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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,218 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,366 in Sofia, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,854 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,141 in Sofia, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,491 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,916 in Sofia, rent included.

Tbilisi is about 11% cheaper than Sofia, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Tbilisi sits 10% below the global median, while Sofia is 1% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.78 ₾29.00

$12.01 BGN 19.94

-10.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.10 ₾116

$49.82 BGN 82.7

-13.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.27 ₾22.24

$8.76 BGN 14.54

-5.59%

Cappuccino

$2.95 ₾7.94

$2.67 BGN 4.43

10.49%

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

$0.76 ₾2.05

$1.74 BGN 2.89

-56.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 ₾1.13

$1.41 BGN 2.34

-70.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ₾6.03

$3.00 BGN 4.98

-25.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 ₾7.71

$3.19 BGN 5.30

-10.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.93 ₾5.19

$1.95 BGN 3.24

-1.03%

White Bread (500g)

$0.68 ₾1.84

$1.18 BGN 1.96

-42.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.85 ₾4.97

$1.99 BGN 3.30

-7.04%

Eggs

$2.49 ₾6.69

$3.88 BGN 6.44

-35.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.54 ₾20.27

$12.58 BGN 20.89

-40.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.35 ₾17.09

$8.69 BGN 14.43

-26.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.43 ₾25.38

$13.28 BGN 22.04

-28.99%

Apples (1kg)

$1.18 ₾3.16

$1.91 BGN 3.18

-38.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 ₾4.26

$1.88 BGN 3.12

-15.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.86 ₾5.00

$2.01 BGN 3.33

-7.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 ₾6.03

$2.76 BGN 4.57

-18.84%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 ₾1.79

$1.11 BGN 1.84

-40.54%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 ₾1.83

$1.05 BGN 1.75

-35.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 ₾3.17

$1.21 BGN 2.01

-2.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 ₾1.77

$0.68 BGN 1.13

-2.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.07 ₾8.25

$3.91 BGN 6.50

-21.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.56 ₾20.34

$7.49 BGN 12.43

0.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 ₾4.08

$1.04 BGN 1.73

46.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 ₾6.15

$1.80 BGN 2.99

27.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.35 ₾0.95

$0.92 BGN 1.52

-61.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.79 ₾39.78

$29.01 BGN 48.16

-49.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.45 ₾3.90

$1.43 BGN 2.37

1.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.73 ₾1.97

$0.73 BGN 1.21

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.35 ₾19.78

$14.05 BGN 23.32

-47.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ₾2.93

$1.55 BGN 2.58

-29.68%

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

$18.4K ₾49.5K

$31.9K BGN 52.9K

-42.22%

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

$20.3K ₾54.5K

$29.2K BGN 48.4K

-30.49%

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

$73.3 ₾197

$153 BGN 253

-51.95%

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

$11.72 ₾31.53

$17.79 BGN 29.53

-34.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.87 ₾48.08

$15.49 BGN 25.72

15.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.2 ₾165

$44.15 BGN 73.3

38.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.34 ₾43.94

$21.64 BGN 35.93

-24.49%

Cinema Ticket

$6.59 ₾17.73

$9.33 BGN 15.49

-29.37%

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

$261 ₾702

$632 BGN 1,049

-58.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,156 ₾13.9K

$9,062 BGN 15.0K

-43.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.1 ₾205

$72.0 BGN 119

5.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.83 ₾118

$36.89 BGN 61.2

18.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$121 ₾325

$105 BGN 175

14.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 ₾304

$116 BGN 193

-3.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$696 ₾1,873

$690 BGN 1,146

0.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$456 ₾1,226

$514 BGN 854

-11.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,301 ₾3,500

$1,271 BGN 2,110

2.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$768 ₾2,067

$900 BGN 1,495

-14.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,500 ₾6,725

$4,288 BGN 7,119

-41.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,432 ₾3,853

$2,986 BGN 4,956

-52.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$653 ₾1,756

$1,705 BGN 2,830

-61.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.89

3.09

284.79%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: April 13, 2026

Last update for Sofia: April 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $696 in Tbilisi versus $690 in Sofia. 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 161% 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 $43 in Tbilisi versus $50 in Sofia. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $203 vs $261 – 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

Tbilisi vs Sofia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,218 in Tbilisi, $1,366 in Sofia – roughly 12% apart. Sofia costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,827 per month in Tbilisi and $2,049 in Sofia. 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 $1,218 in Tbilisi and $1,366 in Sofia. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 96% 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 $1,218, than in Sofia at $1,366. In Tbilisi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sofia it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Tbilisi has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,218 in Tbilisi to $1,366 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.