Cost of Living Comparison Between Stara Zagora and Plovdiv Cost of Living Comparison Between Stara Zagora and Plovdiv

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $864 per month in Stara Zagora vs $1,102 in Plovdiv, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,330 per month in Stara Zagora vs $1,712 in Plovdiv, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,796 per month in Stara Zagora vs $2,321 in Plovdiv, rent included.

Stara Zagora is about 22% cheaper than Plovdiv, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Stara Zagora and Plovdiv are more affordable than the global median – Stara Zagora 36% lower, Plovdiv 18% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.82 BGN 14.68

$8.70 BGN 14.47

1.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.74 BGN 57.8

$47.28 BGN 78.7

-26.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.99 BGN 14.95

$8.69 BGN 14.46

3.45%

Cappuccino

$1.87 BGN 3.11

$2.49 BGN 4.15

-24.90%

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

$1.27 BGN 2.11

$1.49 BGN 2.48

-14.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 BGN 1.22

$0.91 BGN 1.51

-19.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.17 BGN 1.94

$2.99 BGN 4.97

-60.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 BGN 3.35

$2.93 BGN 4.88

-31.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.86 BGN 3.09

$1.81 BGN 3.02

2.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 BGN 1.29

$1.07 BGN 1.78

-27.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 BGN 2.56

$2.11 BGN 3.51

-27.01%

Eggs

$2.25 BGN 3.74

$3.40 BGN 5.66

-33.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.15 BGN 15.21

$11.61 BGN 19.31

-21.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.52 BGN 12.51

$7.95 BGN 13.22

-5.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.65 BGN 14.39

$12.02 BGN 19.99

-28.04%

Apples (1kg)

$1.37 BGN 2.27

$1.50 BGN 2.49

-8.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 BGN 2.76

$1.76 BGN 2.93

-5.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.88 BGN 3.13

$1.66 BGN 2.76

13.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.14 BGN 3.55

$2.48 BGN 4.12

-13.71%

Potato (1kg)

$1.01 BGN 1.67

$1.02 BGN 1.70

-0.98%

Onion (1kg)

$0.85 BGN 1.42

$1.14 BGN 1.90

-25.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.57 BGN 0.95

$1.09 BGN 1.82

-47.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 BGN 1.24

$0.77 BGN 1.28

-2.60%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.84 BGN 6.39

$3.61 BGN 6.01

6.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.34 BGN 8.88

$6.07 BGN 10.11

-12.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.22 BGN 2.03

$1.04 BGN 1.73

17.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 BGN 3.62

$1.80 BGN 2.99

20.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.92 BGN 1.54

$0.60 BGN 1.00

53.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.95 BGN 31.52

$28.44 BGN 47.32

-33.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 BGN 2.29

$1.16 BGN 1.93

18.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 BGN 1.17

$0.66 BGN 1.09

6.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.66 BGN 19.39

$10.48 BGN 17.44

11.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 BGN 2.55

$1.50 BGN 2.50

2.67%

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

$24.7K BGN 41.0K

$31.9K BGN 53.1K

-22.80%

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

$17.9K BGN 29.8K

$28.7K BGN 47.8K

-37.60%

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

$104 BGN 173

$97.8 BGN 163

6.13%

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

$15.07 BGN 25.06

$18.10 BGN 30.11

-16.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.04 BGN 18.36

$15.31 BGN 25.47

-27.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.66 BGN 32.70

$37.70 BGN 62.7

-47.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.48 BGN 29.08

$14.69 BGN 24.44

18.99%

Cinema Ticket

$7.78 BGN 12.94

$8.96 BGN 14.90

-13.17%

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

$232 BGN 386

$425 BGN 706

-45.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,361 BGN 3,927

$7,126 BGN 11.9K

-66.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.22 BGN 63.6

$61.5 BGN 102

-37.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.85 BGN 31.36

$35.35 BGN 58.8

-46.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.1 BGN 127

$98.1 BGN 163

-22.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.7 BGN 126

$106 BGN 176

-28.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$244 BGN 406

$482 BGN 802

-49.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$232 BGN 386

$336 BGN 558

-30.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$399 BGN 663

$816 BGN 1,357

-51.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 BGN 612

$609 BGN 1,013

-39.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,508 BGN 2,508

$2,299 BGN 3,824

-34.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,120 BGN 1,863

$1,556 BGN 2,589

-28.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,062 BGN 1,767

$1,160 BGN 1,929

-8.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.4

4.49

-24.28%

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

Last update for Stara Zagora: May 31, 2026

Last update for Plovdiv: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $244 in Stara Zagora versus $482 in Plovdiv. 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 9% higher in Plovdiv, 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 $35.00 in Stara Zagora versus $47.00 in Plovdiv. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $204 vs $238 – making Stara Zagora 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

Stara Zagora vs Plovdiv: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $864 in Stara Zagora, $1,102 in Plovdiv – roughly 28% apart. Plovdiv costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,296 per month in Stara Zagora and $1,654 in Plovdiv. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 50% less in Stara Zagora. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $232 per month in Stara Zagora and $425 in Plovdiv. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Stara Zagora, where all-in costs run around $864, than in Plovdiv at $1,102. In Stara Zagora it covers expenses comfortably, while in Plovdiv it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Plovdiv has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $864 in Stara Zagora to $1,102 in Plovdiv. 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 Stara Zagora. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Plovdiv makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.