For one person, living is cheaper in Taza: $565 a month against $1,594 in Sofia, rent and utilities included – about $12,300 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 Taza actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $1,594 per month in Sofia vs $565 in Taza, rent included.
Sofia $1,594
Taza $565
A couple spends around $2,478 per month in Sofia vs $918 in Taza, rent included.
Sofia $2,478
Taza $918
A family of three spends $3,361 per month in Sofia vs $1,272 in Taza, rent included.
Sofia $3,361
Taza $1,272
😐
Sofia costs about 182% more than Taza, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.
📊
Sofia sits 18% above the global median, while Taza is 58% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Sofia
Taza
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.87BGN 29.35
$3.54MAD 34.56
376.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.8BGN 115
$18.03MAD 176
265.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.32BGN 19.69
$5.84MAD 57.0
93.84%
Cappuccino
$3.43BGN 5.98
$1.52MAD 14.86
125.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41BGN 4.19
$0.54MAD 5.27
346.30%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85BGN 3.22
$0.36MAD 3.54
413.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.70BGN 6.44
$5.24MAD 51.1
-29.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.58BGN 7.97
$3.16MAD 30.83
44.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sofia
Taza
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.02BGN 3.51
$0.89MAD 8.68
126.97%
White Bread(500g)
$1.56BGN 2.72
$0.54MAD 5.26
188.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.33BGN 4.05
$1.88MAD 18.32
23.94%
Eggs
$4.36BGN 7.59
$1.89MAD 18.46
130.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.76BGN 20.47
$11.14MAD 109
5.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.83BGN 15.37
$6.10MAD 59.5
44.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.46BGN 30.38
$12.35MAD 120
41.38%
Apples(1kg)
$2.15BGN 3.74
$0.74MAD 7.20
190.54%
Banana(1kg)
$1.98BGN 3.44
$1.36MAD 13.27
45.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93BGN 3.37
$0.75MAD 7.29
157.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.24BGN 7.37
$0.50MAD 4.90
748.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.04BGN 1.80
$0.39MAD 3.84
166.67%
Onion(1kg)
$0.85BGN 1.48
$0.40MAD 3.88
112.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.15BGN 2.00
$0.34MAD 3.36
238.24%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89BGN 1.56
$0.54MAD 5.29
64.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.21BGN 7.33
$4.10MAD 40.02
2.68%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.46BGN 12.98
$7.64MAD 74.5
-2.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15BGN 2.01
$2.34MAD 22.79
-50.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85BGN 3.23
$2.60MAD 25.31
-28.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Sofia
Taza
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.87BGN 1.51
$0.37MAD 3.63
135.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.53BGN 49.65
$13.60MAD 133
109.78%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.68BGN 2.93
$0.74MAD 7.17
127.03%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.94BGN 1.63
$0.75MAD 7.32
25.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$15.35BGN 26.70
$2.65MAD 25.87
479.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.69BGN 2.94
$1.45MAD 14.14
16.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8KBGN 51.9K
$30.5KMAD 297.0K
-2.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KBGN 45.5K
$30.6KMAD 298.4K
-14.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sofia
Taza
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$156BGN 272
$33.20MAD 324
370.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.56BGN 37.52
$10.02MAD 97.7
115.17%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.24BGN 26.51
$34.78MAD 339
-56.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sofia
Taza
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.08BGN 80.2
$15.47MAD 151
197.87%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.92BGN 48.58
$18.99MAD 185
47.02%
Cinema Ticket
$10.18BGN 17.72
$4.22MAD 41.17
141.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sofia
Taza
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$774BGN 1,347
$76.1MAD 742
916.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.8KBGN 22.3K
$9,419MAD 91.8K
35.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sofia
Taza
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.9BGN 157
$20.80MAD 203
332.40%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.29BGN 71.8
$24.28MAD 237
70.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105BGN 183
$92.3MAD 899
13.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107BGN 186
$65.4MAD 638
63.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sofia
Taza
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$783BGN 1,362
$103MAD 1,004
659.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$597BGN 1,038
$62.2MAD 607
859.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,516BGN 2,638
$207MAD 2,014
634.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,030BGN 1,792
$162MAD 1,583
534.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,350BGN 7,568
$1,201MAD 11.7K
262.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,177BGN 5,528
$814MAD 7,935
290.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sofia
Taza
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,735BGN 3,019
$504MAD 4,910
244.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.89
4.55
-36.48%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sofia: October 13, 2026
Last update for Taza: October 11, 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
$597 37.4%
Taza
$62 11% ↓ 89.6%$535
🛒Groceries & Markets
Sofia
$290 18.2%
Taza
$190 33.6% ↓ 34.7%$101
🍽Eating Out
Sofia
$255 16%
Taza
$100 17.8% ↓ 60.6%$154
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sofia
$193 12.1%
Taza
$78 13.8% ↓ 59.6%$115
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Sofia
$154 9.7%
Taza
$91 16.2% ↓ 40.9%$63
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Sofia
$66 4.2%
Taza
$24 4.2% ↓ 64%$43
🚌Getting Around
Sofia
$38 2.4%
Taza
$20 3.5% ↓ 49%$19
🏠Accommodation & Living
Sofia
$1K 30.6%
Taza
$162 12.8% ↓ 84.2%$868
🛒Groceries & Markets
Sofia
$689 20.5%
Taza
$432 34% ↓ 37.3%$257
🍽Eating Out
Sofia
$845 25.2%
Taza
$280 22% ↓ 66.9%$565
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sofia
$214 6.4%
Taza
$88 6.9% ↓ 59%$126
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Sofia
$343 10.2%
Taza
$203 15.9% ↓ 40.9%$140
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Sofia
$161 4.8%
Taza
$67 5.3% ↓ 58.4%$94
🚌Getting Around
Sofia
$78 2.3%
Taza
$40 3.1% ↓ 49.2%$39
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $783 in Sofia versus $103 in Taza. 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 245% 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 $66.0 in Sofia versus $18.00 in Taza. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $290 vs $190 – making Taza the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Taza: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Sofia and in Taza compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,594 in Sofia, $565 in Taza – roughly 182% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Sofia compared to Taza?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,391 per month in Sofia and $848 in Taza. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Sofia and Taza?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Taza, 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 Taza?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,594 in Sofia and $565 in Taza. That's a gap of about 182%.
How do commuting costs compare in Sofia and in Taza?
Public transport costs about 110% less in Taza. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Taza, where all-in costs run around $565, than in Sofia at $1,594. In Taza 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 Taza?
It depends on your priorities. Sofia has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $565 in Taza to $1,594 in Sofia. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Sofia or Taza 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 Taza?
If budget matters most, go with Taza. 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.