
Cappuccino
$3.63BGN 6.05
$1.56BGN 2.59
132.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36BGN 3.92
$1.10BGN 1.83
114.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95BGN 3.24
$0.68BGN 1.13
186.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.54BGN 5.89
$0.94BGN 1.56
276.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.56BGN 7.59
$4.27BGN 7.11
6.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sofia
Targovishte
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.01BGN 3.35
$1.63BGN 2.71
23.31%
White Bread(500g)
$1.62BGN 2.69
$0.76BGN 1.26
113.16%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.42BGN 4.02
$2.35BGN 3.91
2.98%
Eggs
$4.41BGN 7.33
$2.87BGN 4.77
53.66%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.80BGN 19.64
$8.29BGN 13.79
42.34%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.25BGN 15.39
$5.66BGN 9.41
63.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.23BGN 28.66
$8.64BGN 14.38
99.42%
Apples(1kg)
$2.17BGN 3.61
$1.71BGN 2.84
26.90%
Banana(1kg)
$2.05BGN 3.41
$1.87BGN 3.11
9.63%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93BGN 3.21
$1.75BGN 2.91
10.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.22BGN 7.03
$2.74BGN 4.56
54.01%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15BGN 1.91
$1.07BGN 1.78
7.48%
Onion(1kg)
$1.00BGN 1.66
$1.10BGN 1.83
-9.09%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18BGN 1.97
$0.96BGN 1.59
22.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90BGN 1.50
$0.61BGN 1.02
47.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.33BGN 7.21
$3.58BGN 5.96
20.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.69BGN 12.80
$6.05BGN 10.07
27.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.21BGN 2.00
$0.68BGN 1.13
77.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85BGN 3.08
$1.07BGN 1.78
72.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Sofia
Targovishte
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.92BGN 1.52
$0.46BGN 0.76
100.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$30.12BGN 50.1
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.88BGN 3.12
$1.20BGN 1.99
56.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.91BGN 1.52
$0.55BGN 0.91
65.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$16.21BGN 26.96
$10.53BGN 17.52
53.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.76BGN 2.94
$1.63BGN 2.71
7.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.4KBGN 52.2K
$31.4KBGN 52.3K
-0.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.4KBGN 45.6K
$20.4KBGN 34.0K
34.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sofia
Targovishte
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$170BGN 283
$60.1BGN 100
182.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.02BGN 36.64
$8.94BGN 14.87
146.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.43BGN 25.67
$12.84BGN 21.35
20.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sofia
Targovishte
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.50BGN 79.0
$17.32BGN 28.81
174.25%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.53BGN 49.13
$23.85BGN 39.68
23.82%
Cinema Ticket
$10.33BGN 17.18
$5.75BGN 9.56
79.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sofia
Targovishte
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$799BGN 1,330
$532BGN 886
50.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.4KBGN 22.2K
$5,590BGN 9,299
139.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sofia
Targovishte
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.5BGN 147
$71.0BGN 118
24.60%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.54BGN 70.8
$42.71BGN 71.1
-0.40%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$108BGN 179
$95.2BGN 158
13.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112BGN 187
$106BGN 177
5.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sofia
Targovishte
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$784BGN 1,305
$149BGN 249
424.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$622BGN 1,034
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,576BGN 2,622
$394BGN 655
300.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,073BGN 1,785
$362BGN 603
195.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,637BGN 7,714
$1,397BGN 2,325
231.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,355BGN 5,581
$1,168BGN 1,944
187.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sofia
Targovishte
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,742BGN 2,898
$1,329BGN 2,211
31.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.9
3.1
-6.45%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sofia: August 30, 2026
Last update for Targovishte: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $784 in Sofia versus $149 in Targovishte. 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 31% 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 $65.0 in Sofia versus $41.00 in Targovishte. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $295 vs $199 – making Targovishte the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Targovishte: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Sofia and in Targovishte compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,650 in Sofia, $583 in Targovishte – roughly 183% apart. Sofia costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Sofia compared to Targovishte?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,475 per month in Sofia and $874 in Targovishte. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Sofia and Targovishte?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Targovishte, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $65.0 in Sofia and $41.00 in Targovishte. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 49% more in Sofia, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Targovishte, where all-in costs run around $583, than in Sofia at $1,650. In Targovishte it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sofia it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Sofia and Targovishte?
It depends on your priorities. Sofia has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $583 in Targovishte to $1,650 in Sofia. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Sofia or Targovishte 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 Targovishte?
If budget matters most, go with Targovishte. 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.