Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Sofia and Zambia
For one person, living is cheaper in Zambia: $905 a month against $1,589 in Sofia, rent and utilities included – about $8,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
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Sofia Living Index78Cost of Living Index in SofiaLearn more -
Zambia Living Index44Cost of Living Index in ZambiaLearn more
😐 Solo nomad: Sofia is 29.1% more expensive than Zambia without rent, and 75.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Sofia is 46.9% more expensive than Zambia without rent, and 42.9% more expensive with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
Sofia
Zambia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.10 BGN 29.93
$6.84 ZMW 136
150.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.9 BGN 117
$30.13 ZMW 597
122.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.77 BGN 20.59
$5.20 ZMW 103
126.35%
Cappuccino
$3.42 BGN 5.99
$3.03 ZMW 60.1
12.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 BGN 4.23
$0.78 ZMW 15.38
210.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 BGN 3.26
$0.49 ZMW 9.72
279.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.33 BGN 5.83
$1.30 ZMW 25.73
156.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53 BGN 7.92
$2.53 ZMW 50.3
79.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sofia
Zambia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.92 BGN 3.36
$1.88 ZMW 37.25
2.13%
White Bread (500g)
$1.51 BGN 2.64
$1.23 ZMW 24.32
22.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.21 BGN 3.88
$2.44 ZMW 48.42
-9.43%
Eggs
$4.40 BGN 7.69
$1.84 ZMW 36.42
139.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.56 BGN 20.22
$10.44 ZMW 207
10.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.79 BGN 15.38
$6.54 ZMW 130
34.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.97 BGN 29.71
$6.13 ZMW 122
176.84%
Apples (1kg)
$2.17 BGN 3.79
$3.48 ZMW 68.9
-37.64%
Banana (1kg)
$2.04 BGN 3.57
$2.14 ZMW 42.42
-4.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.84 BGN 3.22
$3.51 ZMW 69.5
-47.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.29 BGN 7.51
$1.57 ZMW 31.15
173.25%
Potato (1kg)
$1.03 BGN 1.80
$2.81 ZMW 55.7
-63.35%
Onion (1kg)
$0.93 BGN 1.62
$1.90 ZMW 37.77
-51.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.20 BGN 2.11
$1.15 ZMW 22.88
4.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.92 BGN 1.62
$0.71 ZMW 14.09
29.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.30 BGN 7.53
$2.84 ZMW 56.3
51.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.33 BGN 12.83
$10.13 ZMW 201
-27.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 BGN 2.06
$1.41 ZMW 27.94
-16.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87 BGN 3.28
$2.10 ZMW 41.62
-10.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Sofia
Zambia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.87 BGN 1.52
$0.98 ZMW 19.52
-11.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.14 BGN 49.24
$50.2 ZMW 995
-43.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.74 BGN 3.04
$2.57 ZMW 50.9
-32.30%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.96 BGN 1.68
$1.69 ZMW 33.60
-43.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$15.54 BGN 27.19
$8.94 ZMW 177
73.83%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.79 BGN 3.14
$1.46 ZMW 28.88
22.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.0K BGN 52.5K
$6,225 ZMW 123.4K
381.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K BGN 46.1K
$38.8K ZMW 768.5K
-31.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sofia
Zambia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$156 BGN 273
$89.7 ZMW 1,778
73.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.21 BGN 37.11
$10.95 ZMW 217
93.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.64 BGN 27.37
$58.9 ZMW 1,169
-73.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sofia
Zambia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.76 BGN 81.8
$50.3 ZMW 998
-7.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.74 BGN 48.54
$16.39 ZMW 325
69.25%
Cinema Ticket
$10.02 BGN 17.53
$6.80 ZMW 135
47.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sofia
Zambia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$766 BGN 1,341
$142 ZMW 2,821
438.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.8K BGN 22.4K
$16.8K ZMW 333.1K
-23.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sofia
Zambia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.7 BGN 157
$24.56 ZMW 487
265.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.88 BGN 71.5
$14.64 ZMW 290
179.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$106 BGN 186
$59.2 ZMW 1,174
79.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105 BGN 183
$75.9 ZMW 1,505
37.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sofia
Zambia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$796 BGN 1,393
$453 ZMW 8,980
75.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$607 BGN 1,063
$174 ZMW 3,443
249.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,563 BGN 2,735
$1,074 ZMW 21.3K
45.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,060 BGN 1,855
$720 ZMW 14.3K
47.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,357 BGN 7,626
$3,941 ZMW 78.1K
10.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,250 BGN 5,688
$6,414 ZMW 127.2K
-49.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sofia
Zambia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,740 BGN 3,044
$428 ZMW 8,485
306.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.89
26.25
-88.99%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sofia: October 3, 2026
Last update for Zambia: October 4, 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 $607 37.9%
Zambia $174 19.2% 71.4% $434
Groceries & Markets
Sofia $287 17.9%
Zambia $240 26.5% 16.6% $48
Eating Out
Sofia $256 16%
Zambia $123 13.7% 51.8% $133
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sofia $193 12%
Zambia $160 17.7% 17.3% $33
Clothing & Footwear
Sofia $154 9.6%
Zambia $78 8.7% 48.9% $75
Sport & Entertainment
Sofia $67 4.2%
Zambia $64 7.1% 4.3% $2.9
Getting Around
Sofia $38 2.4%
Zambia $65 7.2% 70.7% $27
Accommodation & Living
Sofia $1.1K 31.3%
Zambia $720 31.4% 32.1% $341
Groceries & Markets
Sofia $681 20.1%
Zambia $551 24% 19.2% $131
Eating Out
Sofia $854 25.2%
Zambia $401 17.5% 53.1% $453
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sofia $214 6.3%
Zambia $170 7.4% 20.3% $44
Clothing & Footwear
Sofia $341 10.1%
Zambia $174 7.6% 48.9% $167
Sport & Entertainment
Sofia $161 4.8%
Zambia $144 6.3% 10.6% $17
Getting Around
Sofia $78 2.3%
Zambia $132 5.8% 69.4% $54
Good to know
🇧🇬 Sofia
🇿🇲 Zambia
Weather
Population
1,286,383 Capital
19,610,769
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- Sofia Zambia 6,480 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
- Sofia
- Zambia
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 other spots: cost of living compared
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