Cost of Living Comparison Between Sofia and Tbilisi Cost of Living Comparison Between Sofia and Tbilisi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,365 per month in Sofia vs $1,197 in Tbilisi, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,143 per month in Sofia vs $1,868 in Tbilisi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,922 per month in Sofia vs $2,538 in Tbilisi, rent included.

Sofia costs about 14% more than Tbilisi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Sofia sits 2% above the global median, while Tbilisi is 10% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.72 BGN 19.51

$10.82 ₾28.38

8.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.80 BGN 82.8

$43.85 ₾115

13.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.77 BGN 14.59

$8.31 ₾21.79

5.54%

Cappuccino

$2.63 BGN 4.38

$2.97 ₾7.78

-11.45%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.78 BGN 2.96

$0.77 ₾2.01

131.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.42 BGN 2.36

$0.46 ₾1.20

208.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.96 BGN 4.92

$2.14 ₾5.63

38.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 BGN 5.43

$2.87 ₾7.52

13.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.86 BGN 3.09

$1.90 ₾4.99

-2.11%

White Bread (500g)

$1.20 BGN 2.00

$0.71 ₾1.86

69.01%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.99 BGN 3.31

$1.91 ₾5.00

4.19%

Eggs

$3.96 BGN 6.58

$2.48 ₾6.52

59.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.18 BGN 20.26

$7.74 ₾20.29

57.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.72 BGN 14.51

$6.18 ₾16.20

41.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.98 BGN 21.60

$9.57 ₾25.11

35.63%

Apples (1kg)

$1.91 BGN 3.18

$1.17 ₾3.06

63.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.96 BGN 3.27

$1.65 ₾4.34

18.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.99 BGN 3.31

$1.85 ₾4.84

7.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.75 BGN 4.57

$2.33 ₾6.11

18.03%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 BGN 1.86

$0.71 ₾1.85

57.75%

Onion (1kg)

$1.05 BGN 1.75

$0.67 ₾1.76

56.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 BGN 1.98

$1.19 ₾3.12

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 BGN 1.10

$0.66 ₾1.72

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.87 BGN 6.43

$2.92 ₾7.65

32.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.39 BGN 12.29

$7.69 ₾20.17

-3.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.10 BGN 1.83

$1.59 ₾4.18

-30.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.83 BGN 3.04

$2.31 ₾6.06

-20.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 BGN 1.63

$0.38 ₾1.01

157.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.45 BGN 48.99

$14.76 ₾38.71

99.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.45 BGN 2.40

$1.50 ₾3.92

-3.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.78 BGN 1.30

$0.68 ₾1.77

14.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.34 BGN 23.86

$7.26 ₾19.03

97.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.57 BGN 2.62

$1.09 ₾2.87

44.04%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$32.1K BGN 53.3K

$18.6K ₾48.8K

72.30%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$29.0K BGN 48.3K

$20.5K ₾53.7K

41.85%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$150 BGN 249

$73.0 ₾191

105.14%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$17.78 BGN 29.57

$11.97 ₾31.40

48.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.40 BGN 25.62

$18.00 ₾47.21

-14.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.98 BGN 73.2

$61.0 ₾160

-27.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.48 BGN 35.73

$16.52 ₾43.33

30.02%

Cinema Ticket

$9.61 BGN 15.98

$6.70 ₾17.58

43.43%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$642 BGN 1,068

$269 ₾705

138.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,298 BGN 15.5K

$5,152 ₾13.5K

80.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$71.9 BGN 120

$76.5 ₾201

-6.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.78 BGN 59.5

$43.41 ₾114

-17.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 BGN 178

$120 ₾316

-11.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 BGN 198

$111 ₾290

7.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$695 BGN 1,156

$687 ₾1,802

1.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$504 BGN 838

$470 ₾1,234

7.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,257 BGN 2,091

$1,353 ₾3,549

-7.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$893 BGN 1,485

$789 ₾2,069

13.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,422 BGN 7,356

$2,468 ₾6,472

79.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,336 BGN 5,550

$1,456 ₾3,817

129.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,674 BGN 2,785

$659 ₾1,729

154.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.09

11.89

-74.01%

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

Last update for Sofia: July 11, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $695 in Sofia versus $687 in Tbilisi. 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 154% 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 $50.0 in Sofia versus $44.00 in Tbilisi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $259 vs $205 – making Tbilisi 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 Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,365 in Sofia, $1,197 in Tbilisi – roughly 14% apart. Sofia costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,047 per month in Sofia and $1,796 in Tbilisi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Tbilisi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,365 in Sofia and $1,197 in Tbilisi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 100% less in Tbilisi. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tbilisi, where all-in costs run around $1,197, than in Sofia at $1,365. In Tbilisi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sofia it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Sofia has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,197 in Tbilisi to $1,365 in Sofia. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Tbilisi. 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.