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 $903 per month in Stara Zagora vs $1,255 in Plovdiv, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,422 per month in Stara Zagora vs $1,928 in Plovdiv, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,940 per month in Stara Zagora vs $2,601 in Plovdiv, rent included.

Stara Zagora is about 28% cheaper than Plovdiv, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Stara Zagora and Plovdiv are more affordable than the global median – Stara Zagora 34% lower, Plovdiv 9% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.68 BGN 17.77

$9.43 BGN 15.69

13.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.4 BGN 87.3

$46.81 BGN 77.9

12.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.47 BGN 15.75

$9.74 BGN 16.21

-2.77%

Cappuccino

$2.34 BGN 3.89

$2.97 BGN 4.95

-21.21%

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

$1.56 BGN 2.59

$1.76 BGN 2.93

-11.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.84 BGN 1.40

$1.64 BGN 2.73

-48.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.25 BGN 3.75

$2.72 BGN 4.52

-17.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 BGN 3.43

$4.09 BGN 6.80

-49.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 BGN 3.00

$1.87 BGN 3.10

-3.74%

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 BGN 1.39

$1.22 BGN 2.02

-31.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.52 BGN 2.53

$2.24 BGN 3.72

-32.14%

Eggs

$2.42 BGN 4.03

$3.78 BGN 6.28

-35.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.38 BGN 15.60

$12.10 BGN 20.13

-22.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.75 BGN 11.23

$8.95 BGN 14.90

-24.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.71 BGN 14.50

$14.73 BGN 24.51

-40.87%

Apples (1kg)

$1.30 BGN 2.17

$1.78 BGN 2.97

-26.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.75 BGN 2.91

$1.93 BGN 3.21

-9.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.76 BGN 2.93

$2.02 BGN 3.35

-12.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.97 BGN 3.27

$2.63 BGN 4.38

-25.10%

Potato (1kg)

$1.04 BGN 1.73

$1.11 BGN 1.85

-6.31%

Onion (1kg)

$0.74 BGN 1.23

$1.14 BGN 1.90

-35.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.58 BGN 0.96

$1.22 BGN 2.03

-52.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 BGN 1.09

$0.75 BGN 1.25

-12.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.84 BGN 6.39

$4.20 BGN 6.99

-8.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.29 BGN 8.80

$6.36 BGN 10.57

-16.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 BGN 1.88

$1.23 BGN 2.04

-8.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.83 BGN 3.04

$2.04 BGN 3.40

-10.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.92 BGN 1.54

$0.62 BGN 1.03

48.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.78 BGN 31.23

$30.02 BGN 49.94

-37.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.39 BGN 2.32

$1.34 BGN 2.23

3.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.63 BGN 1.05

$0.67 BGN 1.12

-5.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.67 BGN 19.42

$10.90 BGN 18.13

7.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.66 BGN 2.77

$1.68 BGN 2.79

-1.19%

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

$31.4K BGN 52.2K

$31.0K BGN 51.5K

1.24%

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

$21.8K BGN 36.3K

$25.4K BGN 42.3K

-14.28%

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

$96.0 BGN 160

$119 BGN 197

-19.07%

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

$15.63 BGN 26.00

$19.32 BGN 32.14

-19.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.41 BGN 20.65

$16.32 BGN 27.15

-23.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.08 BGN 46.72

$42.57 BGN 70.8

-34.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.42 BGN 37.31

$21.66 BGN 36.04

3.51%

Cinema Ticket

$9.15 BGN 15.22

$9.35 BGN 15.56

-2.14%

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

$235 BGN 392

$536 BGN 891

-56.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,345 BGN 3,902

$5,743 BGN 9,554

-59.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.63 BGN 52.6

$70.5 BGN 117

-55.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.06 BGN 33.37

$43.64 BGN 72.6

-54.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.1 BGN 110

$102 BGN 170

-35.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.8 BGN 89.5

$109 BGN 182

-50.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$306 BGN 509

$546 BGN 908

-43.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$264 BGN 439

$398 BGN 662

-33.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$514 BGN 855

$917 BGN 1,525

-43.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$405 BGN 674

$677 BGN 1,126

-40.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,495 BGN 2,488

$2,365 BGN 3,935

-36.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,107 BGN 1,841

$1,619 BGN 2,693

-31.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,094 BGN 1,819

$1,174 BGN 1,954

-6.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.99

3.1

-3.55%

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

Last update for Stara Zagora: August 31, 2026

Last update for Plovdiv: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $306 in Stara Zagora versus $546 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 7% 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 $52.0 in Stara Zagora versus $47.00 in Plovdiv. Groceries tell a different story – $199 in Stara Zagora vs $264 in Plovdiv – so Stara Zagora wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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: $903 in Stara Zagora, $1,255 in Plovdiv – roughly 39% apart. Plovdiv costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,355 per month in Stara Zagora and $1,882 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 60% less in Stara Zagora. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $235 per month in Stara Zagora and $536 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 $903, than in Plovdiv at $1,255. 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 $903 in Stara Zagora to $1,255 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.