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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,373 per month in Sofia vs $1,209 in Tbilisi, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,132 per month in Sofia vs $1,867 in Tbilisi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,892 per month in Sofia vs $2,526 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

$11.89 BGN 19.78

$10.80 ₾28.69

10.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.6 BGN 84.2

$43.18 ₾115

17.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.76 BGN 14.57

$8.29 ₾22.02

5.67%

Cappuccino

$2.60 BGN 4.32

$3.00 ₾7.96

-13.33%

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

$1.74 BGN 2.89

$0.82 ₾2.17

112.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 BGN 2.38

$0.46 ₾1.21

210.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.93 BGN 4.88

$2.23 ₾5.93

31.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 BGN 5.37

$2.92 ₾7.74

10.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 BGN 3.23

$1.93 ₾5.11

0.52%

White Bread (500g)

$1.20 BGN 2.00

$0.68 ₾1.81

76.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.99 BGN 3.31

$1.88 ₾4.99

5.85%

Eggs

$3.82 BGN 6.35

$2.54 ₾6.73

50.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.54 BGN 20.86

$7.42 ₾19.69

69.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.74 BGN 14.55

$6.19 ₾16.43

41.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.29 BGN 22.11

$9.36 ₾24.86

41.99%

Apples (1kg)

$1.90 BGN 3.16

$1.22 ₾3.25

55.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.90 BGN 3.16

$1.66 ₾4.40

14.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.00 BGN 3.33

$1.80 ₾4.78

11.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.84 BGN 4.73

$2.24 ₾5.95

26.79%

Potato (1kg)

$1.10 BGN 1.83

$0.71 ₾1.89

54.93%

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 BGN 1.69

$0.67 ₾1.79

52.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 BGN 1.96

$1.18 ₾3.13

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 BGN 1.10

$0.66 ₾1.76

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.81 BGN 6.33

$2.98 ₾7.91

27.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.65 BGN 12.73

$7.61 ₾20.20

0.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 BGN 1.82

$1.54 ₾4.08

-29.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 BGN 2.98

$2.25 ₾5.98

-20.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.92 BGN 1.53

$0.36 ₾0.95

155.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.72 BGN 49.45

$14.44 ₾38.35

105.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 BGN 2.48

$1.49 ₾3.96

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 BGN 1.27

$0.68 ₾1.82

11.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.34 BGN 23.86

$7.23 ₾19.19

98.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.51 BGN 2.51

$1.14 ₾3.04

32.46%

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

$32.5K BGN 54.0K

$18.5K ₾49.0K

75.98%

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

$28.4K BGN 47.3K

$20.0K ₾53.0K

42.27%

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

$154 BGN 256

$73.7 ₾196

109.07%

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

$18.05 BGN 30.04

$11.64 ₾30.90

55.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.97 BGN 24.90

$17.84 ₾47.38

-16.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.03 BGN 73.3

$60.1 ₾160

-26.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.88 BGN 36.40

$16.80 ₾44.62

30.24%

Cinema Ticket

$9.24 BGN 15.37

$6.60 ₾17.54

40.00%

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

$624 BGN 1,037

$266 ₾707

134.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,327 BGN 15.5K

$5,191 ₾13.8K

79.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$71.3 BGN 119

$77.7 ₾206

-8.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.76 BGN 59.5

$44.75 ₾119

-20.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 BGN 175

$117 ₾310

-9.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 BGN 198

$113 ₾300

5.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$696 BGN 1,157

$693 ₾1,839

0.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$501 BGN 834

$462 ₾1,226

8.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,296 BGN 2,157

$1,320 ₾3,504

-1.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$910 BGN 1,513

$774 ₾2,056

17.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,510 BGN 7,502

$2,430 ₾6,454

85.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,161 BGN 5,258

$1,446 ₾3,839

118.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,674 BGN 2,786

$673 ₾1,786

148.87%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $696 in Sofia versus $693 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 149% 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 $51.0 in Sofia versus $43.00 in Tbilisi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $261 vs $203 – 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: $1,373 in Sofia, $1,209 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 $2,060 per month in Sofia and $1,813 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 $1,373 in Sofia and $1,209 in Tbilisi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 106% 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 $1,209, than in Sofia at $1,373. 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 $1,209 in Tbilisi to $1,373 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.